AFTER more than 40 years playing the organ, John Keys has appeared at many of the country's best venues.
Now, he is readying himself for his latest big concert.
The 56-year-old will perform a recital on the illustrious Grand Organ at St Paul's Cathedral, in London, this weekend.
Mr Keys, director of music at St Mary's Church in the Lace Market, said: "It's not everyday you are invited to play an organ such as the one in St Paul's Cathedral.
"It is a tremendous instrument and it's a great honour to have the opportunity to perform there.
"I played at St Paul's many years ago when I did a recital in the late 1980s. It's a spectacular venue and the Grand Organ is a spectacular instrument. I'm very much looking forward to it."
Mr Keys, of West Bridgford, first started playing the organ at the age of 12. He has been director of music at St Mary's Church since 1984.
"The London concert scene is incredibly difficult to break into if you are not based in London," he added. "I've been told about 500 people might attend."
Mr Keys has also played at Westminster Abbey and St Peter's Basilica, in Rome, in the past.
The organ recital at St Paul's Cathedral will take place on Sunday from 4.45pm.
For his recital he will perform music by Wagner, to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth.
Mr Keys' set list will also include music by Parisian organist and composer Jehan Ariste Alain and the UK premiere of a new piece written by his former tutor, organist Lionel Rogg.
He studied music at Oxford, where he was organ scholar at New College.
St Mary's choir was invited to sing services on two occasions in St Paul's last year and was one of only a very few non-professional choirs allowed to sing the music at a Sunday morning Eucharist service at the cathedral.
St Paul's Cathedral organist Simon Johnson said: "Many organists from across the UK and around the world apply to St Paul's to perform a recital, as our Grand Organ is one of the finest instruments of its type, situated in one of the world's most magnificent churches.
"John was selected as he is a professional organist with a reputation as a very good performer."
