Stephen Vincent.co.uk

...."Stephen Vincent wore the "Chain of Office" as the 1979 winner of the Young Theatre Organists' Competition. Stephen began piano at 9 and added organ lessons two years later, studying under John Norris at the Southern Music Training Centre (one of the charitable good works of Lady Suzy Jean). This 16-year-old is a sensitive talent with an incredible ear and a central nervous system that replays and reconstructs every concert selection that comes his way. Obviously he hasn't had the time to come to terms with his own gifts, and the butterflies in his stomach prior to his performance must have had a four-foot wingspread! Looking beyond momentary panic (when Stephen dropped his music***) reviewers all saw tremendous potential in the originality and variety of his arrangements. They were impressed by his ability to play different styles and by his solid classical base. It's interesting to note that reviewers wrote more lengthy comments during Stephen Vincent than about any other artist featured in the convention. There were whole paragraphs of encouragement ...."

*** (by Stephen)

...please note that at this point the 16 page 'taped-together' piece that I was playing was a very fast and VERY fussy 'classical' piece and it didn't have a single rest in the right hand! There is though one point during the piece in which you have the chance, after 8 pages, to turn the whole thing over with your left hand, whilst carrying on with the right hand and then continuing... This i did but after this very brave maneuver I noticed with increasing alarm that the taped-together 'wallpaper roll-like' piece of music, in slow motion, started to collapse on top of my hands, so imagine it... There I was playing this 'impossible' piece -fingers flying around UNDERNEATH this 16 page piece of wallpaper- I managed to swipe it away and continued from memory- HELL! But I did receive a standing ovation!!!!