Henry Fairs

Henry Fairs works as a concert organist, adjudicator and university lecturer. Born in Hereford, England, he received his early musical training as a chorister at Leominster Priory. He graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with the highest honours. A scholarship from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust enabled him to pursue further studies in Paris, Cologne and Vienna. The combination of concert performances and teaching forms the core of Henry Fairs’ work. After many years of teaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and as a visiting professor at the Leipzig University of Music and Theatre, Henry Fairs is now Professor of Artistic Organ Performance at the Berlin University of the Arts. In addition, he has been a visiting professor at the University of St Andrews in Scotland since 2014 and, since 2023, Adjunct Professor of Organ at the Syddansk Musikkonservatorium in Denmark. His successful work with emerging artists is reflected in the careers of his students: Many of them have won prizes at international competitions and now hold prominent positions in the Church and in higher education. Alongside his teaching duties, Henry Fairs regularly performs as a concert organist at renowned festivals and on major organs both at home and abroad. He also serves as a judge at international organ competitions. As a performer, Henry Fairs has himself received numerous awards and has won prizes at international competitions in Odense, Chartres, St Albans and Paris.