‘Alex Trigg (Advanced Postgraduate Diploma course) performs on Wednesday 18th March at 1315 at The Temple Church, London.

The concert was awarded by our friends at The Keyboard Charitable Trust, and we are very grateful for their continued support of our organ students.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’

Alexander Trigg – Quiet assurance at Temple Church

by Angela Ransley

The three composers in today’s recital, Elgar, Howells and Franck span almost two centuries: when Cesar Franck was born in 1822, Beethoven was still alive. Howells died in 1983, the world of the internet, space travel and minimalism. Both English composers came from the territory of the Three Choirs Festival in the west of England, and despite humble circumstances received support from its rich heritage, allowing both to achieve distinction. Elgar was knighted and appointed Master of the King’s Music in 1924; Howells became Professor of Organ at the Royal College of Music and was made a Companion of Honour.

Cesar Franck came from Belgium but was based in Paris after his ambitious father changed his nationality so that his two prodigies – Cesar and his brother Joseph –  could enter the Paris Conservatoire.  Pere Franck destined Cesar as a pianist and drove him inexorably until a rift between them opened up the possibility of the organ. A major influence was the new symphonic instrument of Aristide Cavaille-Coll, which Cesar demonstrated throughout France. His long tenure at Eglise St Clothilde and Professorship of Organ at the Paris Conservatoire secured his lasting reputation.

Read the full review https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9HAC2vUsp7WuO_J3TFvNkIhLKIiMCD-/view?usp=drivesdk

QUIET ASSURANCE AT TEMPLE CHURCH a review by Angela Ransley

The Keyboard Trust was founded in 1991 and has expanded from a family-
run organisation to concerts in 11 countries. It is indebted to Temple church

for its generous offer of an annual recital since 2004 with today’s established
artists such as Callum Alger and William Fox having received their support.
I asked Alex what this means to an artist embracing the music profession of
today:
I am enormously grateful for the support of The Keyboard
Trust, who were not only kind and generous hosts, but also
an enthusiastic and supportive audience. This was my first
collaboration with the Trust; I was delighted for the
opportunity to work with an organisation which does such
valuable work supporting young musicians like myself.
Alex’s full comments are in the link below.

From the left: ANGELA RANSLEY, ALEX TRIGG and Keyboard Trust CEO SARAH BIGGS

ANGELA RANSLEY is a pianist and writer on musical subjects and
Director of the Harmony School of Pianoforte. She holds an organ post in Surrey

Alex’s full comments :

HOW YOU FOUND THE ORGAN AND THE VENUE

It was a treat and a privilege for me to play such a fine instrument in a space with as rich a musical history as Temple Church. The organ was perfectly suited to the English repertoire in my programme, with so much colour to be found in the solo and swell divisions especially.

HOW THE KEYBOARD TRUST SUPPORT HELPS YOU

I am enormously grateful for the support of The Keyboard Trust, who were not only kind and generous hosts, but also an enthusiastic and supportive audience. This was my first collaboration with the Trust; I was delighted for the opportunity to work with an organisation which does such valuable work supporting young musicians like myself.

WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE CHALLENGES OF A YOUNG ARTIST IN 2026

I would say social media and the internet present some of the greatest challenges to young people today, not just for artists but for everybody. With thousands of influencers, performers and other personalities presenting their ‘best selves’ to the world online, it’s all too easy to compare ourselves to these polished acts, which often lack the human element of imperfection. As musicians it’s vital that we strive for self-improvement, but our expectations of ourselves need to be healthy and realistic. The work of The Keyboard Trust is so valuable as it offers young musicians the opportunity to gain performing experience in ‘real-world’ settings with supportive audiences.