Christ Church Cathedral Choir

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

Acting Sub-Organist - Simon Lawford

Simon Lawford received his early musical training as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral and was organ scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford, under Dr Bernard Rose. He was Assistant Organist at Peterborough Cathedral, and then at Christ Church, Oxford with Dr Stephen Darlington.

Following work at the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, he was appointed Director of Music at Hampstead Parish Church. From 1994 to 2007 he held the position of Organist and Director of Music at St George’s Cathedral, Perth. Here he also founded and directed St George’s Baroque Consort, specialising in the authentic performance of early music including the first period instruments performances in Western Australia of Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St John Passion.   

He has performed the complete '48' Preludes and Fugues of J. S. Bach and appeared as soloist with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. At the start of 2010 he returned to England to take up the post of Acting Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral, and from September to December fulfilled a similar role at Canterbury Cathedral. He was recently acting Informator Choristarum of Magdalen College, Oxford, and is currently acting Sub-organist at Christ Church, Oxford.

Organ Scholars

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 Senior Organ Scholar at Christ Church Oxford.

Ghislaine Reece-Trapp

Ghislaine Reece-Trapp began her musical education as a singer at her local church, where, at the age of twelve, she took up the organ with Robert Yeomans. After six months, she gained the Anne Guy Organ Scholarship to Clifton College to study with James Hills, where she also held the position of Head Chorister, before being offered the place of sole Specialist Organist at Wells Cathedral School to study with Matthew Owens. At the ages of thirteen and fourteen, Ghislaine won the 'RCO National Performance Festival for Young Organists' Competition', resulting in organ recitals in both Hereford and Gloucester as part of the Three Choirs' Festivals, and took up the position of Junior Organ Scholar at Wells Cathedral in 2008. During her Gap Year, Ghislaine worked as Organ Scholar at Guildford Cathedral. She has gained her ARCO diploma, and recently won the South of England Organ Competition at the youngest possible age of her category (18-23). Ghislaine is currently Junior Organ Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, where she is studying academic music.

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.

Previous Organ Scholars

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