Nigel Walton

Nigel Walton became interested in the piano at the comparatively late age of 10, when his family was presented with a piano. At the age of 12 he heard a church organ being tuned, whereupon he introduced himself to the tuner who offered to give him lessons. the tuner turned out to be an accomplished organist. By the age of 13 Nigel became assistant organist of All Saints Church, Exmouth. at the age of 15 he became organist and choirmaster of St. James Avonwick, Devon and St. Peter's Church Harbertonford.

He changed to a new organ teacher who was himself a pupil of the French organist Marcel Dupre. For two years running, at the age of 16 and 17 he gained first prize in the South West England Bach Organ Festival .He went on to Bristol university, gaining an honours degree in Music and taught Music at Bristol Grammar School

At the same time, in 1967, he became Organist and Choirmaster at St.Mary'sChurch,Stoke Bishop, Bristol. In 1970 he went on to St Paul's Church Clifton, Bristol, staying there till 1972 when he went to Queens College, Cambridge to read Education, achieving Distinction. He was elected Fellow of the Guild of Musicians and Singers on March 27th 1996.
Having finished his studies, and wanting a complete change of scene, he moved to Bermuda to become MD in a night club. When he returned to England a year later he carried on in the entertainment scene in various bands and night clubs including Ronnie Scott's in London and an in an oompah band in Bristol's Bierkeller. He also was in the line-up of a heavy metal rock band! He worked as a session musician in various recording studios.
In 1990 he took early retirement and now concentrates on composing and playing the organ in and around Bristol giving recitals and playing at other venues including Bristol's various crematoria.