David Briggs has been appointed artist-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, New York, effective October 1. Briggs’s duties will include recitals, participating in liturgies and special programs, offering a series of masterclasses, and composing for the cathedral.
Briggs premiered his transcriptions of Mahler’s Second and Eighth Symphonies at St. John the Divine in 2013 and 2016. At the age of 17, Briggs earned his FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) diploma, winning all the prizes and the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. From 1981–84 he was organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge University, during which time he studied organ with Jean Langlais in Paris, France. The first British winner of the Tournemire Prize at the St. Albans International Improvisation Competition, he also won first prize in the International Improvisation Competition at Paisley.
Briggs has held positions at Hereford, Truro, and Gloucester cathedrals. He has been artist-in-residence at St. James Cathedral, Toronto, Canada, since 2012, and will continue as consultant for the forthcoming organ restoration and play several concerts each year. Briggs is a composer of works ranging from full-scale oratorios to works for solo instruments. He has recorded two DVDs and 35 CDs, many of which include his own compositions and transcriptions. For information: www.david-briggs.org.
