Contemporary tunes are not the first things that spring to mind when you think about organ music, but internationally acclaimed composer Thierry Escaich has an extensive repertoire, which includes several of his own works and improvisations.

He will next perform in St Albans as part of the Saturday Organ Concert Series, organised by the St Albans International Organ Festival.

Since 1992, he has taught improvisation and composition at the Paris Conservatory, and in 1997 was appointed organist at the St-Étienne-du-Mont church in Paris. He took up a position as associated composer with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris in September 2011.

To date, he has written more than a hundred works, for which he has won the Prix des Lycéens (2002), the Grand Prix de la Musique symphonique (2004), and in 2003, 2006 and 2011, the Victoires de la Musique. Most recently, he wrote a new work for the New York City Ballet, which had its world-premiere in May 2010.

The programme he has chosen for this concert will include music by J S Bach, Brahms, Duruflé, Vierne and Thierry Escaich.

The audience will have the opportunity to meet the soloist after the free concert.

The Saturday Organ Concert Series takes place on January 21 at 5.30pm in St Albans Cathedral. Details: organfestival.com