Anthony Hammond, English Concert Organist and Cochereau Biographer, presents a lecture-recital on the life and music of Pierre Cochereau.

Equally renowned as an interpreter and improviser, Dr Anthony Hammond studied the organ in England with Roger Fisher and David Briggs, and in Paris with Dr. Naji Hakim. A graduate of the University of Bristol, he held posts at Chester Cathedral and St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol, before spending a period as Sub-Organist at Bristol Cathedral. Today he is the Director of Music and Organist of Cirencester Parish Church, in the heart of the Cotswolds - one of England’s grandest parish churches and home to one of the country’s finest organs. A Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and winner of the Dixon Prize for Improvisation, his passion for French organ music and improvisation led to doctoral research into the career and technique of legendary French organist and improviser Pierre Cochereau, for which he was awarded his Ph.D. in July 2010.

His CD recordings, mostly for the Priory label, are critically acclaimed both in Europe and in the U.S.A. He has reconstructed a number of improvisations by Pierre Cochereau, the scores for two of which have been published by Dr. J. Butz Musikverlag, Bonn, and several of which he has recorded. As an interpreter he performs music from all periods, but is particularly associated with Romantic and early 20th century French and English repertoire. Most of his concerts conclude with large-scale improvisations, and he enjoys bringing new audiences to the organ through his improvised accompaniments to classic silent films, in particular The Phantom of the Opera. He has broadcast for the B.B.C. and has given recitals in churches, cathedrals and concert halls throughout the U.K., in Europe and in the U.S.A.

In October 2009 he made his American solo debut at St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco, which he has followed more recently with concerts in such venues as the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. and Holy Cross Cathedral, Boston. In 2012, the University of Rochester Press published his new book on Pierre Cochereau, the first full length English language study of this incredible musician, written with full assistance and support from the Cochereau family and former colleagues.