The Organ & Organist
Clifton Cathedral's organ is a neoclassical instrument built in Austria by Rieger. Its design reflects the hexagonal geometry of the Cathedral building. Stephen Bryant, the Cathedral Organist, adapts repertoire across musical periods and styles to the instrument. Organ voluntaries are chosen to reflect the intentions of each liturgy and to integrate with its musical style.
The organ was cleaned and restored by David Wood of Huddersfield in 2010. An Allen electronic organ is also located in the gallery.
Stephen Bryant
Stephen Bryant is Organist at Clifton Cathedral and Director of Music at a local school. He was educated in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he was Organ Scholar at Newcastle Cathedral during the sixth form. He read music at Manchester University, studying organ with Gordon Stewart, directing several choirs and orchestras, and holding the position of Organ Scholar at Blackburn Cathedral. He completed a PGCE and began teaching in Liverpool before moving to Bristol in 1999, where he has taught in several schools in the city and surrounding area.
He has been Organist of Clifton Cathedral since September 2000. His work includes recordings, broadcasts and tours as a soloist and with the Cathedral Choir, including live broadcasts on BBC One and BBC Radio 4, and performances across the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. He is also a choral and orchestral conductor, and founded the Clifton Cathedral Junior Choir in 2017.