Declan Poole
May 10, 2026
Born in 1999 in the North of England, Declan began learning to play the piano at the age of eight. He then developed an interest in theatre organ during a visit to the Tower Ballroom – Blackpool, when he was around 13 years old. Declan’s visit to Blackpool led to him moving his attention away from the piano as he began to study theatre organ, using an electronic organ at home and the Wurlitzer at the Royalty Cinema, Bowness-on-Windermere as his practice instruments.
In 2015, he won the ATOS U.K. Young Theatre Organist of the Year competition which took place at the Musical Museum, Kew Bridge, London.
Since then, Declan has played at many of the UK’s major theatre organ venues, including Troxy – London; Assembly Hall – Worthing; Pavilion – Bournemouth; and the Tower Ballroom – Blackpool, where his theatre organ experience first began. To date, he has played over 60 of the UK’s theatre organ installations. Declan has also played several theatre organs in the USA and was the winner of the 2025 ATOS Young Theatre Organist Competition held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Declan is also the current holder of the Cinema Organ Society’s Ian Sutherland award, which is presented periodically to young organists who demonstrate outstanding talent and potential.
Declan’s interest in the theatre pipe organ is not just restricted to playing; he has been involved in the restoration and reinstallation of several instruments.