Organ Recitals
International organ recitals featuring original contemporary organ music, composed and performed by English concert organist David Hicken.
English composer and concert organist David Hicken is available internationally for organ recitals, cathedral concerts, organ festivals and concert series, presenting programmes devoted exclusively to his own original compositions.
As both composer and performer, David offers audiences a distinctive concert experience: the opportunity to hear new organ music performed by the musician who created it. His compositions combine memorable melodies, rich harmonies, rhythmic energy, virtuoso writing and dramatic musical storytelling.
From intimate and lyrical passages to exhilarating, monumental works, his music explores the extraordinary expressive range, tonal colour and power of the organ, bringing a fresh and contemporary musical voice to one of the world's most magnificent instruments.
International Concert Organist
David's performing career has included recitals at some of England's most distinguished ecclesiastical venues, including St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral in London, St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, and the cathedrals of Worcester, Hereford, Chester and Newcastle.
A three-time prize winner at the Oundle International Organ Festival and a laureate of the Huddersfield Organ Festival, David studied with Nicholas Danby in London and later at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in the United States. His career has encompassed international concert performances, composition and recording.
His original music has reached audiences around the world, attracting more than 62 million views on YouTube. Today, he devotes his creative work to composing and performing new music for the organ, combining his extensive experience as a concert organist with a commitment to expanding the instrument's contemporary repertoire.
Watch David Hicken Perform
Ascension — Original Organ Music
Composed and performed by David Hicken, Ascension combines driving rhythms, soaring melodies and a powerful, triumphant climax. This performance demonstrates the energy, virtuosity and dramatic musical character that audiences can experience in his original organ recital programmes.
Original Organ Recital Programmes
David's organ recital programmes consist entirely of his own original compositions, offering concert audiences an opportunity to discover exciting new repertoire written specifically for the organ.
His music ranges from reflective, atmospheric and lyrical works to exhilarating toccatas and large-scale concert compositions. Each programme is designed to showcase the extraordinary versatility of the instrument, from the delicate colours of individual stops to the immense power and grandeur of the full organ.
Recital programmes can be tailored to the instrument, venue and duration of the event. David welcomes invitations for full-length organ recitals, festival performances and shorter concert appearances, with programmes selected to complement the character and tonal resources of each instrument.
He is particularly interested in performing on significant organs in cathedrals, churches, concert halls and festivals that welcome contemporary organ music and the presentation of new compositions to their audiences.
A Different Kind of Organ Recital
The organ possesses an extraordinary musical heritage, but David believes its future can be every bit as exciting as its past.
His concerts present the instrument through a contemporary musical language, combining the architectural grandeur and expressive possibilities of the traditional organ with the immediacy, energy and emotional impact of new music.
Rather than presenting a conventional historical recital programme, David performs exclusively his own compositions. This creates a direct connection between composer, performer and audience, offering a distinctive musical experience that can appeal both to established organ enthusiasts and to listeners discovering the instrument for the first time.
Through these performances, David seeks to demonstrate that the organ is not simply an instrument associated with the past, but a powerful and compelling voice for contemporary musical expression.
Recital and Festival Invitations
David welcomes enquiries from cathedral and church music directors, concert promoters, organ societies, festival organisers, concert halls and arts organisations interested in presenting original contemporary organ music.
Invitations are welcomed from venues throughout the world. Whether planning an international organ festival, a cathedral recital series or a special concert featuring new music, organisers are invited to discuss the possibilities of presenting a programme of David's original compositions.
Enquiries should ideally include the proposed venue, location, possible dates, information about the organ and any relevant details about the concert or festival.