Christian Wilson has forged a unique path as an organist, showcasing trailblazing virtuosity and profound musicianship through inspired and unorthodox programming, and championing rarely heard or forgotten masterpieces. His programmes celebrate both the historic roots and central repertoire of the instrument whilst engaging audiences through original juxtapositions with transcriptions of jazz and other genres, ranging from medieval intabulations to music by Piazzolla and Frank Zappa. Recent performances have met with critical acclaim at major concert venues across Europe, Australia, Russia, South Africa and the USA.
Christian’s musical career began at Westminster Abbey, where he was head chorister. He spent a year as Sub-Organist at Perth Cathedral (Western Australia) before taking up the Organ Scholarship at Christ Church, Oxford. Following a research degree (investigating the pre-Reformation English organ), Christian was awarded various prizes and scholarships to study for the solo postgraduate degree at the Musikhochschule, Stuttgart with Jon Laukvik and Ludger Lohmann. In 2012, he became the eighth person in the world to perform Francis Pott’s epic Organ Symphony ‘Christus’ (sometimes considered the “Everest” of organ repertory) with performances in Germany and the UK.
In addition to his role as Organist at the HM Chapels Royal in the Tower of London, Christian is Director of Music at Brasenose College in Oxford, and Assistant Organist at Christ Church, Oxford. He is also busy as a pianist, chamber musician, teacher and musicologist. Recent recordings include a disc of music from the interwar period (Commotio) and the first volume of organ works by living composer Francis Pott (both on the Acis label).
Future engagements include tours to the USA, Canada, along with various European concert dates, and a recording of the organ/chamber works of York Bowen. Christian is currently editing the cycle of Lady Masses by Nicholas Ludford (c.1485-1557) for EECM, and the keyboard works of Austrian WWII émigré Walter Bricht (1904-1970) in preparation for an edition and recording.
