About | People

James Grossmith | Director of Music

James Grossmith is Director of Chapel Music and Chorus Master of Scottish Opera. He was organ scholar of Clare College, Cambridge before winning a scholarship for postgraduate conducting studies with Martyn Brabbins at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD). Upon completing his Masters in Conducting James was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and until 2005 acted as Director of Choral Music at the Academy, regularly conducting the RSAMD symphony orchestra, chamber choir and chorus.

Kevin Bowyer | Organist

Kevin Bowyer has been Organist to the University of Glasgow since September 2005. He accompanies Chapel Choir and is Artistic Director of the annual International Organ Festival held in the Memorial Chapel. 

Kevin also leads the Sorabji Organ Works Project, a five year plan supported by The Glasgow University Trust, aims to have a complete critical edition of all three of the Sorabji organ symphonies in print by June 2013 as well as live performances of all three works. CD recordings of the complete Sorabji organ works will be released on Altarus Records, who will also produce a DVD documenting the entire project. Sorabji's massive and largely unplayed Second Organ Symphony (1929-32, about 6½ hours) is scheduled for performance in June 2009. The Third Organ Symphony (1949-54, also about 6½ hours, also unplayed), reputedly the most complex and technically demanding organ work ever composed, is currently undergoing conversion from the manuscript into a workable performing score and is scheduled to be surfacing in public performance in early summer 2013.

Andrew Forbes | Organ Scholar

Beginning piano lessons at age 7 and trombone lessons 3 years later, Andrew Forbes commenced his organ studies at age 13 with Eoin Bennet. He soon attained ABRSM Grade VIII; the post of Organist at St. Matthew's Church, Perth and, at age 18, the organ scholarship of St. John's Kirk, Perth. Now 19, he is in the third year of a Masters degree in Naval Architecture at the University of Strathclyde, also holding the office of Organ Scholar at Glasgow University. Andrew currently studies organ under Chris Bragg and has given performances in venues including the Caird Hall, Dundee; Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow; Paisley Abbey and the Royal Albert Hall, London. He has also enjoyed a diverse career as a pianist, performing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich's Second Piano Concerto on multiple occasions with orchestra, as well as winning several solo competitions. When away from the organ bench, Andrew enjoys reading and, if the weather's good, is a keen cyclist, photographer and sailor.

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