Heritage Open Day – 19th September
Meet the Moot Hall Organ At the Civic Cathedral of Colchester Heritage Open Day – 19 September | 11:00am–2:00pm Step inside the heart of Colchester Town Hall and discover one of the city’s most powerful and historic voices. The magnificent Moot Hall organ – over a century old and still thrilling audiences today – takes […]
ORGAN MASTERCLASS 2026 – Learn, Observe, and be Inspired
The Moot Hall Organ continues to grow as a place not only for performance, but for learning, exploration, and community. Alongside our recital programme, we are delighted to offer a series of specialist organ masterclasses across the year, led by outstanding professional organists, each bringing their own expertise and perspective to the historic Moot Hall […]
MARCH – Claudia Grinnell – St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 10 March, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Claudia Grinnell has been Organist and Director of Music at St Edmundsbury Cathedral since 2024, becoming the first woman to hold the post. She oversees the cathedral’s five choirs and directs a vibrant programme of concerts and recitals. A graduate of the University of Cambridge and […]
APRIL – Darius Battiwalla – Leeds City Organist
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 14 April, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Darius Battiwalla has been Leeds City Organist since 2017, directing the acclaimed Town Hall recital series and overseeing the renewal of the Leeds Town Hall organ. He has performed at major UK cathedrals, with Collegium Vocale Gent, and at the Royal College of Organists’ annual diploma […]
MAY- Emma Gibbins – Chelmsford Cathedral
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 12 May, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Emma has been Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral since September 2024. A graduate of Pembroke College, Cambridge, she trained as an organ scholar at St Martin-in-the-Fields and Southwell Minster, and completed an MMus in Organ Performance at the Royal College of Music. She has held […]
JUNE – Hilary Punnett – St Paul’s Cathedral
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 9 June, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Hilary Punnett joined St Paul’s Cathedral in August 2025 as Assistant Director of Music, working alongside Director of Music Andrew Carwood to deliver the Cathedral’s world-class music programme. Her appointment coincides with the historic expansion of the choir, including the ambitious Girls’ Voices Programme. Hilary brings […]
JULY – William Saunders – Colchester City Organist
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 14 July, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall William Saunders is one of Britain’s leading concert organists, celebrated for his imaginative programming, recordings of modern English repertoire, and dedication to music education. He performs widely across the UK and Germany, appearing at major festivals including Aldeburgh, Three Choirs, and Lübecker Orgelsommer, and has premiered […]
AUGUST – Ian Ray – Former Borough Organist
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 11 August, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Ian Ray is a distinguished organist, conductor, pianist, and singing coach with a career spanning over five decades. He served as Colchester’s Borough Organist from 1988 to 2025, performing at civic occasions and a wide range of cultural events. Director of Colchester Choral Society and Colchester […]
SEPTEMBER – Richard Brasier – London
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 15 September, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Richard Brasier is an internationally acclaimed organist and educator, celebrated for his performances, scholarship, and teaching. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Köln, he has performed across the UK, Europe, and Asia, including surveys of the complete […]
OCTOBER – Francesca Massey – Concert Organist
Lunchtime Recital📅 Tuesday 13 October, 1 pm📍 Moot Hall Francesca Massey is a distinguished organist, choral conductor, and teacher with over 15 years’ experience as a cathedral musician. Educated at Cambridge University and the Royal Northern College of Music, she held organ scholarships at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and Manchester […]