Monthly Archives: February 2024

The purpose of the competition is to revive some good but under-used words that need a
good new tune to increase their popularity. What is ‘good’ is up to the composer to determine.
The winner will receive £200 and publication of their piece in Organists’ Review and its
associated social media (though they will, of course, be free to make publication arrangements of
their own after this).

Please click here to see more information about the OR/IAO hymn tune competition, deadline 1 May 2024.

A masterclass aimed at musical students considering an Oxbridge Choral or Organ award, is being held at Bradford Cathedral on 20 February 2024 at 6.30pm.

Louisa Denby from Cambridge University will be visiting the Cathedral for a recital in February and as part of her stay in Yorkshire, Louisa will be offering a masterclass and information session on the Choral and Organ Scholarship awards schemes at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. 

This promises to be a fascinating and insightful evening in which they hope to demystify this often confusing process! Louisa is the Director of Studies in Music at Downing College, Cambridge and also the Co-Ordinator of the Choral Awards Scheme across Cambridge University. She has been an Organ Scholar and Assisting Organist at a number of colleges herself, and is a fount of knowledge on all such matters!

Louisa will lead everyone through the application, audition and awards process, as well as offering some sample tests for both Choral and Organ Award applicants. She will also be extremely happy to talk to anyone considering studying music about the course at Cambridge, as well as students considering any course about University collegiate life at Cambridge and Oxford.

The event is open to all in school years 10-13 or older who have yet to apply to university. Please sign up via this link here.

Dedicated to the world of the organ, organists and organ music, The Organ Podcast will be published fortnightly to inform and entertain organists ‘of every age and stage’, as well as organ enthusiasts and those who are simply curious and want to know more about our instrument and music. Episodes will feature interviews with leading UK and international organists, visit historic or little-known organs of interest, catch-up with organ rebuilds and restorations, and encounter a diverse mix of individual organ-related activities, news, discussions and initiatives from around the world. Our presenter Mark O’Brien is both an organist and an award-winning former BBC radio and tv producer. In the first episode you can hear him exploring the restoration of Manchester Town Hall’s 1877 Cavaillé-Coll organ; joining Tom Bell as he completes a new recording of Olivier Messiaen’s Livre du Saint Sacrement from Blackburn Cathedral; and meeting Margaret Phillips at her remarkable English Organ School & Museum.

The Organ Podcast is available free of charge from Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon and all popular podcast directories. It is also available to hear to via the College’s YouTube page, or simply visit theorganpodcast.buzzsprout.com to find links to all these outlets and more.

For teenaged organists:

The Organ Student Experience (TOSE) Week
23–28 July, Oxford

An essential course for organists of grade 7+ level. Directed by Daniel Moult, if offers tuition in repertoire, technique, keyboard musicianship and choral directing and accompanying. An early booking discount is available until the end of February and bursaries are offered. Ideal for any young organist, especially those preparing for or considering university or cathedral/church organ scholarships, or study at a conservatoire. Full details and online booking at www.rco.org.uk/events/TOSE24 (For those for whom these dates are not convenient we also have our Summer Course in London 29 July–3 August, https://conference.rco.org.uk/)  

TOSE-in-a-Day
Saturday 16 March, London
Many of the TOSE Week ingredients packed into one day for organists of grade 5 level and above using the organs of St Lawrence Jewry and St Michael Cornhill churches in the City of London. Tuition led by Daniel Moult and Simon Williams. Full details and online booking are available at www.rco.org.uk/events/t-in-a-d (this event is fully booked – email events@rco.org.uk to be added to the waiting list).

The Organ Student Experience (TOSE) Community
New this academic year, TOSE Community offers all teenaged RCO Student Members, regardless of level of experience, the opportunity to meet online twice termly. The hour-long meetings are hosted by Tom Bell and Cathy Lamb with interviews and presentations from leading and emerging professional organists. Details of the next meeting can be found at www.rco.org.uk/events/TC4 and information on the benefits of RCO Membership and how to join can be found at https://www.rco.org.uk/joining_rco.php. Please note that those learning with RCO Accredited Teachers are entitled to join the RCO at the Affiliate Student Member rate. This offers all the benefits of regular Student Membership but at half the cost. Click the link for details of membership benefits and to join online https://www.rco.org.uk/joining_rco.php  

For all organists:

RCO Summer Course for Organists
29 July-3 August, London
An unmissable week for organists of all ages and stages directed by Drew Cantrill-Fenwick. The programme includes repertoire tuition in graded Organ Studios, a variety of Skills classes to choose from, talks, individual lessons, practice time, the chance to play in student concerts and daily services and more. Visit https://conference.rco.org.uk/ for full details and to book your place. An early-bird discount on the tuition fees is available until the end of March. Please note that those aged under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.