Maria Jenner marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Franz Schmidt (1874–1939) as she views this significant Austrian composer through the lens of two of his most important pupils: Susi Jeans (née Hock) and Friedrich Mihatsch.

Francis Knights offers much food for thought about Bach’s deft handling of thematic material in pedal parts. Many examples show us how the simplification of thematic and motivic ideas, in order to make them playable by the feet, was a well-honed and strategic skill. The alteration of musical content in the lowest part frequently raises questions as to what Bach expected of players, and adaptation methods can also help us to assess what may or may not be an actual pedal part.

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 appearance of numerous organ books after Nivers’s extensive 1665 Livre d’orgue was an extraordinary phenomenon, and Jon Baxendale scrutinises this by looking closely at the composer-and-engraver relationships, and the methods and business concerns of the engravers. A rich music-industrial terrain is mapped out, not least in terms of legalities. The supporting notes and comprehensive concluding table consolidate this study as an important reference work.

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.