Opening Compton Concert Weekend – Simon Gledhill

Internationally acclaimed theatre organist Simon Gledhill will open the 2027 Compton Concert Weekend at Grantham Museum. We are delighted to welcome internationally acclaimed theatre organist Simon Gledhill to open the 2027 Compton Concert Weekend at Grantham Museum. Born in Halifax, Simon developed a passion for music from an early age. At six he began learning the piano accordion, an instrument he played for 11 years, winning several competitions along the way. At the age of ten, his parents bought him a small electronic organ, and after initially teaching himself to play, he went on to study with Michael Woodhead, receiving tuition in organ and piano as well as developing his musical skills. Simon’s fascination with the theatre organ began after hearing the legendary Ernest Broadbent perform at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom. He subsequently began regular practice on the Compton organ at the 3Js Theatre Organ Centre in Gomersal. In 1982, aged just 18, he won the Northern Young Theatre Organist of the Year competition at the same venue. Among those in the audience was Nigel Ogden, presenter of BBC Radio 2’s The Organist Entertains, who invited Simon to record for the programme on the BBC Theatre Organ. In the same period, Simon became the first recipient of the Cinema Organ Society’s Ian Sutherland Award, recognising outstanding young talent and potential. His international reputation has continued to grow, with further recognition from the American Theatre Organ Society, which named him ATOS Organist of the Year in 1997 and inducted him into the ATOS Hall of Fame in 2016. Simon has performed at virtually all of Britain’s major theatre organ venues and has toured extensively throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. He has also recorded on many of the world’s most celebrated theatre organs. Alongside his performing and recording career, Simon remains actively involved with the Cinema Organ Society and has pursued a full-time career in finance, based in London. His wealth of experience, musicality and enthusiasm for the theatre organ make him the perfect artist to launch our 2027 Compton Concert Weekend. We look forward to welcoming Simon to Grantham for what promises to be a memorable opening concert.