Celebrity Organ Recitals 2024 - Michael Harris

Michael Harris - Organ

Nicolas de Grigny Hymne: Veni creator

En taille à 5 – Fugue à 5 – Duo – Récit de Cromorne – Dialogue sur les grands jeux

Matthias Weckmann Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott

J.S.Bach Prelude and Fugue in E flat BWV 552

Stanford Fantasia and Toccata Op 57

Louis Vierne Symphonie III (Intermezzo – Adagio – Finale)

Michael Harris has been Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, since 1996. Prior to moving to Edinburgh he held posts as Sub-Organist of Leeds Parish Church and Assistant Organist of Canterbury Cathedral.

As Organist and Master of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral he hosts many organ concerts on the famous Rieger organ (built in 1992) and his work has involved him in numerous recordings and broadcasts, both for Television and Radio. Under his direction the Cathedral Choir has visited the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Channel Islands. He directed the music for the recent national Services of Thanksgiving, for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and for the Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the occasion of the presentation of the Honours of Scotland in July 2023.

He has made a number of solo recordings, including a disc of the complete organ sonatas of August Gottfried Ritter, released in 2016. A disc of Scottish and French organ music, The Auld Alliance, recorded in St Giles’, was also released in summer 2016. He has directed the Cathedral Choir in a series of CD recordings, on St Giles’ own label, Aegidius; their most recent recording, Sing Psalms AGD 005, was released in spring 2023.

Michael has given recitals at many venues in Germany, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Poland, USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the UK, where he has played in many of the major venues. He was Music Director of the Scottish Chamber Choir from 1998 to 2010, and is currently director of the a cappella vocal ensemble, Cantica Alba, who have given concerts in Scotland, Germany and Malta, and Denmark.

He is also much involved in organ and choral education and was a Lecturer in Music at Edinburgh Napier University until 2021. He is currently President of the Edinburgh Society of Organists.

Host or Publisher St Giles' Cathedral