Royal visit celebrates return of Cathedral’s organ ahead of music festival

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of Norwich Cathedral’s historic pipe organ ahead of a special festival celebrating the return of the magnificent instrument.

The Duke was the Patron of the They Shall Laugh and Sing Music Appeal which raised the £1.8m needed to fund a major rebuild of the organ and ensure people could enjoy its music long into the future.

Thursday’s visit was a chance for HRH to both see and hear the fruits of the campaign ahead of the Organ Reborn! 2024 Festival starting on Saturday 6 July.

During the visit The Duke also spent time meeting choristers and joined the congregation for Evensong where he was able to hear the newly-rebuilt organ and the Cathedral Choir in all their glory.

Ashley Grote, the Cathedral’s Master of Music, said: “We are deeply honoured that His Royal Highness continues to take such an interest in the music here at Norwich Cathedral. His Patronage was a tremendous support to us in achieving the recent rebuilding of the cathedral organ and it is wonderful to be able to welcome him back to the Cathedral, to hear the choristers sing and see what a positive impact music is having on their lives.”

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s continued support and lively interest in music at Norwich Cathedral as Patron of the Statham Society is a huge encouragement to us. We are delighted he has been able to hear the rebuilt organ for himself.”

The Duke of Edinburgh is a long-term supporter of the musical life of Norwich Cathedral and previously visited in May 2019 for an event linked to the They Shall Laugh and Sing Music Appeal.

HRH is currently Patron of The Statham Society, an organisation set up to help further musical opportunities at Norwich Cathedral. In March 2021 The Duke joined the Cathedral’s choristers on a Zoom call where he helped to choose the name of The Statham Society which pays tribute to Heathcote Statham, Norwich Cathedral’s organist from 1928 to 1966.

The historic pipe organ is at the heart of the Cathedral’s musical life and it has an incredible 5,767 pipes ranging from about the length of a pencil to an incredible 32ft (almost 10 metres).

The recent rebuild project completed by organ specialists Harrison and Harrison in summer 2023 was more than a decade in the making and was the instrument’s first complete overhaul since it was rebuilt in 1942, following a fire which partially destroyed the instrument in April 1938.

The Organ Reborn! 2024 Festival will take place from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 July 2024 and will celebrate the first anniversary of the organ’s return following the ambitious rebuild project to ensure people can enjoy its music for generations to come.

From epic concerts with three Cathedral Choirs, the BBC Singers and Britten Sinfonia to a Battle of the Organs, there is lots for music fans to look forward to throughout the nine-day event.

All pictures by Jason Bye.