Playing hymns is an essential part of the musical lives of most organists. The hymn is a resilient art form, and has survived into the twenty-first century, with twenty-first century resources to match. Here’s a guide to some of them.

The Bristol and District Organists’ Association thinks they may have qualified for the Guinness Book of Records this month, with a unique public concert of 16 previously unheard organ compositions. The occasion was the finals of their competition for new compositions for the organ, to find a piece that was approachable, could be used as service voluntary, and also within recital repertoire.

The opportunity was there, so I took it, says Giles Taylor, of his recent success in being the first to gain one of the College’s new CAM (Certificate of Accredited Membership) qualifications. Giles had previously browsed the College’s Diploma requirements, but the CAM awards appealed because he felt the elements were straightforward and achievable. In this interview he describes the experience of taking the examination.

The Orgelbüchlein Project is a major international composition project to complete J S Bach’s Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book). The task for composers contributing to the Orgelbüchlein Project is this: if Bach were alive today, how might he go about writing a short chorale prelude in the Orgelbüchlein style?

Watch the College’s 2017 Conferment of Diplomas ceremony in full or as edited highlights.

Listen to the Ede & Ravenscroft Recital which closed the College’s 2017 Conferment of Diplomas ceremony, given by Ashley Grote, MA, FRCO (Master of Music, Norwich Cathedral), playing music by J. S. Bach, César Franck and Francis Jackson.

The RCO management team is required to pull together on Conferment day and perform some interesting tasks, outside our usual skillsets. First thing in the morning wicker baskets arrive full of assorted gowns and hoods, and the robing department has to make sure that everyone gets the correct gorgeous garments for the ceremony. We stuff the programmes with appropriate fliers and donation envelopes, and become ushers and usherettes as soon as the audience starts to arrive. And all in amongst the Royal College of Organists holds its Annual General Meeting…

Playing the organ can be quite tricky, says Raina D’Souza, though she hasn’t lost enthusiasm for the instrument, learning under the guidance of David Pipe, Director of the Organists’ Training Programme, launched in November last year by the Diocese of Leeds. The scheme now comprises students, both children and adults, in centres across Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and Harrogate. Three of those students comment on their progress so far.

The thirty-first IOA London Organ Day was held on 4th March, under the direction of Tom Bell, featuring the stylus fantasticus of the early Baroque. The venue was the Dutch Church, in the City of London, with its Flentrop organ, perfect for this repertoire. The morning session included a masterclass on with Bine Bryndorf, who gave valuable practical insights into the performance of Bruhns and Buxtehude.