In December 2020, Julie Ainscough, the Abbey Organist at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth near Guildford in Surrey, was awarded the Society of Women Organists' Composition prize for her 'Salve Regina' for organ. The prize was a commission to write a piece for organ based on the plainchant 'Ubi Caritas', for inclusion in 'Gregoriana', an anthology to be published by Stainer & Bell. 'Ubi Caritas' is sung at the Benedictine Abbey every year on Maundy Thursday, during the Offertory of the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

'Gregoriana' is a volume of twelve pieces for organ, based on plainchant themes, by contemporary women composers. According to the Society of Women Organists' May 2022 newsletter, 'Gregoriana' 'has already proved enormously successful, having broken the publisher's sales record for a new publication'. It is now available from: https://stainer.co.uk/shop/h506

Julie has composed several pieces for organ based on plainchant themes, including 'Felix Namque', the Offertory plainchant for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (New Year's Day). Her most recent composition is a setting of ' O Magnum Mysterium', for soprano saxophone, choir and organ, based on the setting by the sixteenth century Spanish composer, Tomás Luis de Victoria.

The picture shows Dr Julie Ainscough LTCL, GTCL, FTCL, M.Mus., Ph.D., FRCO, FISM, Abbey Organist at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth. Images courtesy of Marshall Light Studio.