John Keys was born and educated in Chester. On completion of his schooling, he was assistant organist at Chester Cathedral for 3 years, before becoming an organ scholar at New College, Oxford. There he was taught by Gillian Weir and Nicholas Danby.

At the organ of New College, Oxford

After graduating, he studied for 3 years at Geneva Conservatoire with Lionel Rogg, and won the 1er Prix de Virtuosité and the Prix Barblan. He was also Organist of Eglise St Jean and then Holy Trinity Church.

M. le Professeur Lionel Rogg and Mme Claudine Rogg

Having been appointed Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Nottingham, in 1984, in the same year John won First Prize at the 4^th Manchester International Organ Competition. As well as having created a flourishing musical tradition at St Mary’s, he is the University Organist at the University of Nottingham, and plays the organ extensively in Britain and abroad, primarily as a solo recitalist, but also as an accompanist and continuo player

John also teaches the organ, up to the highest levels, and acted as tutor for an Oundle / RCO “Get Ahead” day in Nottingham.

John Keys, James Parsons (Director of Oundle for Organists) and student at

St Mary's Church at the "Get Ahead" day on 29th January 2005.

John is shown below with Simon Williams, to whom John gave organ lessons throughout Simon's secondary education. Simon subsequently went on to become an organ scholar at Chelmsford Cathedral, and then an organ scholar, reading music, at Robinson College, Cambridge.

John Keys and Simon Williams

John was the President of the Nottingham & District Society of Organists from July 2005 to July 2007.

He has produced numerous CDs of church music containing organ accompaniments for hymns and Christmas, as well as organ pieces and hymn accompaniments for Weddings, and hymns for Remembrance Day. Other recordings include alternative US hymns, and worship songs. These have received critical acclaim, and are all available from the Church Music Site at www.hymncds.com

In July/August 2006, John was a tutor at the Organ Summer School at St Andrews University. The other tutors were Herbert Richardson, Dr William Stevenson and Professor George McPhee, shown below.

In August 2006 and 2007 he was asked to take part in the final concert of the Gothenburg International Organ Academy.

"Artisten" Organ Hall, Gothenburg University

In 2006, John was appointed as one of the trustees for the Binns organ in the Albert Hall, Nottingham. In May 2009, he played the centenary celebration recital for the organ. Video clips of this event can be seen on YouTube by searching for John Keys organist.

Binns organ, Albert Hall, Nottingham

The recitalists and dates for the 2009 season are as follows:

24th May: John Keys, Nottingham

21st June: Darius Battiwalla, London

19th July: Adam Brakel, USA - Oundle Award Winner

9th August: David Butterworth, Nottingham

30th August: James Taylor, Cork

27th September: Richard Hills, London

25th October: Anniversary Recital by John Scott, New York.

All recitals begin at 2.45 p.m. and are free of charge, except for the Anniversary Recital, for which admission  is £8.00 (£5.00 concessions). There is usually a pre-concert talk at 2.15 p.m. Further details about the pieces to be played, the history and specification of the organ, the custodian and other trustees, are available on the Binns web site at: www.binns.info