SALISBURY Cathedral’s organ scholar Claudia Grinnell has been appointed assistant organist at Winchester Cathedral.

She will take up her new post in September 2017.

Claudia, who graduated with a first-class degree in music from the University of Cambridge, follows in some prestigious footsteps.

Winchester appointed their first female assistant organist, Hilda Bird, in 1919 and she remained there until 1933. More recently, Sarah Baldock held the post of assistant director of music from 2002 to 2008 before joining Chichester Cathedral as organist and master of choristers, a post she held for six years.

Claudia Grinnell said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my year at Salisbury Cathedral, and will look back fondly on my time here as I prepare to take up my new responsibilities at Winchester Cathedral.

“It has been a busy year, particularly with the US Tour which was a great success. I will miss our Father Willis organ, which is a beautiful instrument, but look forward to playing Winchester’s lovely 19th-century organ which was shown at the 1851 Great Exhibition.”

David Halls, the Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral, added: “Claudia is a superb musician and has been a great asset to the cathedral during her year here. We are delighted that she will be joining the music department at Winchester Cathedral and wish her all the very best. She will be greatly missed by our cathedral community and we will, of course, continue to work with her through the Southern Cathedrals Festival.”

As part of the role she will help with training both choristers and other choirs, as well as playing for recordings, tours, services and concerts.

Andrew Lumsden, organist and director of music at Winchester Cathedral, added: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Claudia to Winchester. She comes with glowing references and a reputation for excellence and I know that she will make an invaluable contribution to our music here.”

For those wishing to hear Claudia play, she is giving the Jenkinson Recital this evening (Wednesday, May 24) at 7.30pm in the cathedral.

The programme includes works by Herbert Howells (formerly assistant organist at Salisbury Cathedral, J.S. Bach’s Trio Sonata in C and William Byrd’s Fantasia in A minor.

Tickets are £10 (£7.50 for wheelchairs) and can be booked online at salisburycathedral.org.uk/events/jenkinson-recital or bought on the door.