Organ
Saturday 28th June 2025, 11:00 am: Jonathan Holmes in Recital
Jonathan Holmes was born in Devizes, Wiltshire and attended Warminster School on an Academic Scholarship before receiving a Full Music Scholarship to Millfield School. He was then awarded a Scholarship by the Royal College of Organists to study at the Royal College of Music with such renowned musicians as Sir David Willcocks, Dr Anthony Milner, Richard Popplewell, Ralph Downes and Herbert Howells. He graduated with a London BMus together with ARCO and ARCM (Piano Teacher’s) Diplomas.
Whilst at the RCM he was twice awarded the Walford-Davies Organ Prize and won major competitions including the London Organ Week and the Munich Organ Competition which resulted in a BBC Radio 3 recording of Reger’s challenging Op.73 Variations. He was nominated “Young Artist” by both the Greater London Arts Association and Southern Arts who then sponsored his recitals at such prestigious venues as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Jonathan’s Reger broadcast was heard by James Dalton, the Organist of The Queen’s College Oxford who immediately telephoned to offer him the Organ Scholarship. He was able to accept this offer because the Worshipful Company of Musicians awarded him their most coveted organ prize, the W. T. Best Organ Scholarship – an honour shared with some of the greatest organists of our time. (He was preceded by Stephen Cleobury and succeeded by John Scott.)
At Oxford his work included composition and a thesis on the works of Max Reger. He achieved his Oxford degree in music and his FRCO and was awarded the Provost’s Prize by Lord Blake for services to the college.
Jonathan’s time at Oxford was followed by a PGCE year at King Alfred’s College, Winchester.
Jonathan returned to London to pursue a career in teaching and performing. He spent six years as Assistant Director of Music at Kings College School, Wimbledon where he worked (with the Boys’ Choir) with Sir Colin Davis and Jonathan Miller in major performances at the RAH and with ENO.
In 1986 he was appointed Director of Music at Monmouth School where; in the course of eight years, he developed one of the finest school music departments in Wales. There he worked with many famous musicians including Bryn Terfel, The Academy of Ancient Music and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and he led his students to win major choral and orchestral awards. Many pupils achieved Oxbridge Organ and Choral Scholarships and now hold major music posts in the U.K. and abroad.
In 1994 he moved to become Director of Music at Cranleigh School. 1997 brought him back to London as Director of Music at Emanuel School Wandsworth, where he was able to develop and expand the excellent and exciting work of the music department.
Jonathan continues as Director of Music at St Mary’s Ewell, Organist of Epsom College, and Past-President of the Bromley & Croydon Organists’ Association.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyZy_yH3SffyJ9I4-kmjvag/videos?view_as=subscriber