OV Organist for Her Majesty the Queen

The OV community and the King’s Foundation family were incredibly proud that the organist for the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s funeral was OV Peter Holder (Br 01-08 and King’s St Alban’s).

Peter is the Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey, and his role includes being the principal organist for services, concerts and state occasions. For the Queen’s funeral, in addition to playing for the service itself, he also performed two Elgar pieces to herald the Procession of Religious Representatives, as well as Fantasia in C minor BWV 562 by Johann Sebastian Bach at the close of the service as the coffin was taken out of Westminster Abbey.

Former King’s Head of Music, David Brookshaw (Hon OV), added, “I have been very fortunate, over the years, to teach some exceptional organ pupils both at King’s Worcester and Glenalmond College. Perhaps none has been more remarkable than Peter Holder, who had considerable musical ability from a very young age, splendidly encouraged by loving, but not particularly musical parents. I remember Peter as a King’s St Alban’s chorister and new organ pupil who could only just reach the pedals!

“Peter took to the organ with alacrity and progressed rapidly, especially enjoying the Romantic and Twentieth Century repertoire. I particularly remember his superb organ accompaniment of Jean Langlais’ Messe Solonelle for a School Concert. It was very exciting to follow Peter’s progress in London as an organ scholar at Royal Hospital, Chelsea, St. Alban’s Abbey and Westminster Abbey. Carol and I are particularly grateful that, while pursuing his stellar career, he had time to inspire our Abbey chorister grandsons, Edward and Thomas, in their music-making.

“Peter is surely one of the most exciting British organists of his generation!”