Notes of Interest

St. George's Church, Benenden is in the Diocese of Canterbury and a member of Tenterden Deanery. It is 'clustered' with the local churches in Rolvenden, Newenden and Sandhurst

ORGAN RECITALS
Organ recitals will be given following Choral Evensong on the following dates. The service begins at 5.00 p.m. and the Recitals at approximately 5.45 p.m.

1st January

Bryan Gipps was a Scholar at The King's School, Canterbury and played in the National Youth orchestra. He entered The Royal Academy of Music as a first study violinist; while there, he twice won places on the Conductors' Course. Bryan dedicated twenty-six years of his life to working in public schools, which included conducting choirs in most of the major English cathedrals, as well as recording for television, radio and C.D. Conducting engagements at that time included working with such organisations as Braintree Opera, East London Polytechnic Orchestra, London Transport Choral Society and Ashford Symphony Orchestra. Bryan held the Sir John Goss Exhibition of The Royal College of Organists whilst a student at The Royal Academy of Music and has given many recitals over the years as an organist. He is also much in demand as an accompanist, both on the harpsichord and the piano. He is conductor of the Old Barn Orchestra, he conducts Sutton Valence Choral Society, is co-director of the Beresford Sinfonia and the Musical Director of the Egerton Music Festival. He recently stepped down from conducting Maidstone Youth Orchestra and became Director of Music and Organist at St Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook.

4th March

Michael Bacon is Organist at The Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr in Tunbridge Wells where he’s played for the past 24 years. After reading Music at Liverpool University, Michael joined the BBC where he is now a Senior Sound Engineer at BBC Radio. He has worked on Radio 3 programmes for over thirty years and now specialises in Chamber and Early Music, spending most of his time working in churches and concert halls. One of the most challenging, organ-wise, is the Royal Albert Hall where Michael has recorded many organ recitals and concerts, particularly during the BBC Proms season. He was inspired by Radio 3’s Bach Week to challenge himself to play all of Bach’s organ music over the next few years – over 300 pieces! Michael last played at Benenden in January 2010. He will be coming to Benenden after giving a recital in Westminster Abbey on 26 February.