A gifted Cambridge musician has been found dead in the River Cam, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the community. Harrison Cole, 25, who served as assistant organist at King's College, was discovered in the water near the college on Sunday morning (June 7). Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious.
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson stated: "We were called to the River Cam at about 9.15am on Sunday with reports of the body of a man in the river near to King's College. The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been passed to the coroner."
In a tribute, King's College described Mr Cole as a "glorious person and an amazing organist." The college said: "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Harrison Cole, Assisting Organist at King's College. Harrison Cole was a music scholar at Ipswich School, and during his school years, he spent three years as a student at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music. Following a gap year organ scholarship at Wells Cathedral, he came up to Trinity College, Cambridge as organ scholar in 2019. Upon graduation, he spent a year as assistant organist at Gonville and Caius College before taking up his position at King's in September 2024."
During his time at King's, Mr Cole supported the choir on recordings, broadcasts, and concert tours, including two Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols services and tours to Australia, Estonia, the USA, and Canada. He was due to leave King's this summer and had recently secured assistant roles at St Paul's in Knightsbridge and St Michael's in Cornhill, two prominent musical institutions in London, where he was about to begin a freelance career as a pianist, organist, and conductor.
Provost Gillian Tett said: "The entire College community has felt this loss keenly, particularly the Choir and Chapel teams. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time."
Famed organist Anna Lapwood paid tribute on social media: "Still can't quite get my head around this news. Harrison was such a glorious person and an amazing organist. Sending all my love to his family, and to everyone in Cambridge. May he rest in peace and rise in glory."
