Jonathan Gregory is an English Cathedral organist who served as Director of Music at Leicester and St Anne’s Belfast Cathedrals, as well as Great St Mary’s, University Church, Cambridge and St George’s Collegiate Church, Belfast.
He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London, before taking up the position of Organ Scholar at Clare College, Cambridge. His teachers at the Royal Academy of Music included Martindale Sidwell, Jean Mackie and Edgar Brice, and at Cambridge David Willcocks, Peter Dennison, John Rutter and Gillian Weir.
Organ Recital on Saturday 15th February at St Michael’s Church, Highgate N6 6BJ
Jonathan Gregory was invited to give an organ recital by the Enfield & District Organists’ Association on Saturday 15th February at 6 pm at St Michael’s Church, Highgate, London. Music included works by JS Bach, Meyerbeer, Nicolas De Grigny, Christopher Brown, Olivier Messiaen, improvisation by Jonathan Gregory, and conclude with Carillon de Westminster by Louis Vierne. It was a lovely evening of organ music with a varied programme. Jonathan would like to thank the Enfield & District Organists’ Association and those who attended the organ recital.
Notice of Three Organ Recitals in September 2024
Tuesday 17th September at 1 pm – Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair, London
https://www.grosvenorchapel.org.uk
Saturday 21st September at 7 pm – St Mary’s Monken Hadley Church Hadley Wood, north London
https://www.monkenhadley.church
Friday 27th September at 1 pm – Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London
hpps://www.hgsfreechurch.org.uk
You are all welcome to all or any of the above recitals!
Leicester Cathedral celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Cathedral Girls’ Choir, which was the first in the Church of England Cathedrals, in September 2024.
Jonathan Gregory was the Master of the Music at Leicester Cathedral from 1994 till 2010, and he was invited to attend and conduct part of the Festival Choral Evensong, which marked the occasion on 15th of September at Leicester Cathedral.
To celebrate this historic anniversary, the Cathedral held two special events during the weekend of 14 and 15 September.
A Saturday night concert, ‘O Sons and Daughters, Let us Sing,’ was hosted by Classic FM presenter and former Leicester Cathedral chorister Katie Breathwick and brought together Cathedral Choir members past and present to sing a range of pieces from the Choir’s last half-century.
A Choral Evensong on Sunday included a new anthem, commissioned for the occasion, from the acclaimed composer Cecilia McDowall and welcomed guest preacher Revd Dr Victoria Johnson, Dean of Chapel at St John’s College, Cambridge. It was held in the presence of the Lord Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow.
Music Visit to Japan in April 2024
Jonathan Gregory made a visit to Japan in April 2024, where he gave lectures, recitals, workshops, playing for church services in in Tokyo, Chiba, Toyama, Hiroshima and Osaka, meeting and liaising with professors, musicians, teachers, priests and also attended the UK-Japan Music Society’s 30th Anniversary Lunch and presentation in Tokyo. The visit was supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and sponsors – Itochu Europe, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Yamaha Music London and Yamaha Music Europe. It was a very busy but rewarding visit to Japan, where existing links were strengthened and new links developed. He was particularly moved by the fact that organ music composed by the British musicians – from 16th century to present day – were first introduced to the organ students at Tokyo University of the Arts.
During the visit, Jonathan played and introduced music by Byrd, Tomkins, Purcell, Jeremiah Clarke, John Stanley, William Boyce, S Wesley, Stanford, Elgar, Walford Davies, Vaughan Williams, Howells, Leighton, Mathias, C. S. Lang, Preston, Arthur Bliss, J Gregory, as well as music by J S Bach, Mendelssohn and other European composers.
Highlights of the Music Visit to Japan
Jonathan was introduced by the Revd Barnabas Ohno to the organist and to the congregation. He played and introduced English composers’ organ music during and after the service at St Mary’s Church, Ichikawa, Chiba, where the resident organist observed his playing. The congregation much appreciated Jonathan’s expertise and a short lecture after the service.
Jonathan was invited to give a Special Lecture Recital at Tokyo Geidai – Tokyo University of the Arts, and Professor Hiroe introduced the Lecture at the Organ Classroom of the University
Jonathan gave an organ recital at St Anselm Catholic Meguro Church in Tokyo, in aid of Noto Peninsula Earthquake Relief Aid.
The Reunion of the former UK-Japan Choir members was arranged in Tokyo, to mark the 30th Anniversary of founding of the UK-Japan Music Society. During the lunch, a presentation was made to Jonathan for his work for the Music Society and the Choir since 1992.
Jonathan gave an organ recital at St Mary’s Church in Toyama, in aid of Noto Peninsula Earthquake Relief Aid. There have been a strong link with Toyama St Mary’s Church over the years.
Jonathan visited a school in Hiroshima, giving workshops – organ and choral, lessons and an organ recital, and enjoyed the interaction with the students. Before leaving Hiroshima, Jonathan was able to visit Hiroshima Peace Park and the Genbaku Museum for the first time, led by the Revd Nagano, the vicar of the Church of Resurrection in Hiroshima.
Jonathan gave a lecture recital at SDA Osaka Church, and introduced British composers works. The audience appreciated the opportunity to hear organ music from the UK.
Organ Recital on Friday 27th October 2023
Jonathan Gregory gave a lunchtime Organ Recital at Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church on Friday 27th October at 1 pm.
He played music by Johann Pachelbel Variations on ‘Was Gott, tut, das ist wohlgetan’, William Byrd A Fancy , Johann Sebastian Bach Chorale Preludes, Ich ruf zu dir, So soll ich fliehen hin; Fugue in F BWV 540, Louis Vierne Claire de lune, Arthur Bliss Fanfares, Jonathan Gregory Fanfares, William Mathias Fanfares, Josef Rheinberger Trios E flat and A minor, Theodore Dubois Toccata in G.
Organ Recital on Monday 25th September 2023
Jonathan Gregory gave a Lunchtime Organ Recital at Southwark Cathedral London yesterday on Monday 25th September at 1:15 pm.
Jonathan Gregory gave a lunchtime organ recital at Southwark Cathedral London, on Monday 25th September at 1:15 pm.
He played music by JS Bach Fugue in F BWV 540ii and Two Chorale Preludes i. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639; ii. Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 646, William Byrd Callino Casturame, William Boyce Voluntary in D [Larghetto-Vivace], Martin How Reverie, Three fanfares by i. Arthur Bliss, ii. J Gregory and iii. William Mathias.
It was a pleasant autumnal day and thank you for coming to hear him.
Southwark Cathedral is located next to London Bridge Station, south of the River Thames, and just a few minutes walk from the station. Please see Planning Your Journey page of the Cathedral’s website for the details – https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/planning-your-journey/ Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Organ Recital on Saturday 8th July 2023 at 7 pm
Jonathan gave his first organ recital at St Mary’s Monken Church in Hadley Wood on Saturday at 7 pm. It was part of fundraising events for the restoration of the Church House next to the Church. The programme suited to the organ of the Church, which is the Forster and Andrews Organ (approx. 1870). Jonathan was assisted by Duncan Paulson, and they played a duet at the recital. It was a lovely summer organ recital in a beautiful church, to which many friends, supporters and those organ enthusiasts attended. Thank you for coming and you were all very welcome. https://www.monkenhadley.church/st-marys-church/contact-directory with maps at the bottom.
Organ Recital at the Church of the Advent, Boston, Massachusetts, US On Sunday May 21, 2023
Jonathan Gregory gave an organ recital in the Church of the Advent, Boston, US, on Sunday 21st May this year, playing the historic Aeollian-Skinner Organ. The programme included, JS Bach Wenn wir in hochsten Nothen sein BWV 641, Trio: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend BWV 655; William Byrd The Carmans Whistle: variations; Arthur Bliss The Sovereign’s Fanfare; William Mthias Fanfare; Martin How Reverie; Simon Preston Alleluyas; Louis Vierne Carillon de Westminster.
Jonathan was very grateful to the warm welcome he received from Mr Mark Dwyer, the Director of Music, and to Ms Maria Denslow and the Revd Canon Fr Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff for their exceptional support they gave him. It was a lovely early summer day, and the audience enjoyed works by a group of English composers, as well as JS Bach and Louise Vierne.
Jonathan Gregory’s Organ Photo Gallery 1
