St Giles' at Six - Organ Recital: James Gough

PROGRAMME

J.S. Bach (1685-1750) - Pedal Exercitium BWV 598

Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor BWV 542

David Bednall (b.1979) - Meditation on ‘Wie schön leuchtet’

Jehan Alain (1911-1940) - Scherzo from Suite

Heinrich Reimann (1850-1906) - Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Op. 25

James Gough is a highly sought-after recitalist and the Assistant Organist at Southwark Cathedral. He began his organ studies with Huw Tregelles Williams OBE before moving to Bristol where he read Music and continued his organ studies with Dr David Ponsford. In 2009 James completed a Master’s degree in Organ Performance at the Royal Academy of Music, where his principal organ teacher was Nicolas Kynaston. During his time at the Academy James completed the FRCO diploma, as well as the Licentiate diploma of the RAM, and was the recipient of several Academy prizes including the Eric Thiman Organ Prize. In recognition of his achievements he was selected to perform for the visit of Sir Elton John.

As a recitalist, James has played the complete works of J.S. Bach and César Franck, and performed at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues including St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, The Temple Church and Bath Abbey. Further afield James has given several recitals in France, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and recent performances have included visits to Montpellier Cathedral, St Jaan’s s’Hertogenbosch, Rocca Massima Italy, the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, the Herforder Orgelsommer in Germany and the Dulwich Festival of Music in London. Forthcoming recitals are planned for Murr in Germany, Bergen Cathedral Norway, as well as several across the UK including St George’s Hanover Square and Glasgow Cathedral.

James recorded the Trio Sonatas of J. S. Bach at Clifton Cathedral, which was released on the Naxos label in 2024. This project came about following a collaboration with Dame Gillian Weir in which Dame Gillian gave an extensive analysis of the works whilst James played the sonatas as part of an event for the Clifton International Festival of Music.

He has held positions at St Martin-in-the-Fields, St Bride’s, Fleet Street and St Matthew’s, Westminster, and spent a year covering the Assistant Organist role at Wells Cathedral. Alongside a busy performance career, James teaches the organ at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, Westminster Abbey Choir School, and Westminster School.

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