Jeremiah Stephenson first started learning the organ as a chorister at Sheffield Cathedral. Currently Associate Director of Music at All Saints Margaret Street in London, Jeremiah combines his Sunday duties with a busy career as a freelance recitalist, accompanist and teacher.
Jeremiah has performed solo recitals across the UK, Europe and America. His work has been broadcast on television and radio in the UK, France and the Czech Republic, appearing alongside the BBC singers on Radio 3 and playing a televised recital as part of the Janáček May International Music Festival. This year’s projects include recitals in venues such as St Paul’s Cathedral in London and Uppsala Cathedral, as well as participation in the Toulouse les Orgues and Rocamadour Musique Sacrée fesitvals.
In his capacity as one of the Royal College of Organists Accredited Teachers, Jeremiah teaches students of all ages, from complete beginners to those sitting diploma examinations. The majority of his students are state school children whose organ lessons are supported by various charitable schemes.
A prize-winning graduate of Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music, Jeremiah completed his formal studies with Michel Bouvard and Willen Jansen at Toulouse Conservatoire supported by the Nicholas Danby Trust. He won first prize in the Eben International Organ Competition held in the Czech Republic, and second prize in the International Competition ‘Prix de J L Florentz’ organized by L’Académie des Beaux-Arts in Angers, France. Jeremiah continues his study of interpretation with Dame Gillian Weir.
CD Reviews
Marc Rochester, Musicweb International
The notable organ playing of Jeremiah Stephenson makes this a fitting finish to a fine recording.
Shirley Ratcliffe, Choir and Organ
Joined by Jeremiah Stephenson …this is a tremendous performance.
Roger Judd, Organists Review
Full Curriculum Vitae
JEREMIAH LENNOX STEPHENSON MA (Cantab), MMus (Distinction) (RAM), LRAM, FRCO
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Perfectionnement (Organ Performance) Sept 2015-July 2017
Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Toulouse
MMus degree (Organ Performance) with Distinction Sept 2013-Aug 2015
Royal Academy of Music, University of London
Outstandingly high mark (96) awarded for MMus Concert Project performance, combining French Romantic Organ works and improvisation with a singer based on plainsong themes.
Prizes: Carys Hughes Memorial Prize, Eric and Gwen Windo Organ Prize,
CH Trevor Prize (highest organ finalist mark) & Stephen Bicknell Prize
LRAM (Organ Teaching) awarded March 2018
Royal Academy of Music, University of London
Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists awarded July 2012
Prizes: Turpin & Durrant prize
Associateship of the Royal College of Organists awarded July 2009
Prizes: Sowerbutts, Sawyer-Durrant, & Samuel Baker prizes
MA honourary degree from Cambridge University conferred Feb 2015
BA (honours) (Natural Sciences) Queens’ College Sept 2008-July 2011
EMPLOYMENT
Acting Director of Music December 2018-March 2020
All Saints Church, Margaret Street, London
Principal conductor of the professional choir in rehearsals and services, managing the music department resources to meet budget and deciding music lists.
Associate Director of Music, All Saints Church, Margaret Street, London, appointed March 2017
Principal organist for services with regular conducting and rehearsal taking, administrative duties and training of Organ Scholar shared with the Director of Music.
Accompanist, La Maîtrise de Toulouse, France
Accompanied concerts in Temple du Salin and St Sernin, with future return visits planned. Recorded for Regent in May 2017 with another CD recording planned for 2021. Partipated in Pays de Gabriel Fauré music festival, participation in 2020 Toulouse les Orgues fesitival deferred due to Covid.
Guest Organist, Orchestre du Capitole, Toulouse, France
Orchestral performances with France’s 2nd Orchestra, including Holst Planets, Strauss Alpine Symphony and Gounod’s Faust, sitting in on rehearsals to watch Tugan Sokhiev and guest conductors.
Sept 2013-Aug 2015 Assistant Organist, St Michael’s Cornhill, City of London
Principal organist for Sunday Eucharist and Guild services, with opportunities to direct the professional choir. Made monthly appearances in the Monday lunchtime recital series.
Sept 2011-Aug 2013 Organ Scholar, Peterborough Cathedral
Playing duty of at least 2 or 3 midweek evensongs plus one of the three Sunday services, as well as frequent opportunities to lead rehearsals and conduct the cathedral choir in services. Other duties included working with the singing teacher in developing the probationer choristers, as well as managing practicalities and liaising with others to ensure the smooth running of the music department as a whole.
Sept 2008-Aug 2011 Organ Scholar, Queens’ College, University of Cambridge
Played or conducted for Sunday and Wednesday evensongs in chapel, as well as acting as a deputy organist at Great St Mary’s (the University Church) and Robinson and Fitzwilliam colleges when they were short of an organ scholar. Ran and conducted the choir of graduate students, starting a series of sung compline and carol services.
Sept 2013-present Freelance organist and choral director in London, venues including:
St Stephen’s Gloucester Road, St Matthew’s Westminster, St Dunstan-in-the-West, St James Sussex Gardens, St John the Divine Kennington, St Sepulchre within Newgate and West London Synagogue
2011-present Freelance recitalist, venues including:
2021: Selby Abbey, Huddersfield Town Hall, Sées Cathedral (France), Uppsala Cathedral (Sweden), Buckfast Abbey
2020: Partipaction on Vierne 150 series at St Paul’s Cathedral, Glasgow University Chapel, Reid Hall (University of Edinburgh), resident organist for Rocamadour festival
2019: McEwen Hall (University of Edinburgh), St John’s Smith Square, Methodist Central Hall, participation in St Mary-le-Bow Bach festival
2018: Church of the Advent (Boston USA)`, Opava Cathedral (Czechia), Live televised recital from Ludgeřovice (Czechia) as part of the Janáček May festival, St Peter’s church Görlitz (Germany), Westminster Abbey
2017: Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, Bratislava Organ Festival (Slovakia)
2016: King’s College Cambridge, Notre Dame du Taur (Toulouse), Cahors Cathedral, All Saint’s Margaret Street, St Johns Duncan Terrace, soloist in Poulenc’s Organ Concerto with Hitchin Chamber Orchestra, Hampton Court Palace with trumpeter Darren Moore
2015: Westminster Abbey, St Lawrence Jewry with trumpeter Darren Moore
2013: RCO 150th anniversary event at Mansion House, L’Ascension and La Nativité at Peterborough Cathedral, St Lawrence Jewry
2012: La Nativité at Peterborough Cathedral
2011: King’s College Cambridge
Jeremiah Stephenson 