Francois Cloete Organ Recital

Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Organ Sonata, Op. 28

1. Allegro maestoso
2. Allegretto
3. Andanto espressivo
4. Presto (comodo)

Louis Vierne (1870-1937): Final from Organ Symphony No. 5, Op. 47

François Cloete is currently Junior Organ Scholar at Merton College, Oxford, and is in his second year reading Music. François accompanies the College Choir and Girls’ Choir for their schedule of five services a week, concerts, and tours. As organ scholar François has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonic, and Instruments of Time and Truth, as well as playing for live broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and Danish Radio. François has given organ recitals at Exeter, Keble, Queen’s, and Merton colleges, in addition to recitals at Trinity College, Cambridge, Passiontide at Merton, and the 2023 Three Choirs Festival.

François was educated at Wells Cathedral School as a specialist musician and has held organ scholarships at Wells Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral. At the age of 19 François became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, receiving three prizes for highest marks in every component of the examinations. François has recently taken up directorship of the Oxford Baroque Players and is an active harpsichordist, studying with Terence Charlston. This term François will be giving a chamber music recital series, accompanying Franck and Beethoven violin sonatas at venues including St. Anne’s, Jesus, Merton, Hertford, Queen’s, and St. Peter’s colleges. François also accompanies for the Oxford Bach Choir and the Oxford University Opera Society.

François currently studies organ repertoire with Christian Wilson, in addition to lessons with David Ponsford under the Oxford-RAM scheme.