The highly acclaimed British concert organist Jennifer Bate was born in London in 1944 and is the daughter of H.A. Bate, who was the organist-in-residence at St. James's Church, Muswell Hill for over half a century. Considered to be one of the finest British organists of modern times, Bate is an authority on the music of Olivier Messiaen, the revolutionary French composer famed for his innovative writing style, particularly the use of birdsong within his compositions. Bate befriended the composer during the later stages of his life and owns numerous scores containing written notes and references by Messiaen.
Bate gave the first British performance of the Messiaen composition 'Livre du Saint Sacrament' during a recital at Westminster Cathedral and was also the first person to record the piece. The organist's repertoire extends far beyond the works of Messiaen and she is known for her recordings of British organ music and also for having recorded the complete works of the Belgian composer César Franck and Felix Mendelssohn. In recognition of her contribution to music Bate was awarded an OBE in 2008.
