In this episode, organists Michael Koenig, Jonathan Pinto (MLitt 2022) and Chris Bragg share their experiences and study of the organ in contrasting cultural environments. They explore how this beautiful instrument has been adopted outside of Europe for different forms of worship in East Africa, West Africa and India. The conversation provides a thoughtful perspective on how the organ, originally exported from Europe in the 19th century, has been adopted and embraced by communities in these areas.

In this recording you will hear the voices of:

Jonathan Pinto, MLitt (2022), Visiting Music Tutor in piano at St Leonards School, Administrative Assistant at the Laidlaw Music Centre, University of St Andrews. Jonathan is an accomplished pianist, organist and choral musician, and recent graduate of the MLitt in Sacred Music at the University of St Andrews. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he completed his Masters dissertation at the University of St Andrews on the restoration of a British Raj organ in present-day Mumbai and the implications of this in the post-colonial era.⁠⁠ Jonathan⁠⁠ is passionate about the cultural heritage of liturgical music and educating children and young people in sacred, and western music and regularly conducts church services.

Michael Koenig, Graduate Organist at Exeter College, Oxford and DPhil candidate in Music and Global History at the University of Oxford. Michael’s previous musical affiliations have included St Paul’s Knightsbridge, All Saints Fulham, St Alban’s Anglican Church Copenhagen and Holy Trinity Jesuit Church in Innsbruck, Austria. In Vienna, he earned degrees in organ performance and music education and travelled extensively as a visiting organ teacher and recitalist to Kenya and Nigeria. He later studied for MA degrees in African Studies at Copenhagen University and World History and Cultures at King’s College London. He is now a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (RCO) in London and a recipient of the Silver Medal of the Musician’s Company. Michael has also enjoyed producing lively webcasts for the RCO Organ Show in 2021 and 2022.

Chris Bragg, Head of Programming at the Laidlaw Music Centre, University of St Andrews. Chris led the re-housing of the historic 1868 T.C. Lewis organ in the McPherson Recital Room. He is also Artistic Director of St Andrews Organ Week, organist of the Saint Salvador's Episcopal Church in Dundee and is active as a performer, teacher and translator. An extensive writer on matters relating to organ design and history, he contributes regularly to the Rheingold Journal, Choir and Organ, and is the founder and project leader of⁠ Sowne of Organe which seeks to document in sound and image, and to curate events around the dwindling collection of historic organs in Scottish churches.

Catherine Dunford, BSc (Hons) 2007, PhD (2012), Alumni Relations and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Engagement Coordinator, Development, University of St Andrews. Catherine took up this new position in 2022, with the main goal of creating an alumni network that celebrates the ethnic and cultural diversity of St Andrews graduates around the world. By highlighting the wide range of ethnic and cultural experiences and expertise in the community, we hope to celebrate achievements and, at the same time, provide inspiration for past, present and future students.

Recorded at the Laidlaw Music Centre, St Andrews with thanks to Chris Bragg and Jonathan Kemp.

Edited by Chris Bragg and Michael Koenig.

Words by Rebecca Galbraith and Catherine Dunford.

Produced by Catherine Dunford.

Find out more about Kaleidoscope Alumni Network and connect with us and each other using the following link: ⁠https://bit.ly/sta-kan-get-involved