Ashley Valentine

Welcome! I’m a musician based in South London.

Even when I was very young, I remember listening to and attempting to recreate music for television shows that I watched at home. After studying music at university, I began to specialize in live accompaniment for movies from the silent era. I’m now a regular pianist at the Cinema Museum in Kennington and I’ve improvised live scores on pianos and organs for audiences all around the UK.

I’ve also been fortunate to have been taught by some outstanding music teachers.  I’m now a teacher myself and my students include musicians of all ages and abilities. 

When I’m not playing an instrument, you might find me conducting choirs or running ‘Come and Sing’ workshops. But I’ve been an organist since the age of 12 and I love performing and enthusing others about this amazing instrument. On Sunday mornings, you can find me playing the 1844 Bishop organ at St Giles’ church in Camberwell where I’m the Director of Music. St Giles’ is also the ‘spiritual’ home of Organoke® – Karaoke Classics vs The Mighty Organ!

I hope that you enjoy reading about what I do and please feel free to get in touch.

December
3 x Christmas Organoke @ St Giles’ Camberwell
Christmas Organoke @ The Brighton Dome

November
Halloween Organoke @ St Giles’ Camberwell
Cinema Museum – Live piano accomp. of Keystone Studios rarities!
Live organ accomp. of ‘The Cat and the Canary’ (1927) @ St Giles’ Camberwell

October
London Archives – Live piano accomp. of silent film ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari‘ (1920)
Le Giornate Del Cinema Muto 44 – Pordenone Masterclass and silent film accomp.
Cinema Museum – Live piano accomp.of silent film ‘Le Brasier Ardent’ (1923)

July
London Film School – Live piano accomp. of student silent films

June
Cinema Museum – Live piano accomp. of silent film ‘Asphalt’ (1929)
Organoke @ St Giles’ Camberwell – Two organ + band performances
Music arranging and organ performances for ‘Double Diamond‘ beer adverts

May
Streetwise Opera @ Kew Gardens – Piano accomp. for ‘Nature’ project
Arcade Fire @ The Royal Albert Hall – Organ performance

April
Cinema Museum – Live piano accomp. of silent film ‘Walking Back’ (1928)
Royal Academy of Music – Seminar on piano teaching techniques for Chinese teachers
Cinema Museum – Live piano accomp. of ‘The Yellow Lilly’ (1928)
Cinema Museum – Live piano accomp. of ‘Focus on Biograph’ presentation

March
Worthing Assembly Hall – Organoke visit to play ‘The Worthing Wurlitzer‘
Streetwise Opera @ Royal Festival Hall – Piano accomp. for ‘Nature’ project

Selected gigs this year: Cinema Museum, Double Diamond advert, Organoke, Arcade Fire and the Royal Albert Hall organ, School gig, Streetwise Opera, Seminar at the RAM.