Christ Church Cathedral Choir

Sub-Organist - Clive Driskill-Smith

Clive Driskill-Smith MA MPhil FRCO ARCM is one of the leading organists of his generation. Hailed as a "star of a new generation", critics have praised his "blazing technique" and "unbelievable virtuosity" and described his performances as "intensely moving" and "truly breathtaking".

Winner of the Royal College of Organists' Performer of the Year Competition in 2000 and the Calgary International Organ Competition in 2002, Clive performs throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. In the UK he has played at the BBC Proms, the Royal Festival Hall, Symphony Hall and Bridgewater Hall, and in the US he has played at Regional and National Conventions of the American Guild of Organists. His CDs have received critical acclaim ("a master performer in a range of musical styles ... his playing is immaculate ... the technique is brilliant, the interpretation faultless ... a first class recording") and his performances have been broadcast on radio and television worldwide.

A pupil of David Sanger and Hans Fagius, Clive was a Music Scholar at Eton College and then Organ Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, where he is now Sub-Organist. He plays for the daily services in the Cathedral and for the choir's many concerts, recordings, broadcasts and tours under the direction of Stephen Darlington.

Clive teaches the organ at the Royal Academy of Music and is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

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