This year’s festival will conclude with a beautiful Festival Evensong at Holy Trinity Church, where the festival began. The Borders Chamber Choir will be conducted by our own Robert Marshall and accompanied by the legendary David Goodenough on the organ.

In this article, it is a pleasure to introduce David and to share his distinguished and varied career as an organist, educator and examiner with you.

Over more than forty years of service to the Church, David Goodenough has held posts in cathedrals and parish churches across England and Scotland, culminating in his appointment as Director of Music at St John’s, Princes Street, Edinburgh. Until 2022, David spent twenty-five years at Fettes College, serving as both Director of Music and Boarding Housemaster. During this time, he led the Chapel Choir on international tours and in numerous recordings and broadcasts.

As a performer, David has appeared regularly on BBC Radio and Television. In the past year he has performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, among others. He was the organist for the opening concert of last year’s Edinburgh International Festival, performing the complete eight-hour cycle of John Tavener’s epic The Veil of the Temple. During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he gave two recitals at Canongate Kirk featuring the complete organ trio sonatas of J. S. Bach—works renowned for their technical and musical demands—and also presented a Festival recital at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, where he is a regular deputy organist.

Alongside his performing commitments, David teaches at the Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools and serves as an examiner for ABRSM, sitting on both Grade and Diploma panels.