THE stirring sounds of Malvern Priory's organ, which has 3000 pipes, will be heard for venue's first recital of the year, in Saturday, February 15, at noon.

The recitals are not just cultural events, and a long tradition, they are fund-raisers too.

Organiser, Geoff Fearnehough said: "Last year’s five recitals, attended by an audience totalling 550 raised £1,300 for Malvern Priory.

"We look forward to another successful year in 2020 with local organists and visiting organists from Spain and Switzerland.

"The first recital will be given by Jonathan Hope from Gloucester and he has chosen popular works by Bach and Elgar and also his own transcriptions of overtures by Elgar and Brahms."

Mr Fearnehough said: "Jonathan Hope was organ scholar at Winchester and Southwark Cathedrals and, since 2014, has been Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral including Festival Organist for the Three Choirs Festivals at Gloucester.

He has performed throughout the UK, as well as France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the USA and Australia. He has recorded a CD and DVD and has performed on BBC Radio 3 and 4."

Since the organ underwent a major £375,000 rebuild by the Malvern organ builders Nicholsons some 15 years ago, some five or six recitals per year have been organised, with organists from around the world from Europe, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, giving performances.

The concerts are free to attend, but there is a retiring collection towards "the music and work of Malvern Priory".

Further details at the website: www.malvernprioryorgan.org.uk