Welcome to
The Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists is a charity and membership organisation for the promotion and advancement of organ playing and choral directing.The College is the only organisation in the United Kingdom with a Royal Charter to be dedicated to the promotion and advancement of a single instrument, the organ.
Described by Mozart as “the king of all the instruments”, the organ holds a unique place in world music with a tradition stretching back over two thousand years.
The College has nearly 3,000 members based in 40 countries around the world. Together we work to promote the best in organ playing and choral directing, and to encourage anyone who is interested to learn more about this fascinating and versatile musical instrument, and to explore its history and repertoire.
Through RCO Academy, we place education and outreach at the heart of our work, ensuring that the College is not only an association of all the great names in the organ world, but also a lively, dynamic organisation committed to involvement at all levels of music making.
As a professional examining body, the College has a long history of accrediting organists and choral directors in order to maintain the highest standards in musical performance and music teaching. The College’s qualifications are held by many and are recognised worldwide as a measure of achievement and distinction.