APRA award-winning British Australian organist Joseph Nolan is internationally acclaimed as “one of the great organists of our time” (ABC Radio National) and “indisputably one of the world’s finest organists” (Limelight, Australia). His artistry—characterised by “miraculous playing” (BBC Radio 3 Record Review), “towering technique, vivid virtuosity, and inspired interpretive insight” (Gramophone, UK)—has earned him significant recognition, with Fanfare (USA) describing him as “the Australian counterpart of Cameron Carpenter... an organist with absolutely phenomenal keyboard technique”.
Apple Classical awarded Joseph’s recording of Widor’s Symphony No. 5, captured at La Madeleine in Paris and released on Signum Classics, with their Editor’s Choice award, placing it ahead of 169 other recordings on the platform.
Joseph has undertaken the formidable project of recording the complete organ works of Charles-Valentin Alkan, the Parisian virtuoso and recluse. These performances, made on the renowned Stahlhuth/Jann organ at Eglise St Martin in Dudelange, Luxembourg, will see their first release in March 2026.
Widely celebrated for his recordings of Widor’s complete organ works, Joseph’s Widor cycle has garnered two Gramophone Critics’ Choice awards, received numerous five-star reviews across leading music publications, and is regarded as a benchmark by Gramophone, The Criterion (New York), MusicWeb International, and ClassicalSource. His performances have been broadcast by BBC Radio 3, Pipedreams USA, Radio France, Radio Sweden, and ABC Classic, among others.
As an exclusive artist with Signum Classics, Gramophone’s Label of the Year, Joseph’s discography showcases performances on some of the world’s most celebrated organs in prestigious venues, including St Sulpice, La Madeleine, St Etienne du Mont, St Sernin, St François de Sales, St Bavo, St Ouen, Buckingham Palace, and Eglise St Martin, Dudelange.
Highly sought after as a soloist with major orchestras, Joseph made his debut at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, performing alongside the renowned US mezzo-soprano Susan Graham under the baton of former chief conductor David Robertson. The concerts received glowing reviews, with Limelight and The Sydney Morning Herald noting, “Nolan has an unequivocally refined ear and sensitivity to French repertoire... I have never heard the Sydney Opera House organ sound better.”
Joseph’s debut as organ soloist in the world premiere of Mary Finsterer’s Stabat Mater with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, recently won Performance of the Year and Work of the Year at the 2024 Arts (APRA) awards. The concert was conducted by the MSO’s Principal Conductor, Ben Northey.
Joseph has also appeared as a soloist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at St Peter’s Cathedral, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra at Llewellyn Hall, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra at Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at QPAC, and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at Perth Concert Hall. Nationally, he has toured with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, performing alongside celebrated Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero and conductor Alexander Shelley.
During his studies at The Royal College of Music, London, under Professor Richard Popplewell, Joseph won several prizes, including one for the most promising organ student. He graduated with First Class Honours for his BMus final recital at Temple Church, London, and pursued postgraduate studies with Marie Claire Alain in Paris, supported by scholarships from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Hattori Foundation.
Upon his return to London, Joseph was appointed to Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in 2004. He has frequently performed at Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace, most notably giving the opening concert on the refurbished Grand Ballroom organ for a distinguished audience. Joseph is the first solo artist to be featured on a commercial recording of the Grand Ballroom organ at Buckingham Palace.
In 2008, Joseph was appointed Master of Music at St George’s Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia, by Dean Emeritus Dr John Shepherd. He founded the Cathedral Consort and Cathedral Concert Series in 2009, both now regarded as cultural jewels of Western Australia. The Australian and West Australian newspapers have described the Consort’s performances as “elite and world class”.
Under Joseph’s leadership, the Cathedral Consort has performed at the Perth Festival, for Musica Viva, and collaborated with The Hilliard Ensemble, The Academy of Ancient Music, and The King’s Singers. “Gloria”, a collaboration between WASO, St George’s Cathedral Consort, and contemporary dance group Co3, conducted by Joseph, was awarded an Australian Performing Arts Mainstage award.
Joseph conducted WASO and St George’s Cathedral Consort at Perth Concert Hall in April 2024 in a concert titled “Gloria”, featuring Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Dixit Dominus. The performance was voted one of the best across Australia by the national arts magazine Limelight.
Most recently, Joseph conducted WASO and St George’s Cathedral Consort in “Devotion and Glory” at Winthrop Hall in April 2025. The concert received five stars from Limelight Magazine, with reviewer William Yeoman describing it as “an extraordinary performance of an extraordinary work (Finsterer Stabat Mater)”. The concert was broadcast by ABC Classic in May 2025.
Joseph is set to make his debut conducting the New Zealand Symphony and New Zealand Voices at the 2026 New Zealand Festival.
Recognising his contribution to French music, the Government of France awarded Joseph the medal of Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2016. He is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Western Australia and was conferred the university’s prestigious higher doctorate, Doctor of Letters, in 2018. His distinguished career has been the subject of major interviews on Radio National (Australia) and featured in Gramophone, Choir and Organ, The Organ, The Age (Sydney), Classical Music, and The Australian.
Joseph opened the 2025 International Organ Festival at St James’ Church, Sydney, showcasing their new Dobson organ from the USA. Limelight awarded the concert five stars, describing Joseph’s performance as “A Triumph”.
Looking ahead, Joseph’s forthcoming engagements include his solo debut in the 2025/26 Singapore Symphony Season at Victoria Hall. He will also record a commercial album for Signum Records at the Berliner Dom, home to the legendary 1905 Sauer Organ, in January 2026, and return as featured soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for four concerts at Melbourne Town Hall.
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