Charles Maxtone-Smith wins Musicians’ Company Award for Organists

The Musicians’ Company has announced that its Award for Organists has been awarded to Charles Maxtone-Smith. The former Westminster Abbey organ scholar will receive a cash prize of £6,000 to follow a further course of study as well as the opportunity to give a recital at the St Albans International Organ Festival.

Maxtone-Smith intends to use his award to continue developing his interest in JS and CPE Bach, Buxtehude, and earlier North German composers as well as French composers, especially Franck, Vierne, Alain, Messiaen, and Duruflé. He said: ‘The chance to work on this repertoire with the world’s finest interpreters is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deepen my knowledge and understanding of this music.’

Following an audition process, the prize was awarded by a panel of experts including former director of music at Westminster Cathedral Martin Baker; former organist and master of the choristers of Chichester Cathedral Sarah Baldock; director of music at Hampton Court’s Chapel Royal Carl Jackson and Professor David Titterington, head of Organ at the Royal Academy of Music.

Formerly the WT Best Scholarship, the Award for Organists was inaugurated in 1957 by Musicians’ Company court member John Mewburn Levien in memory of the Victorian concert organist W T Best (1825-1897). The award is designed to provide recognition and financial assistance to a young organist showing ‘exceptional promise as executant, composer, transcriber or writer’ for a maximum of three years.

Alongside the award’s most recent winner, Alexander Pott, who is now assistant organist and tutor to the choristers at Oxford’s Magdalen College, Maxtone-Smith joins a legacy of past winners including Steuart Bedford, Stephen Cleobury, John Scott, Jane Watts, Andrew Lucas and Stephen Farr.

Having studied at New College, Oxford, where he was organ scholar, Maxtone-Smith did his Masters and Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music. As well as a period as organ scholar at Westminster Abbey, his experience also includes time as organ scholar at King’s College, London and the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

The Worshipful Company of Musicians provides over 60 scholarships, awards and prizes across all musical disciplines totaling over £250,000 each year to support emerging talent. Prizewinners join the Company’s young artists programme, with the opportunity to participate in an extensive outreach programme, bringing music to inner London schools with limited music provision.