About

Robert Balfour-Rowley left college as an electronic engineer, and moved into organ building shortly afterwards. He started his career working on theatre organs, and his projects include the releathering and re-assembly of the Model F Wurlitzer in the New Gallery (Burberry; formerly Habitat), Regent Street; the installation of the ex Gaumont, Oldham, Wurlitzer, into the Victoria Hall, Saltaire; the resurrection of the Watford Colosseum organ; and tonal finishing of the Guildhall Southampton Compton.

Robert took the opportunity to join Harrison and Harrison Organ Builders in 2009, working on large installations such as Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, Westminster Central Hall, and Holy Trinity, Sloane Street. He joined the London tuning team, and eventually took over primary responsibility for tuning such organs as those in The Royal Festival Hall, Westminster Abbey, Temple Church, Westminster Cathedral, St George's, Windsor, Southwark Cathedral, and over a hundred others, in a wide variety of different sizes and styles.

In 2016, Robert got married, and moved to Worksop to start his own business. Since then, his projects have included various tunings and tonal work; enlarging and re-leathering the Saltaire Wurlitzer electro-pneumatic console, and refurbishing its keyboards; and assisting other organ builders in their projects, spending a week on the former Clapham Junction Wurlitzer, in Clapar�de College, Geneva, preparing the organ for its 80th anniversary festival.

Robert also plays the theatre organ, and is enjoying playing in public again, after London living meant he had no space for a practice organ!