The second South Yorkshire Organ Festival is set to begin this weekend and hopes to inspire the next generation of musicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event, which will have multiple hosts including Sheffield cathedral and other churches across South Yorkshire, will see introductory sessions and live performances take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James Mitchell, Sheffield Cathedral’s organist, said: “I hope events like this continue to develop a lifelong passion of the organ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It can be quite intimidating to come and try the organ as it is a part of the building [Cathedral] but it is about helping people understand them and appreciate them a bit more.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last year’s event was the first of its kind to take place across the county with various performances, including one from Roger Sayer who played the organ in the film Interstellar, taking place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mitchell said that around 200 people attended Sayer’s performance and described it as a \u2018magical experience\u2019 and a \u2018special event\u2019, with the hope that audiences of this size or greater might attend events this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added: “It is great, it is a feeling of engaging people as the organ can get a bad rep as it is a little bit imposing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOrgan music is not everyone’s favourite thing so it is engaging people on a direct level rather than having a bit of a daunting feeling of a service.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mitchell said the festival will be kicking off with a \u2018play the organ\u2019; session at Doncaster Minster which has one of the biggest organs in South Yorkshire, if not the country.<\/p>\n\n\n
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