Building on the success of last year’s Organ+ Festival, the University of Westminster is once more bringing the pipe organ into the modern day through unexpected collaborations. The vibrant event series will celebrate the two Compton organs that reside at the University and reimagine the instrument in new and unique ways with the help of students, colleagues and the local community.
This year’s programme showcases the organ in dialogue with film, dance, voice and seasonal celebration. Each event highlights the instrument’s versatility and power while offering opportunities for students, artists and the wider community to engage with live performance.
The programme began with Organ+ Horror at the Regent Street Cinema. In partnership with the historic cinema, the festival presented a live screening of the silent film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, accompanied by live organ. The event brought the Halloween atmosphere to one of the most iconic works of German Expressionist cinema, reminding audiences of the organ’s role in silent film history. This event was accompanied by a talk by Dr Lucy Ann Harrison, Assistant Head of the School of Arts at the University, and Donald McKenzie, an organist who made his return to the programme.
Next up in the series is an Organ Workshop which will take place on 19 November in light of the University’s new partnership with the Royal College of Organists (RCO). The event will be led by RCO Director Tom Bell and will serve as an opportunity to discover Fyvie Hall’s Compton organ up close. The workshop welcomes all levels of skill and aims to create an inclusive and open space to explore the colours, timbre, sound and creative potential of the instrument.
This will be followed with the festival returning to St George’s Hanover Square for a new Handel and Beyond concert led by organist and composer Bel Comeau. Following the success of last year’s festival, this event, taking place on 20 November, will explore the timelessness of Handel’s music alongside jazz, pop and contemporary influences. Westminster Music students will feature in this event as supporting artists, bringing their original songs in new arrangements for and with the pipe organ.
A new collaboration will take place on 26 November at Fyvie Hall with Moved - Organ+ Dance. In partnership with Corali Dance Company, a leading inclusive dance charity, and the RCO, this event aims to merge movement and sound in an exploration of rhythm, accessibility and creativity through the theme of nature. Bringing together professional artists, community participants and students, the performance highlights the festival’s role as both a musical and social catalyst.
The series concludes with a festive celebration titled Organ+ Christmas Carols. A programme for organ and voices will be led by Professor Andrew Linn, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University. This evening of music and community spirit invites audiences to gather, sing and celebrate the season together.
The autumn series is part of the University’s Quintin Hogg Trust-funded Live Performance project and curated by the Live Performance team led by Dr Harrison. The project is designed to enrich the student experience through active participation in cultural programming and collaboration with leading artists, organisations and the local community. The programme also brings the local community closer to the University.
Dr Harrison said: “We’re extremely excited to bring back our Organ+ Festival that displays the power and versatility of the organ across a range of contexts with a real Westminster twist! We’re celebrating the organ’s place in horror, classical music, dance and pop contexts. We believe that the organ is an instrument for everyone and each event has been designed to welcome new audiences and provide exciting and challenging repertoire for those who’ve joined us at organ concerts before. We’re so pleased to welcome back the great talents of Bel Comeau and Donald McKenzie and excited to have new partnerships with the RCO, Tom Bell and Corali Dance company who all share our aims around the organ for all.”
Professor Linn added: “We have the rare luxury of having not one but two pipe organs on our Regent Campus - a cinema organ in the Regent Street Cinema and the wonderful classical instrument in Fyvie Hall, restored to life in 2022. The pipe organ has attracted significant attention recently via the RCO Play the Organ Year 2025 as well as increased interest in some of the world-class instruments in locations like the Royal Albert Hall. At Westminster, we prioritise wellbeing and inclusion. Taking part in and listening to music is a surefire way of enhancing wellbeing, and we want more people to enjoy playing and benefiting from this amazing resource on our campus.
“This year's Organ+ Festival brings the organ into creative contact with a variety of other art forms and is a perfect opportunity for more people to encounter the organ and its endless potential to enrich our everyday!”
The festival launched on 30 October and will run until 10 December.
The Organ+ Festival directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 4: Reducing Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about the Organ+ Festival 2025.
Find out about Music courses at the University of Westminster.
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