Winchcombe

Fiona Brown was an organ scholar at Trinity Hall, Cambridge before becoming an FRCO in 1984. Her organ teachers have included Ian Ball, James Dalton, David Sanger and Gillian Weir.

Her full-time teaching posts, at Repton School and then the Cheltenham Ladies' College, were combined with concert work on organ, harpsichord and piano, including work with the Dolmetsch ensemble at the Haslemere Festival, Brandenburg concerto No 5 by Bach in Repton Parish Church and organ recitals in Gloucester, Ely and Derby cathedrals.

Fiona now combines part-time piano and organ teaching at the Ladies' College with her post of Director of Music at St Peter's Church here in Winchcombe where she is organist and choirmaster of a 40-strong choir of children and adults.  Her most exciting event at St Peter's so far has been directing and conducting Noyes Fludde by Benjamin Britten.  Her concert work continues, including Concerto for organ, timpani and strings by Poulenc in Monmouth Parish Church and the Organ Symphony by Saint-Saens in Cirencester Parish Church, Cheltenham Town Hall and Brecon Cathedral.

Fiona provides piano accompaniment for exams and for the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts.  She regards her playing for numerous funerals and weddings (where the organist has the capacity to bring solace or joy) as a highly important part of her work.

You can hear Fiona (with cellist Nella Hunkins) at St Michael's Church, Stanley Pontlarge in Pipes and Strings on Thursday 31st May at 1pm.