New College, Oxford, has named Robert Quinney as its new organist. He will succeed Edward Higginbottom who retires in July after a tenure of almost 40 years, during which time he has established New College Choir as one of the powerhouses of the choral scene. 

It's as organist that Quinney will be best know to readers of Gramophone. 'I've no hesitation in saying it’s one of the best organ CDs you'll ever hear,' wrote Christopher Nickol of Quinney's 2006 recording on the organ of Westminster Cathedral of orchestral transcriptions (Signum 02/07), one which gloriously demonstrates both the rich colours of the cathedral's Willis organ and Quinney's virtuosity.  

More recently his releases of Bach on the Coro label both earned Editor's Choices. 'Needless to say Quinney delivers finger and foot perfect performances' said Malcolm Riley of Volume 1, played on the organ of Queen's College, Oxford. Of Volume 2, played on the organ of Trinity College, Cambridge, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood wrote 'Quinney's Bach gets to the heart of the music with refreshing clarity and a communication born of genuine understanding.'

Born in 1976, and an organ scholar at King's College, Cambridge, Quinney’s posts have included sub-organist at Westminster Abbey (where he reached his doubtless widest audience for a single performance – the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge), and most recently, from April 2013, director of music at Peterborough Cathedral. 

Higginbottom's four decades at New College have included many acclaimed recordings, including two Gramophone Award-winners – the choral recital 'Agnus Dei' (1997, on Erato) which sold 300,000 sets worldwide, and more recently Ludford's Missa Benedicta (on K617). In 2010 New College launched its own label, Novum: its 10th issue – Mozart music for Salzburg Cathedral – will be reviewed in the April edition of Gramophone. 

'I am delighted to have been appointed to New College, where I will have the daily pleasure of working with one of the world's leading choirs and the opportunity to pursue academic teaching and research interests that have lain rather dormant in my career to this point,' said Quinney. 'It is a tremendous honour to be succeeding Edward Higginbottom, whose performances have inspired me since I began to take an interest in choral music, and under whose direction New College Choir has been so deservedly acclaimed. I'm aware of the size of the shoes I have to fill, but relish the challenge.'

Sir Curtis Price, Warden of New College and previous principal of the Royal Academy of Music, also paid tribute to Higginbottom, describing him as 'the hardest imaginable act to follow. His total commitment to music in Oxford has been astonishing and sustained over nearly 40 years, and he leaves the New College Choir in fine shape.'  

To celebrate Higginbottom’s legacy, New College is offering a free download every month, accompanied by a commentary by Higginbottom. This month’s download is Maurice Greene's anthem, Lord, let me know mine end. Details at New College's website.