Harpsichord recital: “French connections”

Local organist François Cloete will be giving a harpsichord recital as a fundraiser for the Guernsey Harpsichord Trust (GHT) on Thursday 30 July.

Titled “French Connections”, the recital explores harpsichord music in the French style by composers across Europe including François Couperin, Henry Purcell, and J.S. Bach. An extremely talented keyboard player, François is currently organ scholar at Westminster Abbey.

Having grown up in Guernsey and attended Elizabeth College for the first part of his secondary education, he has held organ scholarships at Wells Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral and, most recently, Merton College Oxford, where he was awarded the Gibbs Prize (top marks) in his undergraduate degree. Next year he begins doctoral research with a full scholarship from Magdalen College and returns to Merton as their Assistant Organist.

His performance will showcase the Trust’s recently restored Andrew Garlick harpsichord in its full splendour. One of the objectives will be to encourage talented young musicians to take up learning to play the harpsichord.

François has very kindly agreed to waive his fee for the concert but we are seeking donations of £25 – or more! – to help defray the cost of insuring and maintaining the instrument.

The concert will be in the Hall at Elizabeth College starting at 6.30pm and lasting for about an hour. We will be offering drinks afterwards when audience members will have an opportunity to chat to François and to inspect this unique instrument. His recital last year, when he performed J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations, was described as “An Evening of Pure Magic”. We confidently expect this year’s recital to be equally special.

The account details for online payments, are:

• Account name:  Guernsey Harpsichord Trust
• Account number: 13415341
• Sort Code:  20-35-32