The recent centenary of Stefans Grové’s birth has been a catalyst for Herman Jordaan to investigate Grové’s monumental Afrika Hymnus, where the compositional materials, timbres and resonances, often removed from organ conventions, are stimulating and rewarding for the player and listener alike.  The author puts the music in the context of the environment and cultures of his native South Africa, and has prepared recorded music examples to accompany the article.

Magnus Williamson recounts the archival and archeological detective work that has taken place at Lincoln Cathedral, in conjunction with the Byrd quatercentenary.  By bringing the building in line with post-Restoration practice in 1702, the Dean and Chapter also ended a spatial arrangement which had once generated the rich pre-Reformation tradtions of organs and voices in ‘alternatim’.  The characteristics of the building, and their musical implications, are probed in detail.

International Organ Day is now in its fifth year, and each year more and more countries have joined in this celebration of organs, organists, and organ music. We report on the huge variety of events, and instruments, that were part of International Organ Day 2024.

Watch the College’s 2024 Conferment of Diplomas Ceremony here, in full, or as edited highlights, and download the programme, along with the full texts of the speeches and citations.

In the third of our Working Webinars created in partnership with the Musicians’ Union, Tansy Castledine, Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral, discusses leadership skills for organists and choral directors.

A gallery of pictures from the College’s annual Conferment Ceremony at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 9 March, at which RCO President David Hill presented successful examination candidates with their awards and diplomas, and also presented four RCO Medals.

Ewan Murray is in his final year of organ studies at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and recently organised and ran an organ outreach event for local schoolchildren, who enthusiastically engaged in organ-building, organ-playing, composing and singing over two days in St Peter’s Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton.

Drew Cantrill-Fenwick found enthusiastic students and much to admire on a recent organ playing and teaching trip to Hong Kong.

Find inspiration for Woman Composer Sunday, on 10 March, with these resources from the RCO and partner organisations.