The Organists

Sub-Organist - Clive Driskill-Smith

Clive Driskill-Smith is one of the leading organists of his generation. Hailed as a "star of a new generation" (Evening Standard), critics have praised his "blazing technique" and "unbelievable virtuosity" (American Guild of Organists) and described his performances as "intensely moving" and "truly breathtaking" (Organo Pleno Melbourne).

Born in 1978, Clive was awarded the Sheila Mossman Memorial Prize by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music before winning a Music Scholarship to Eton College in 1990. From 1992 to 1994, he played the bassoon in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and in the National Youth Chamber Orchestra. After a year as Organ Scholar at Winchester Cathedral and Assistant Organist at Winchester College, he went up to Christ Church, Oxford University, as the Christopher Tatton Organ Scholar. While at Christ Church, he was awarded the ARCM (Associate of the Royal College of Music) diploma in Piano Performance and the FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) diploma with the Limpus, Shinn and Durrant Prizes and the Worshipful Company of Musicians' Silver Medal. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Music in 1999 and with the MPhil in 2001.

A pupil of David Sanger and Hans Fagius, Clive was awarded a Travelling Scholarship by the Royal College of Organists in 1999 and the W. T. Best Scholarship by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2002. Both of these have funded further study on the Continent with Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet, Andrea Marcon, Luigi Tagliavini and Dr Harald Vogel.

Winner of the Royal College of Organists' Performer of the Year Competition in 2000 and the Calgary International Organ Competition in 2002, Clive has performed in the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland, South Africa, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Canada, the USA, South America, Australia and New Zealand. In North America, he is represented by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists Agency.

Clive's repertoire spans six centuries and includes the complete works of Maurice Durufle and Olivier Messiaen. His performances have been broadcast in Australia, Finland, Japan, Sweden, the UK and the USA. He has recorded two solo CDs: The Organs of Eton College, released on the Priory label in 2004 ("a master performer in a range of musical styles ... his playing is immaculate" Organists' Review), and Fiat Lux, released on the Herald label in 2006 ("the technique is brilliant, the interpretation faultless ... a first class recording" The Organ).

Clive is a member of the American Guild of Organists, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He is currently Sub-Organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, where he accompanies the choir under the direction of Stephen Darlington. He plays for the daily services as well as the choir's many recordings, broadcasts and tours.

During the last two years, Clive has performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the American Guild of Organists' regional convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Scotch College in Melbourne, where he gave the inaugural recital on the new organ. For information on future concerts, please visit his website at www.organist.org.uk

Further information can be found on www.organist.org.uk

Organ Scholars

Ben Sheen

Ben was a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral under the direction of John Scott, and took up the organ aged 11 under the tutelage of Mark Williams. In 2003, he gained a music scholarship to Eton College where he studied under Alastair Sampson and David Goode. Ben also became the youngest recitalist to play in the Sunday evening series at St. Paul's, at the age of just 13. Since then he has given recitals in Westminster Abbey, Liverpool Cathedral, Christchurch Priory, St Lawrence Jury (Guildhall), Reading Town Hall and Leicester Cathedral. He has also toured the USA with the Eton College Choir in April 2007.  He is currently the Senior Organ Scholar at Christ Church Oxford.

Michael Heighway

Michael Heighway began his musical education as a chorister at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle under Jonathan Rees-Williams. He then gained a Music Scholarship to Eton, where he studied piano with Jeremy Filsell and organ with David Goode. Michael gained his ARCO diploma at school, and has given recitals as both an organist and pianist in Leicester Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Portsmouth Cathedral and abroad. He spent half his Gap Year as Organ Scholar of St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York under John Scott, and spent the remainder as Organ Scholar of St Paul's, Melbourne under June Nixon. While in Australia, Michael performed many recitals throughout the Melbourne area, and also made appearances on radio. Michael is currently Junior Organ Scholar at Christ Church Oxford.

Organ Scholarships

The Organ Scholar is normally required to read for the Honour School of Music. He/she assists the Organist with running the music in the Cathedral and attends most practices and services. The opportunity exists to give recitals in the Cathedral, and to conduct the choir in practices and services. The Organ Scholar is expected to play a prominent role in the musical life of the College and University.

Further information may be found on the following website

Previous Organ Scholars

• Edward Tambling
• Henry Parkes
• Elizabeth Burgess
• Christian Wilson
• Neil Gaston-Nash