Appointment of Associate Organist at Belfast Cathedral

Thursday September 16th 2021

Tristan Russcher.

Belfast Cathedral has appointed Tristan Russcher as Associate Organist. He succeeds Jack Wilson who has taken up the post of Graduate Organ Scholar at Ely Cathedral.

Tristan has just moved from Dublin to live in Belfast, and the Dean and Board of the Cathedral are delighted that he has agreed to offer his services playing the organ at St Anne’s in the capacity of Associate Organist.

Tristan grew up in Perth, Australia, and has been playing the piano since the age of three. He left Australia to study for his A Levels at Ampleforth College, York. On entry to university, Tristan was awarded the organ scholarship at Worcester College, Oxford. After completing his Bachelor of Arts in Music, he was appointed to the post of joint organ scholar at St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, in Dublin.

He has won prizes in the Royal College of Organists’ diploma examinations, gaining his Fellowship diploma in 2004.

From 2005 to 2009, Tristan was Assistant Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, working with the late Dean Desmond Harmon. While at Christ Church, Tristan was responsible for playing the organ at all services and for running the Cathedral Girls’ Choir.

During this time he was runner-up in the Pipeworks International Organ Festival (2005) and in 2008 he presented a joint recital series of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen.

From 2011 Tristan has been Director of Music at St Bartholomew’s Parish in Dublin. There, he has developed and enhanced the choral and musical life of the parish, in addition to pursuing a freelance musical career. Tristan has also worked with the renowned choir, The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin.

Wth close family ties to Northern Ireland, however, Tristan and his family recently decided to settle in Belfast.

Welcoming the news of Tristan Russcher’s new association with Belfast Cathedral, the Dean of Belfast, The Very Rev Stephen Forde said: “Tristan’s move to our city could not have come at a more opportune time. He brings a wealth of musical experience to Belfast Cathedral. I look forward to an extremely fruitful partnership developing with Director of Music Matthew Owens that can only enhance the music which this cathedral offers.”

Tristan’s commitment to St Bartholomew’s runs until mid-November, and after that, he will be fully involved with the musical life of Belfast Cathedral.

Matthew Owens said: “It is tremendously good news that Tristan will be joining us at Belfast Cathedral and I am very much looking forward to working with him.”