Freemasons’ Hall to welcome Tom Bell for autumn organ concert
The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the home of Freemasonry in England and Wales, has announced its autumn organ concert for 2023, which will take place at Freemasons’ Hall on 08 November at 6:00pm.
The concert is to be given by the concert organist Tom Bell, who has been described as “invigorating” (Sunday Times), “compelling” (Organists’ Review) and “brilliant” (American Record Guide). Tom has built a vibrant international portfolio of work as a performer and educator which has taken him across Europe, to Asia, the USA and Australia.
Tom’s concert in the Grand Temple at Freemasons’ Hall, includes a diverse and lively programme, with works including 20th Century Cornucopia; Adagio in E – Bridge; Rhapsody no.3 in C sharp minor – Howells; L’Ascension – Messiaen; Rhosymedre – Vaughan Williams; and Tu es Petra – Mulet.
The organist is known as an innovator, having worked with beatboxers, visual artists, poets, folk musicians and dancers, and his work has been broadcast worldwide. Current projects involve music by Messiaen and nineteenth-century editions of Bach.
His educational activities are centered on work with the Royal College of Organists; he is equally at ease leading workshops for children or teaching the next generation of professionals. His students have held prestigious scholarships in the UK. Tom is Artistic Director of the London Organ Day, studied with Kevin Bowyer, Jacques van Oortmerssen and Ann Elise Smoot, and lives in the north of England.
The concert is a perfect opportunity to soak in the grandeur of Freemasons’ Hall, widely known as an art deco masterpiece and completed in 1933 as a memorial to the nearly 3,500 Freemasons who lost their lives in the First World War. Built in the central courtyard of the building, the Grand Temple is rich with multicoloured details of blue, gold and white. The Grand Temple was designed as a pentagon to suit the irregular area in which it is located and features stunning ceiling mosaics rich with historic symbolism.
The event will showcase the magnificent Willis pipe organ. The original organ was installed in 1933 by Henry Willis, the third generation of an extended family line of organ builders. It originally had three manuals and 43 stops, giving a total complement of some 2,220 pipes, and was the last big organ built by the Willis firm.
Tickets, costing £5 (which includes a free programme and a donation to the Royal College of Organists), may be obtained here:
Contact:
Livia Ferreira, public relations and marketing manager, United Grand Lodge of England
Email: lferreira@ugle.org.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7395 9208 | Mobile: +44 (0)7539 578699
Shaun Butler, director of communications and marketing, United Grand Lodge of England
Email: sbutler@ugle.org.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7395 9282
About the United Grand Lodge of England:
The Premier Grand Lodge, which became the United Grand Lodge of England, was founded at the Goose and Gridiron Pub in London in 1717.
It has 48 Provinces across the country and more than 7,000 Lodges, with students over the age of 18 able to join one of the 85 University Scheme Lodges.
Freemasons use four important guiding principles to help define their path through life: integrity, friendship, respect and charity.
One of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, Freemasonry’s roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles.
Membership is open to people from all backgrounds and the organisation’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.
Freemasonry is one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing more than £48m to deserving causes in 2018 alone. Freemasons do not only donate money – more than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work were undertaken by Freemasons every year.