How others see us.

“It is an enormous pleasure to host the International Organ Festival. As well as delighting audiences with its exciting programme and high standard of performance, it offers great encouragement and opportunity to the most promising young musicians. Both the City and Cathedral are proud to be associated with it.“

The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Organ Festival, it is a world class event that showcases fantastic talent, and I hope that it can continue for many years.“

Anne Main - Member of Parliament for St Albans

"It is an exciting prospect that our Business School is working with the St Albans International Organ Festival, which forms a key part of the calendar for the local community and beyond. As a large organisation within the region we are committed to building links and partnerships within the community. This is a win, win situation with the expertise of our academics and students being used to the benefit of a Festival, which our region is very proud of. The Festival's strong commitment to education and the international flavour of the whole event are both aspects that attracted the University to working with the Festival. It is also a delight for us to once again be in the beautiful setting of St Albans Abbey, which once a year provides the perfect setting for us when we hold our Graduation Ceremonies here."

Professor Tim Wilson - Vice-Chancellor, The University of Hertfordshire

“When I and my wife founded the International Organ Festival in 1963, I knew from my own playing experience that the best young players needed a platform. …The St Albans International Organ Festival offers slender material rewards when compared with some other organ festivals. Yet it has retained its pre-eminence because of its setting, its integrity, the fun it provides, and the lustre of many past competition winners who have gone on to international careers. Such a well-established venture needs and deserves the support of businesses which likewise have both a local and an international outlook.”

Peter Hurford, OBE - Founder and Honorary President of the International Organ Festival Society, international player and recording artist

“The high standards and international reputation of this music festival reflect great credit on the energy and imagination around this city and its cathedral.”

The Late Rt. Revd. Lord Runcie

“Right from its inception, the St Albans International Organ Festival has been one of the most successful of its kind in the world. Its prestige is enormous, and an exceptionally high proportion of its winners have gone on to make flourishing careers.

I was lucky enough to be one of those winners, and remain immensely grateful to the Festival for the impetus and opportunities it provided me. It deserves every support, and I look forward to saluting the ever more imaginative celebrations of this distinguished Festival in the coming year.”

Dame Gillian Weir DBE - International Organ Soloist

“It would be difficult to find any other music festival with such deep, musical integrity as the International Organ Festival: as a guitarist I am particularly fortunate and honoured to have been invited twice to take part in uniquely interesting programmes.”

John Williams, CBE - International Guitarist

“The International Organ Festival is an outstanding musical occasion in St Albans, bringing the best of talented organists to the City.

Much of the organisation relies on a dedicated band of local volunteers underlining how much we value this prestigious event and we trust sponsors will be generous to enable it to continue.”

Cllr Mrs Portia Harris JP - Former Mayor of the City & District of St Albans 1997/98

“We acknowledge the significant part that the International Organ Festival plays in the cultural life of the UK. For the Festivals to be in the City of St Albans is a bonus, and we wish to endorse the tremendous work undertaken by its staff, and urge the City’s citizens and businesses to support its endeavours.”

Kevin Macan-Lind - Former President, St Albans District Chamber of Commerce

“In the last two decades the Organ Festival in St Albans has grown tremendously in musical range and international importance. Not only does it feature performances by the world’s greatest organists, there is also an extraordinary variety of other events, so lovers of all kinds of music are well catered for. It is one of the greatest musical festivals of Europe.”

Richard Baker, OBE - Performer & Broadcaster

“I have been associated with the St Albans Organ Competition since 1979, first as a competitor and more recently as a performer and jury member. It is one of the most prestigious events in the organ world today attracting competitors from all over the world. It provides a much-needed platform for professional organists at the start of their careers, and for the lucky winners it offers an armful of engagements including concerts, broadcasts and recordings.

The Competition has always had a special atmosphere - generated partly by the dedicated staff who run it but also by the fact that it takes place within a much broader context of musical events. This was the original vision of its founder, Peter Hurford, and it is thanks to the strength of his vision that the competition continues to flourish while many others have fallen by the wayside. I feel privileged to be associated with the St Albans Competition and Festival, and I wish it every success in the future. ”

Thomas Trotter - City Organist, Birmingham. Former competitor and now Organ Advisor to the Festival

“It is a pleasure to welcome this festival to the Cathedral; each time I am bowled over by the originality of the programme and the commitment of all the participants.

Of all the festivals, this one is extra-special - because of the organ-playing and all the other music arranged around it; I am enormously looking forward to the next festival.”

The Very Reverend Dr. Christopher Lewis - The Dean, Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban

“The combination of the glory of the Cathedral with the glory of music is a rare kind of joy. The IOFS through its imagination and hard work ensures that that joy can be shared by many”.

The Rt. Reverend Dr. Christopher Herbert - Bishop of St Albans

“The St Albans International Organ Festival & Competition is unique. Its strong commitment towards education through workshops, seminars and masterclasses about the organ and its music, is to be commended. The opportunity the competition gives to young performers at the start of their careers is very important.

As a performer myself who has had both the pleasure of working with an audience of young people at the festival and performing to enthusiastic audiences there, I wish the festival every success in future. Long may it continue to flourish”.

Evelyn Glennie OBE - International Solo Percussionist