Nicolas Haigh appointed Associate Organist of Saint Thomas Church

Nicolas Haigh

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Nicolas Haigh as Associate Organist at Saint Thomas Church, to work with Jeremy Filsell and Nicholas Quardokus. He will commence his duties in February 2020.

Nicolas is currently Assistant Director of Music and Organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, NC. Prior to his transatlantic move four years ago, he held positions at New College, Oxford and at York Minster in England. He grew up as a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford (where, coincidentally, his immediate Saint Thomas predecessor returns), before studying at Winchester College and then, as organ scholar, at Clare College, Cambridge. Currently active as a historical keyboardist and choral conductor, Nicolas has made appearances with American Bach Soloists and Bach Akademie Charlotte, as well as having given solo organ recitals at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and St. John the Divine in New York City. He is a co-founder of the early music consort L’Académie du Roi Soleil and has performed as a Young Artist at the Britten-Pears Festival in the UK. Nicolas has performed across the Americas, and in Hong Kong, Australia, and Israel. His organ teachers have included Malcolm Archer, Clive Driskill-Smith, and James McVinnie.

Nicolas is married to soprano Margaret Carpenter Haigh, a soloist and chamber musician in Charlotte, NC. Margaret herself has an extensive performing and teaching career, holds a DMA in Historical Performance Practice from Case Western Reserve University and an M.Mus degree in Choral Studies from Cambridge University, UK. We look forward to welcoming them both to New York.

Jeremy Filsell writes: “We are so excited to appoint Nicolas and to welcome both he and Margaret to the Saint Thomas’ community. Nicolas brings to our music program significant musical experience and considerable accomplishment as a keyboard player. I have no doubt that his playing will adorn our worship and concerts in myriad and inspiring ways.”

Canon Carl Turner

Rector