A FORMER Whitefield musician has notched up a Top 20 hit in the UK classical charts.

William McVicker certainly pulled out the stops on his first international recording "Great Organ Classics", an album on Classic FM's new specialist label The Full Works.

It's the culmination of years of hard work for 36-year-old William, who was born locally and lived for many years in Hardmans Road, Whitefield, where his parents Julie and Bill still live.

He discovered his love of music as a boy chorister at All Saints Church, Stand, where he was taught the organ by the rector of the parish, Canon Robert Warner. William said: "I sang there from the age of eight until 19, and we were categorically forbidden to play the organ. But I was so taken with it as a boy I used to sneak in there and play it."

He says he was inspired by a Mr Middleton who was "quite a fearsome character, a wonderful player, very musical, but with an old-fashioned style of playing."

After leaving Stand Grammar School, he did his A-levels at what was then known as Holy Cross Convent College. "I was one of only six boys - it was great!" he says.

He went on to become an organ scholar at Durham University where he graduated with a doctorate in organ design in 1987.

William's career has blossomed since then, with conducting, writing and broadcasting.

His album features a range of works from the repertoire of British church music, from Bach and Brahms to Elgar and Vierne.

It was recorded at St Barnabas Church in Dulwich, South London, where William is now choral master and music director. He is married to speech therapist Sally and they have three young daughters.

"The church burned down in 1992 and I lost all my music, wrecking what had been a well-developing career," he said. "I've played at Westminster Abbey and Albert Hall as well as abroad." But things are getting better. "I'm involved in designing and building the new organ, and with this album too, I'm back on the road to recovery."

Although William has played on records previously, this is his first solo release to make the charts.

"It's difficult to get recording contracts, I was just in the right place at the right time.

"People hear organ music all the time, when they go to weddings for instance. The funeral of Diana also raised interest - the sound of the organ has great ability to move people."

A second album could be in the pipeline, and he's going on tour with a string section next year.

"I hope I'm able to come up North and do some concerts," said William, "Things are looking good."

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