William Whitehead, BA, MMus, FRCO, ARAM

William Whitehead has gained a wide reputation for his engaging and inspiring interpretation of the organ repertoire. His concert career was given a boost when he won first prize at the Odense International organ competition in Denmark, 2004. Since then he has given concerts in the Royal Albert Hall, France, Sweden, Austria, South Africa, the United States and Denmark. A recording of the music of Duruflé and Alain, 'Dances of Life and Death', was released in 2005 by Chandos Records to excellent acclaim (Diapason Découverte award). It includes William’s own transcription of the Danse Lente by Duruflé. A new CD of the Six Mendelssohn Organ Sonatas, recorded on the Ballroom Organ at Buckingham Palace, is due for release this year.

Trained at Oxford University and the Royal Academy of Music, William also held the position of Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey. His teachers have included David Sanger, James O’ Donnell, and Dame Gillian Weir. Having occupied posts at Rochester Cathedral and the Royal Academy of Music, he is now Organ Professor at Trinity College of Music in London and examines under the aegis of a variety of different institutions. Together with Ann Elise Smoot, William founded the London Organ Forum in 2003, a performance-centered research organisation (www.londonorganforum.com).

He is a critic for the BBC Music Magazine and has worked with Richard Hickox, Paul Daniel, the Gabrieli Consort, the London Symphony Chorus and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He continues his work teaching and examining for the Royal College of Organists and was awarded the ARAM in 2005, in recognition of distinction in the profession.

He is represented as a solo artist in the US by Philip Truckenbrod Concert Artists. www.concertartists.com