13/08/2026
Selby Abbey’s 2026 Lunchtime Organ Recital Series concludes on Tuesday 18 August at 12.30pm with a recital by Matthew Collins. A well-known organist, singer and teacher, Matthew was appointed Director of Music at Howden Minster in 2009. He is a graduate of the University of York, studied with Christopher Gray at Truro Cathedral and with the late Dr Roger Tebbet here at Selby Abbey.
🎟️ Admission is FREE. A collection is taken to support the continuation of the recital series and the work of Selby Abbey Trust.
❖ ❖ PROGRAMME ❖ ❖
Grand March (from Aïda)
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
arr. Rawsthorne/Collins
Organ Sonata no.5 in D major Op. 65
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Prélude, fugue et variation, Op. 18
César Franck (1822–1890)
Dance Suite
Noel Rawsthorne (1929–2019)
Carillon de Westminster
Louis Vierne (1870–1937)
🕣 Recitals begin on Tuesdays at 12.30pm.
🎹 The magnificent organ of Selby Abbey is hailed as one of the finest ‘romantic’ instruments in Britain. It was built in 1909 by the firm William Hill & Sons, and was splendidly restored in 2016 by Principal Pipe Organs of York, led by Geoffrey Coffin. With 4 manuals and 67 speaking stops, the organ’s sound is characterised by its bright choruses, a wealth of tonal colour, and its thrilling “full organ” sound. The organ gained international recognition in the 1960s when the Italian virtuoso organist, Fernando Germani made several recordings here. Since then the Abbey organ has been played and celebrated by distinguished musicians from across the world.
www.selbyabbey.org.uk
