Biography:
Norwood Festival of Music Recital - James Gough (St John’s, Upper Norwood) with Richard Brasier
James Gough is a highly sought-after recitalist and the Director of Music at St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood. 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 and was the recipient of several Academy prizes.
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 St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, 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 St Ouen, Rouen, Johanniskirche, Saarbrücken, Zadar Cathedral, and Bergen Cathedral, as well as several across the UK including King’s College, Cambridge 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, who gave a talk on the sonatas as part of the project.
He has held positions at Southwark Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St Bride’s, Fleet Street, Wells Cathedral and St Matthew’s, Westminster, Alongside a busy performance career, James teaches the organ at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, Westminster Abbey Choir School, and Westminster School.
Richard Brasier is an international concert organist, editor, and musicologist whose work is grounded in historical insight and informed interpretation. His approach brings clarity, integrity, and artistic imagination to the organ repertoire, shaped by a deep engagement with its cultural and historical contexts.
His knowledge of organ repertoire — spanning solo, orchestral, and chamber music — has developed through regular recital engagements and instruction on modern and historic instruments at home and overseas. This breadth of experience supports a holistic approach to performance and teaching, informed by historical awareness, technical expertise, and a nuanced understanding of performance traditions.
Richard’s scholarly activity includes his definitive eight‑volume edition of the complete organ and harmonium works of César Franck, recognised for its clarity, precision, and depth of historical understanding. Held and cited in major libraries worldwide, the edition is regarded as the international reference for this repertoire. His research also contributes to the preservation of musical heritage through the identification, study, and safeguarding of autograph manuscripts across public and private collections.
Program:
TBC
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Sylvan Road, SE19 2RX, London
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