On Wednesday 7th May we welcome Robert Poyser from Beverley Minster for the first organ recital of our Summer 2025 season. In this edition of ‘Notes from an Organist’ we discover more about them, and what to expect from their recital, including weaving some local references into an international programme; starting up new choirs; and how the Blackpool Tower Ballroom has influenced their playlist!
Could you introduce yourself, how you got into music / become an organist and your musical journey to where you are today?
Hello, my name is Robert Poyser, Director of Music at Beverley Minster since 2009. I was a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral under John Sanders and my time there inspired me to do what I do now. The sound of the Gloucester organ was unique (a deliberate past tense as there is a new organ under construction there now) and I couldn’t wait to play it! After leaving school, I was organ scholar at Beverley Minster whilst doing my degree at Hull University, then organ scholar at York Minster. I was Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral for 5 years, then Director of Music at St Mary’s Church Portsea and then to Beverley.
What can people expect from your recital at Bradford Cathedral?
A mixture of all sorts! Hopefully entertaining, varied, fun, serious and all places in between. I have chosen music that Reginald Dixon would have played at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool as well as 16th Century English music and some fabulous Bach. My particular favourite part of organ playing is improvisation and my recital finishes with a four movement improvised symphony.
Why do you enjoy playing the organ?
I enjoy the challenge of treating the organ and acoustic like an orchestra in an ever-changing environment. Sounds that work in one space on one instrument would be completely different in the next space. Bringing this all together is a great challenge.
Do you have a particular favourite piece out of those you are playing?
Blaze Away! It is so cheering and vibrant. The Bach is a great piece with a wonderful mix of technical challenges and changes of mood.
This season’s theme is Bradfordian Organ Music – music from composers with a connection to the City and District. How are you reflecting this in your programme?
Sorry – a very international flavour to today’s programme! Listen carefully to the improvisation for some more local references!
What are your hopes or plans musically for the rest of 2025?
Survival. I’m playing a few more recitals but other than that managing a really busy music programme at Beverley Minster is an all-encompassing enterprise!
You started a girls’ choir and then a junior choir at Beverley Minster – how have they been going?
Well! We now have over 100 singers involved in music-making at the Minster on a weekly basis. Our girls choir has now been split in to two, Girls (aged 8-13) and Consort (aged 13-18) and our Junior Choir has over 20 members (aged 4-8) and has become our most reliable source of new trebles for our Boys and Girls Choirs. I couldn’t manage the Junior Choir without the amazing leadership of its Director, Rachel Dent who has a knack of choosing entertaining and fun things for them to sing.
You’ve recorded several CDs of organ music; what makes for a good compilation of pieces?
As much as possible, an absence of dullness. A variety of styles, sounds, emotions and volume!
Outside of work you enjoy travelling – where has been your favourite place to visit?
I am a huge fan or railways and I travel to Wick and Thurso on the Far North Line from Inverness every Summer.
Finally, how would you sum up your upcoming recital at Bradford Cathedral?
It is a privilege to come and play at Bradford Cathedral. I am looking forward to getting to know the organ and building again and I hope that you all enjoy the concert.
You can join us on Wednesday 7th May at 1pm to hear Robert’s organ recital, with an optional £4 buffet lunch beforehand at 12:30pm.
You can discover more about our organ recital season on our dedicated page.