Chris Powell has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s premier ‘entertainment organists’ as well as a truly international ambassador in the field of electronic and theatre organ music. Born in Manchester in 1971, he emigrated to New Zealand with his parents when just 2 years old. Returning to England at the age of 5, his education and formative years while growing up in Lancashire saw him pursue his love of music with piano and organ studies culminating in a string of engagements for both local concerts and dances from the age of 14 onwards. By the time he was 18, he had successfully auditioned to join the team of organists playing for dancing at the Tower Ballroom Blackpool and began to be recognised for his musical talents leading to a succession of invitations to perform at electronic and pipe organ venues.
About Joanne Powell
Joanne Powell was ten years of age when she started to play the organ. Mum and Dad were organ fans and bought an old Galanti for the vast sum of £175. That was where it all began.
Mum played the chapel organ and Dad was in a brass band, but the ultimate had been achieved with the purchase of the Galanti.
Lessons by a church organist on a piano were the order of the day until an organ shop was opened in her home-town of Gainsborough. She then transferred to lessons at the shop, given by an ex theatre organist. Soon after a new organ was acquired and after a couple of years, she joined a dance band, playing of course keyboards.
The Bonington
