A LEADING international musician who is at home performing in the world’s top concert halls, has stepped in as organist at Poole’s parish church.

David Owen Norris, described as one of the most innovative and brilliant pianists of his generation, has big plans for harmony at St James’ Parish Church, as director of music.

He aims to get the younger generation of Poole singing and playing instruments and to re-introduce small groups of musicians to church services, as was common in Dorset author Thomas Hardy’s day.

“The reason I’m a musician is because I was encouraged when I was a child – by people like me,” said David, 56, who holds a fistful of positions, including professor of musical performance at the University of Southampton.

Rev Bob Mason, rector of St James’, is delighted with his new director of music. “This is a real coup,” he said. “If we were a cathedral you would expect this, but not for a parish church.”

David began to play the piano at the age of four, later learnt the organ and gives concerts worldwide, frequently appears on Radio 3, recently recorded an interval for a BBC prom broadcast on July 25, composes, teaches and is an authority on early pianos and rare piano concertos.

He aims to share his boundless enthusiasm for music with youngsters, and in February conducted 600 children in a performance of Haydn’s Creation, with a 150-strong young orchestra and orator Timothy West at Winchester Cathedral, and he runs his own Seven Locks music festival in Northants every September.

“The whole point about music is the other bit of the iceberg, the bit you don’t see,” he said. “I feel very strongly that professional musicians need to keep their feet on the ground and need to encourage that iceberg. Otherwise you become very airy-fairy.”

He was introduced to St James’ at Easter when he did his new version of the St Matthew Passion. Long serving organist David Davis was helping out despite having retired, and the church had written to Southampton university seeking a student.

“I was already quite hooked, wondering if I could do it,” said David. “This is a return to my roots.” He was organist at an Andover church, where he lives, for five years and is looking forward to getting to know St James’ 18th century instrument.

He is launching a music group for youngsters aged from seven at the church at 10am on Sundays and appealing for small percussion instruments – such as castanets, tambourines – and an unwanted black or white board with music staves on it.

“I’m announcing a recorder amnesty,” he said. “If anyone has an unwanted plastic recorder in their attic they can hand it in, with no penalty at all.”

Pianist of choice for many leading artists, when commitments permit he will work with the choir and church music group as well as his children’s group and hopes to get his students involved.

“I would like to invite people to come and join me. I’m going to be there doing music and I’m hoping people will find it enjoyable and come along,” he said.

Anyone interested in joining can contact David on info@ davidowennorris.com or 01264 355409.