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Karl Jenkins, the world’s most popular living classical composer visited Hull on Monday 27 June.
He is working on a commission from Hull Philharmonic Orchestra to write a 15-minute work for organ and orchestra to celebrate the instrument itself and the magnificent hall that has been the orchestra’s home since 1910.
The world premiere of Sir Karl’s new work, ‘6,000 Pipes’, will be at the City Hall on Saturday 25 February 2017.  It will feature organist Jonathan Scott who has performed at all the major concert halls in the UK, as well as in Europe, South America and the Far East.
Andrew Penny, the Hull Philharmonic’s musical director, said that it was a major coup for the orchestra to attract a composer of Sir Karl’s stature to write for the special City of Culture concert.
Sir Karl who was knighted last year for ‘services to composing and crossing musical genres, has enjoyed huge success in classical music after an early career in jazz and progressive rock when he mainly played saxophone and keyboard.
His notable classical works include ‘Adiemus’ and the ‘Armed Man’: a Mass for Peace, which has been performed more than 1,500 times in 30 countries, and he is also known for writing music for commercial advertising campaigns.

Photo (from left): Robert Poyser (organist, Beverley Minster), Andrew Penny MBE (musical director, Hull Philharmonic), Sir Karl Jenkins CBE