Henry Fairs is Head of Organ Studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire and organist to the University of Birmingham. Since winning first prize at the Odense International Organ Competition, his concert career has taken him to the major European centres of organ music and to America, performing solo recitals and concertos on both historic and modern instruments

Born in Hereford in 1976, he received his earliest musical training as a chorister at Leominster Priory. After studies with David Saint, graduating with First Class Honours from the Birmingham Conservatoire and gaining the Fellowship diploma of the Royal College of Organists with the Turpin and Durrant Prize, a bursary from the Countess of Munster Trust enabled study with Susan Landale in France where in 1999 he won the Premier Prix d’Exellence à l’unanimité du jury. He then undertook further studies in Germany with Thierry Mechler at the Hochschule für Musik, Köln and in England with David Sanger.

Henry Fairs is regularly invited to give guest lectures and masterclasses: this year as a guest tutor and jury member at the Carl Nielsen International Festival and Competition, Denmark, Edinburgh Organ Academy, London Organ Day and the Royal Norwegian Academy, Oslo.

He enjoys playing and teaching a broad, eclectic repertoire with a strong focus on historically informed practice and techniques and their relevance and application today.

Past/Forthcoming Projects

•2012-2015-: JS Bach – The Organ Works
•2011-: Alain – The Organ Works (performed in three concerts)
•2011-: “Lisztomania” – The Three Great Organ Works & Reubke Sonata (Birmingham & Edinburgh)
•2008-: Messiaen - The Organ Works (Six Concerts for the Barber Institute of Fine Arts/University of Birmingham)
•2002-: Duruflé – The Organ Works


Recent Recordings & Broadcasts

•2011: Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) – broadcast Liszt recital from the Merseburger Orgeltage, Merseburg Cathedral, Germany
•2009: Danish Radio (DR) - Live broadcast of Poulenc Organ Concerto & Duruflé, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Denmark
•2008: Bayerischer Rundfunk – broadcast recital from the Internationale Orgelwoche, Nuremberg, Germany
•2007: CD Duruflé - Complete Organ Works (Naxos 8.557924)
"Fairs emerges as a top-notch performer. His registrations, tempos, and sensitivity to subtle nuances in phrasing and articulation are superb." American Record Guide

Recent Summer Courses & Masterclasses Given

•2012: Masterclass: Bach’s Great 18 Chorales
RCO/St Giles, London
•2011: Masterclass: Liszt & German Romantic
Royal Norwegian Academy of Music, Oslo
•2011: Lecture: “Pianist/Composers with recent anniversaries and their organ music”
Carl Nielsen International Festival & Competition, Denmark
•2011: Masterclass: Liszt & Reubke
London Organ Day
•2011: Masterclass: Alain
RCO/St Giles, London
•2011: Masterclass: Buxtehude at St Jakobi, Lübeck
RCO/St Giles study trip