Maestro in tune for success

Black Country music maestro Gary Cole has certainly come a long way since he was a schoolboy taking his first organ lessons at St Peter's Church in Wolverhampton.

Not only has he established himself as a premier organist and conductor, he has also set up one of the biggest classical record labels in the country - which he runs from his home in Wolverhampton.

He mastered his trade at the Royal College of Music - where he received one of the highest marks ever awarded for a performing diploma.

He went on to study at Cambridge University, hold-ing an organ scholarship at Emmanuel College and winning the coveted Countess of Munster Trust award.

But it was during his time working as a freelance organist and choir conductor in London, performing at such prestigious venues as St Paul's Cathedral, that he realised his heart really lay with recording.

Today he is established as one of Britain's most prominent and influential figures in the classical music scene.

Mr Cole said: "It all started when I was conducting a choir in London and we invited some professionals along to get a recording.

"I got really interested in doing the recording and the processes involved and so I set up Regent Records."

The 49-year-old was keen to get back to his Black Country roots and soon decided to move the label to his new home in Wolverhampton, near to his family and friends.

It has been 10 years since Regent Records was created. The label specialises in choral and organ music, and Mr Cole runs it with his musician wife Pippa from their home in Chapel Ash.

The father-of-two, who has also run the City of Wolverhampton Chamber Choir for the past two years, travels throughout Europe recording top choirs and organists before editing and produce the CDs.

In the last year alone, he has produced 35 new albums.

He said: "We are very pleased with how well it has gone. It seems to get bigger each year. We have had a great decade and so we are now looking forward to the next 10 years."

By Victoria Nash