Organ Recital: Simon Bell

Simon Bell is Director of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, and Director of Choral Music at Dean Close School in Cheltenham, a post which he has held since 2012. His post at Dean Close also includes responsibility for the choral programme in the senior school. Under his direction, Schola Cantorum has recorded highly acclaimed albums for Regent Records, has broadcast Evensong regularly on BBC Radio 3 and has performed in Sweden, France, The Netherlands, and Germany.

Simon is a graduate of the University of Leeds and the Royal College of Music. He was twice a prize winner at the coveted St Albans International Organ Competition and is a past Limpus prize winner in the FRCO diploma examination. He is also a former holder of the WT Best Memorial Organ Scholarship, awarded by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Simon was taught by Graham Barber, Margaret Phillips and studied in The Netherlands with Ben van Oosten. In addition to his role, he is active as a solo organist, performing concerts regularly in Cathedrals and Churches up and down the UK and abroad. Between 2015 and 2018, he was the Festival Organist at the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy, and since 2020, he has been Musical Director of Stroud Choral Society.