Simon Preston

Simon Preston (* August 4, 1938 in Bournemouth, England ) is an English organist, conductor and composer.

As a teenager, Preston was a chorister at King 's College, Cambridge and learned during this time to play the organ at Hugh McClean and CH Trevor. As the King's College Stipendiate offered for organ students, Preston applied for a scholarship and returned when he received the scholarship, back to King's College, and remained there five years. During this time he worked with organist David Willcocks.

From 1962 he was second organist of Westminster Abbey, was 1967 this office on to 1970 go to Christchurch ( Oxford). Here he played until 1981 to return to Westminster Abbey as organist and choir director again this year. But already in 1987 he resigned his post in London on again to start an international concert career, which he continues to this day.

However, Simon Preston plays not only organ but also composed several works for the instrument. One of his most famous creations is likely to be Alleluyas, which he wrote in the style of the French composer Olivier Messiaen.

In 2009, Preston was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire ( CBE) for his services to classical music ( for services to Classical Music).