Kemp English organ treat for music lovers

Dr Kemp English.

Music lovers in Hawke's Bay are in for a rare treat in as internationally renowned concert organist Dr Kemp English brings one of his hugely popular solo organ programmes to the area.

Presented by Waiapu Cathedral and featuring their stunning restored pipe organ, the concert will take place on Sunday, August 14, at 2.30pm in Waiapu Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Browning St, Napier.

In his inimitable way, Kemp will introduce and perform a programme of delightful selections from his three legendary Stormin' Norma CDs (recorded on the Dunedin Town Hall organ) and his very latest disc The Organ is Dancing which has featured on RNZ Concert and the BBC's Organist Entertains programme.

This concert features works across the full spectrum of organ music, such as Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, by JS Bach, Invercargill March by Lithgow, Le Cygne by Saint-Saens and other music by classical and contemporary composers.

Kemp is an honours graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and later completed a Master of Arts in Music Performance at the University of York.

In 2001 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM), in recognition of his distinguished performing career. After a period as Executant Lecturer in performance at the University of Otago, he made the decision to concentrate on his increasingly hectic performing and recording career.

In 2013 he gained a PhD from the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide (with a Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence) for his groundbreaking Koeluch studies which culminated in a 12 CD set of world premire recordings of Koeluch's 50 solo keyboard sonatas. These are currently being released worldwide by the recording giant Naxos.

- Admission at the door $20 (adults), $15 (seniors) and $5 (students).