William Whitehead, brief biography

William Whitehead has gained a wide reputation for his engaging and inspiring interpretation of the organ repertoire. His concert career was given a boost when he won first prize at the Odense International organ competition in Denmark, 2004. Since then he has travelled widely giving concerts in Europe and the US. Recent venues include The Royal Festival Hall, London (his debut at this venue), Westminster Cathedral, The Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms and Berlin Dom. A recorded artist on dozens of discs, he is most recently to be heard as organ soloist in Handel’s Op 7 No 1 Organ Concerto with the Gabrieli Consort and Players (Winged Lion label). His work as a continuo player brings him together with groups such as the Gabrieli Consort, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Proms 2023). 2015's Proms saw him appear with the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Trained at Oxford University and the Royal Academy of Music, William Whitehead is now a sought after organ teacher, teaching many students at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Previously he has held appointments as Assistant Organist, Rochester Cathedral, and Director of Music at St Mary’s Bourne Street, and is now the Associate Organist of Lincoln’s Inn in London. He has been a professor at both the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. As curator of the Orgelbüchlein project, William Whitehead is seeing through a large-scale project to 'complete' Bach's unfinished manuscript collection. This international project has already garnered much interest and is fast becoming a cross-section of the most interesting composers at work today. More information is available at www.orgelbuechlein.co.uk. Volume 4 is available with Peters Edition and Volume 3 directly from The Orgelbüchlein Project website (UK orders) https://orgelbuechlein.co.uk/purchase-scores and from Musica Baltica (rest of the world) https://www.musicabaltica.com/the-orgelbuchlein-project-volume-3-chorales-61-86.html.

 Press notices for ‘Dances of Life and Death’, Chandos CHAN 10315

‘…Whitehead’s more spacious approach reveals greater clarity. His sense of rhythmic bounce, coupled with a fastidious choice of colour, creates a strongly atmospheric performance. The recording, too, is outstanding…A winning disc.’
Gramophone Magazine, Jan 2006

‘…Whitehead’s compelling playing represents advocacy of a high order.’

BBC Music magazine, June 2005

'The engineering is excellent; a wonderfully resonant space… England seems to have a knack of developing young organists who become quickly proficient in the French literature. I hope to hear more from this excellent talent.' 
American Record Guide

'But what appeals most are the performances and the recording. Whitehead has an instinctive feel for this repertoire and a technique to match. The crisp voicing and attack of the splendid organ in Auxerre Cathedral is likewise more than equalled by the sophistication of the recording.'

International Record Review

'This is one of the most attractive organ discs that I have come across in the recent past. The whole programme is extremely intelligently devised and presented… The booklet notes are informative and well written… Amusing, too, are Alain’s cartoons, which are dotted around the booklet. But what appeals most are the performances and the recording. Whitehead has an instinctive feel for this repertoire and a technique to match. The crisp voicing and attack of the splendid organ is Auxerre Cathedral is likewise more than equalled by the sophistication of the recording.'

International Record Review