Still playing at 93 years of age, Robert Hoare, a blind organist, had lost his ARCO diploma certificate. In recognition of his remarkable career, the RCO created a replacement.

The College’s bi-annual magazine for members contains features, details of forthcoming events and courses, and general news and views from the RCO.

You can watch the College’s 2025 Conferment of Diplomas Ceremony here in full, or as edited highlights, and listen to the Ede & Ravenscroft recital given by Dr Isabelle Demers.

A gallery of pictures from the College’s annual Conferment Ceremony at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 8 March, at which RCO President Sarah MacDonald presented successful examination candidates with their awards and diplomas, and also presented three RCO Medals.

Reports are coming in about the excitement and opportunities that are being generated by the RCO’s Organs in Schools scheme, and the ripple effect into local communities from making a digital organ available to young people.

A celebratory concert by Gerard Brooks to mark the launch of Play the Organ Year 2025 concluded with an enthusiastic audience getting the chance to ‘have a go’ on the spectacular Hill organ in Methodist Central Hall in London.

The RCO Organ Forum in 2024 marked the centenary of Charles Villiers Stanford’s death with a day of discussion and performances at Trinity College, Cambridge, where Stanford spent much of his musical life.

The College’s bi-annual magazine for members contains features, details of forthcoming events and courses, and general news and views from the RCO.

The College promotes an awareness of today’s music through the examination syllabuses, and some of Cecilia McDowall’s organ works have been set for study at ARCO in 2024-5.  The composer reveals her influences, inspirations and motivations in a fascinating interview with RCO Chief Examiner Stephen Farr, who gave the first performance of her First Flight in 2021.