Cathedral date for Carlo Curley

It was Carlo who actually gave the opening recital back then when he drew an audience of between 600 and 700.

As he prepares to return to Londonderry, in a programme every bit as likely to include the Liberty Bell as J S Bach, interest has been expressed in his visit from music lovers all over Northern Ireland. In fact, a couple from Cambridgeshire who are going to be visiting relatives locally this weekend, contacted Dean Morton for details of the Carlo concert.

Born into a musical family in North Carolina in 1952, he attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and coached privately with renowned pedagogues Arthur Poister and Robert Elmore. Ultimately, he studied with two of the world’s greatest organists: America’s legendary Virgil Fox and Great Britain’s Sir George Thalben-Ball.

Early in his career, he was invited by the President to play at the White House, and made history as the first classical organist to give a solo organ recital there. Today, he tours the world, having played in every state and province in North America and Canada, as well as Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Hong Kong. His concert tour of Japan with the King’s Singers, sponsored by Rolex, was warmly received and a sell-out everywhere.

Carlo Curley has played before crowned heads of Europe, including the late Princess Grace of Monaco, the Princess Royal of England, and several Command Performances for the Danish Royal Family. He has made private recordings for the Sultan of Oman.

Wherever he goes, Carlo Curley’s charismatic personality inevitably finds its way onto TV and radio. His network TV appearances in the United States, England, Australia and Japan are well known. In England, Mr. Curley has made innumerable appearances for the BBC including organ spectaculars from the Cathedrals at Ely, Lichfield, Norwich, Guildford and Gloucester. CLASSIC FM broadcast live his concert at Westminster Abbey, given in aid of the Abbey Choir School and the Royal School of Church Music.

Carlo Curley records exclusively for Decca International, including CDs and the first-ever commercial video of a classical organ performance, Organ Imperial. The Carlo Curley Classic Collection comprising 3 DVDs has recently been released world-wide. His recordings have been voted ‘Best of the Month’ by Stereo Review in the USA, ‘Record of the Year’ in Scandinavia, and ‘Laser Disc of Exceptional Merit’ by FM Fan in Japan, where his CDs enjoy particularly brisk sales.

The Dean of Derry, Dr William Morton, extends a warm invitation to all who would like to come along on Friday evening for what he says will be a “truly memorable evening.”