David Hicken

David Hicken is an organist and composer whose artistry unites commanding virtuosity with a vivid musical imagination and a deeply expressive sense of storytelling. Both performer and creator, he brings a living voice to the great organ tradition through powerful original works written specifically for the instrument.

Raised in a musical family, David began piano lessons at the age of three with his mother, a piano teacher, and later studied clarinet and organ. By the age of sixteen, he had achieved Grade 8 with distinction in piano, organ, clarinet, and music theory through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, later earning the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music. His formative years were shaped by the English cathedral tradition, where the scale of sacred spaces and the dramatic voice of the organ left a lasting artistic imprint.

A three-time prize winner at the Oundle International Organ Festival and a laureate of the Huddersfield Organ Festival, David later received a major music scholarship to Stowe School. His early career included performances at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral in London, the cathedrals of Chester and Newcastle, and St George’s Chapel, Windsor. He has appeared as concerto soloist with the Oxford Symphony Orchestra in England and the Westchester Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles, earning recognition for both expressive depth and technical command.

After studies in London with Nicholas Danby, David continued his training in the United States at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where his artistry quickly attracted international attention. A symphonic appearance as featured soloist led to a two album recording contract, bringing his work to a global audience.

David later served as Director of Music at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. During a decade in Hawaii, he conducted major choral orchestral works including Vivaldi’s Gloria and Bach’s Magnificat, further establishing his reputation as both performer and musical leader.

As a composer, his published choral work Adoramus te has received international performances, including at the Vatican, Notre Dame Cathedral, Carnegie Hall, and Canterbury Cathedral. While widely known for his piano works, his focus has now shifted decisively to the organ, where he is developing a distinct and recognisable compositional voice.

Today, David is recognised for forging a new direction in organ music. His compositions draw on the structural clarity of Baroque counterpoint and the emotional breadth of the Romantic tradition, combined with a strong sense of atmosphere and narrative. From thunderous toccatas to luminous meditative works, his music spans a wide expressive range while consistently highlighting the full sonic power of the instrument.

He creates and records from his studio in northern Thailand, where the surrounding landscape and solitude inform the expansive character of his work. Through modern recording techniques, he captures the scale, colour, and intensity of the organ with exceptional clarity, reaching a global audience through studio performances and digital releases.

Through these recordings and platforms, David has built a substantial international following, with tens of millions of video views and a rapidly growing audience. His music is performed by organists worldwide who seek repertoire that is both compelling to listeners and deeply satisfying to play.