Tom Winpenny

Born in 1983, Tom Winpenny displayed an early aptitude for music through piano instruction begun in childhood. At age eight he entered the choir of York Minster Cathedral while enrolled at St. Peter’s School in York, and organ lessons with John Scott Whiteley soon followed. After leaving school he held a music scholarship at Eton College, studying with Alastair Sampson and appearing on the chapel choir’s 2000 album Christmas Music from Eton College.

From 2001 to 2002 he served as organ scholar at Worcester Cathedral, then spent a further year at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. In 2003 he moved to King’s College, Cambridge as Organ Scholar, assisting Stephen Cleobury with daily services and directing the choir; the same years brought the 2005 recording John Rutter: Gloria; Magnificat; Psalm 150 and tours across the United States, Hong Kong and Europe.

Completing his studies in 2006, he was named assistant organist at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Two years later he won first prize in the Miami International Organ Competition and was appointed Assistant Master of Music at St. Alban’s Cathedral.

Throughout the 2010s he recorded extensively both as soloist and with the St. Albans Cathedral Choir, issuing Olivier Messiaen’s organ works alongside first recordings of pieces by Malcolm Williamson, Gerald Hendrie and other composers. His 2022 release Elgar: Complete Organ Works earned Gramophone Critic’s Choice of the Year honors, while additional discs that year presented music by Arnold Cooke and Elisabeth Lutyens. In 2023 he issued Gerald Hendrie: Complete Organ Music, Vol. 1 and remains in his posts at St. Alban’s Cathedral.