Waterford International Organ Festival

Name: Waterford International Organ Festival
Start: 2026-09-17
End: 2026-09-20
Location: Waterford

The Waterford International Organ Festival is a four-day musical celebration held at Christ Church Cathedral in Waterford, Ireland. The event showcases the cathedral's historic 19th-century pipe organ through a varied programme that includes baroque classics, silent film accompaniments, and contemporary recitals.

Date: Sep 17-20, 2026
Location: Waterford

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Event summary

Highlights

Live improvisational organ accompaniment for classic silent films like The Passion of Joan of Arc.
Children's programming featuring organ arrangements of Peter and the Wolf.
World premiere performances of works inspired by the local Copper Coast landscape.
Showcases of the historic 209-year-old Elliot-Jones pipe organ built in 1817.

The festival takes place in mid-September and centers on the historic 1817 Elliot-Jones pipe organ housed within Christ Church Cathedral. The programme typically opens with a large-scale concert featuring a festival orchestra and choir performing works by composers such as Telemann, Bach, and Handel. The event attracts an international roster of organists and musicians, offering a mix of solo performances and collaborative recitals.

Beyond traditional classical music, the festival incorporates unique cultural events such as live improvisational scoring for silent films and dedicated sessions for children. These educational performances often use the organ's diverse range of sounds to illustrate musical stories. The festival also serves as a platform for new music, frequently featuring world premieres and works commissioned to reflect local Irish landscapes and geological history.

Practical details

Location described by the source: Christ Church Cathedral; www.waterford-news.ie
Area for browsing nearby events: Waterford

Organizer — source statement: Congratulations to Simon Harden and his team in leading the festival.; www.waterford-news.ie

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.