| Biography | Simon John Preston CBE (born 4 August 1938 died 13 May 2022) was an English organist, conductor, and composer. Preston was sub-organist of Westminster Abbey (1962-1967), organist of Christ Church college, Oxford University (1970), and organist Westminster Abbey (1981-1987) duringwhich time he was responsible for the music at the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986. Preston left Westminster Abbey in 1987 to pursue a career as an international concert organist.
He was artistic director of the Calgary International Organ Festival (1990-2002), patron of the University of Buckingham, chair of the Herbert Howells Society and vice-president of both the Organ Club and the Organists Benevolent League. He also served as a member of the Arts Council music panel and the music committee of the BBC. Preston made over 100 recordings, beginning in the early 1960s. He contributed music to the 1975 film Rollerball and the 1984 film Amadeus. |