A programme of restoration and tonal enhancement is currently being undertaken by specialist organ builders Bishop & Son. The project will preserve the instrument for future generations while enhancing its sound and performance for the benefit of pupils, musicians and audiences alike.
Built by J.W. Walker & Sons in 1987, the organ’s mechanical action and core structure remain in excellent condition, making the current project an opportunity not only to conserve a valuable part of the school’s heritage, but also to realise more fully its musical potential.
The organ is not only the centrepiece of our Great Hall, but supports a vibrant programme of music at CLS. Recent highlights have included an evening of contemporary dance accompanied by Petr Eben’s Four Biblical Dances. The combined Chamber Choirs and orchestras of the City schools have also performed major works including Bruckner’s Te Deum, Saint-Saëns’s Requiem, Holst’s Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda and Britten’s St Nicolas.
The restored organ’s return will be celebrated with a programme of musical events, from early 2027, including a Bach recital by Johannes Lang of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, a performance of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, WOOFYT workshops and a fusion recital featuring DJ and organist Reductio.
