Jonathan Allsopp has been organ scholar at Durham Cathedral since 2014, where he accompanies the cathedral choir in the daily services and trains the choristers and probationers. In 2015 he was also acting assistant organist for a term. Alongside this, he is Director of Music at Hatfield College, Durham, conducting the chapel choir in their weekly services, and is a music finalist at Durham University. In 2015 he founded the Dunelm Consort and Players, a group of Durham-based singers and instrumentalists dedicated to early music.
Born in Surrey, he was organ scholar at both St Mary’s, Ewell and King’s College School, Wimbledon during his sixth-form, before spending a year as organ scholar at Hereford Cathedral. While at Hereford, he regularly accompanied and conducted the cathedral choir, toured with them to the USA, and took part in the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester.
Jonathan has performed widely as a soloist, having performed recitals at many cathedrals and churches across the country. Upcoming performances include Westminster, Blackburn and Chester cathedrals, St Michael’s, Cornhill, and a performance of Bach’s Clavier-Übung III in Durham. In recent years, Jonathan has developed a particular interest in contemporary organ music, and enjoys working with composers. He commissioned and premiered David Loxley-Blount’s Liberate te ex inferis in 2015 at Durham, and premiered Francis Jackson’s contribution to the Orgelbüchlein Project earlier this year.
Jonathan began the organ with Ronny Krippner, and currently studies with Tom Bell in London, from whom he has developed his interest in contemporary organ music. He became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists in 2014, winning the top prize for paperwork. Aside from playing the organ he enjoys a curry when possible.
