Richard Hills

...from the Cinema Organ Society website at http://www.cinema-organs.org.uk/

Richard Hills is one of the very few musicians truly to have bridged and mastered the divide between the world of the classical organ and that of the theatre organ. Having commenced classical organ studies under William Whitehead at Rochester Cathedral, he became Organ Scholar at Exeter College Oxford, studying with David Sanger. Further organ scholarships followed at Portsmouth Cathedral, where he studied with Rosemary Field and at Westminster Abbey.

He now pursues a freelance career and is Organist at St Mary's, Bourne Street, London. His·career in the theatre organ world has been equally prestigious. He has numerous·prizes and awards to his credit, both in this country and in the USA, where he was named by 'Organist of the Year' in 2010 by the American Theatre Organ Society. He has appeared many times on national and international TV and Radio, including solo appearances on programmes as diverse as Radio 3 Choral Evensong and Radio 2's 'Friday Night is Music Night', and has several recording credits. His most recent solo recording was made on the magnificent dual-purpose Compton organ of Southampton's Guildhall.

When not on the bench Richard serves as Musical Advisor to the Cinema Organ Society and maintains a practical interest in organ building.