Current RCO classes are listed below. All players are welcome, regardless of age or aspiration: you don’t have to be a member of the RCO, or be having lessons with an RCO accredited teacher, to attend one of these classes.
Most sessions are limited to 6 active participants to maximise hands-on tuition; when a class is full we may sometimes take observers, hold a waiting list or run a second event (either the same day or at a later date), depending on circumstances. Observers pay a greatly reduced fee: click on the Book Online button for the relevant class to see what this is.
Scheduled classes can be booked online by following the Book Online links beneath each event. Anyone not wanting to book online should telephone our Bookings Department on 05603 488231.
If you have a question about these classes, please e-mail the College at courses@rco.org.uk
Please note times (the 24-hour clock is used).
In this series of ten classes spread over three years, acclaimed performer, teacher and scholar Richard Brasier will explore the various stylistic and historical issues associated with performing European organ repertoire. In addition to learning about the historical background, students will engage with period practices and present repertoire of their choice. Observer places are now available.
Venues have been carefully chosen for the suitability of their organs. You can book for as many or as few classes as you wish as they become available on this website. These classes are ideal for those preparing for performance-based exams and for anyone who simply wishes to improve their knowledge.
Five places for players are available. Once four of these have been booked four observer places will be made available. Those booking as players will have 30 minutes each at the console. They should prepare repertoire relevant to the class—we suggest one longer piece or two contrasting shorter pieces with a total playing time of 7–8 minutes. Richard Brasier will also bring excerpts of pieces for players to try.
Class 2. English organ music to c.1750—select composers
(you may prepare music by composers not listed here)
Music from the Robertsbridge Codex
John Redford
Thomas Preston
Thomas Tallis
William Byrd
John Bull
Orlando Gibbons
Thomas Tomkins
Christopher Gibbons
Matthew Locke
John Blow
Henry Purcell
William Croft
John Reading
Thomas Roseingrave
Maurice Greene
John James
George Frideric Handel
John Stanley
William Boyce
William Walond
James Nares
Thomas Arne
John Keeble
The Venue
St Botolph-without-Aldgate in the City of London is easily accessed by public transport and houses arguably the oldest surviving church organ in England dating from around 1704 and restored in 2005 to as close as possible to its original state. Click here for the specification.
Other classes in the series
1. The French Classical Organ School, 28 February 2026, St Marylebone Church, London NW1 5LT - click here for information
3. Italian organ music to Frescobaldi
4. Catholic Germany and Austria
5. The North German organ school
6. The organ music of J.S. Bach
7. Classical organ music
8. German organ music after 1800
9. French and Belgian organ music after 1800
10. British organ music after 1800
Fee: Playing places: RCO members £85; £98 non-members. Observer places: RCO members £45; Non-members £52
The second in a planned series of classes led by RCO Accredited Teacher Julian Haggett matching Cambridge organs to repertoire ideally suited to them.
The organ of Queens' College
Completely restored in 2002, the fine three-manual Binns organ, built in 1892, is one of the few surving Romantic era instruments in Cambridge, and is unique for remaining tonally unaltered. Click here to see the specification.
What to prepare
With six playing places available, each person will have c. 25 minutes of console time. Prepare one longer or two contrasting shorter pieces of German and/or Engish nineteenth and early twentieth-century organ music. For the English repertoire, composers such as Howells and Whitlock may be selected.
This class is likely to be most rewarding for those of at least grade 5 through to diploma level. Observer places will made available once four playing places have been booked.
Queens' College is situated in the heart of the historic city centre with a beautiful nineteenth-century chapel. Why not combine this class with an exploration of the many riches the city has to offer - museums, galleries, other colleges, bookshops...
RCO members enjoy discounted rates for attending all RCO Academy classes, events and courses. Not yet a member? Join now and benfit from the lower price immediately. Click here to read about membership and to join online.
Fee: RCO Member (player) £78; Non-member (player) £91.
The period from c. 1600 - c. 1750 saw a golden age of organ composition in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Great Britain, encompassing a huge range of style and genre. Revel in the sounds of the acclaimed Dobson organ in Merton College Chapel as you and others perform and learn from each other and the teacher Claire Hobbs.
Aimed at organists of at least grade 5 to diploma level, six playing places are available (giving 25 minutes console time each). Observer places will be added once four playing places have been booked.
What to prepare
We suggest one longer piece or two short ones up to a maximum of c. 6 minutes in duration. Please aim to have repertoire at a performance-ready level of preparation.
The organ
The three-manual and pedal, mechanical action Dobson organ at Merton College was installed in 2014 in a spectacular new case. Click here to read more. Situated at floor level in the ante-chapel, there is ample room for all present to see the console clearly during the class.
The venue
Merton College is one of the oldest constituent colleges of Oxford University and is situated just off the High Street in the historic city centre. Click here for more information.
The teacher
RCO Accredited Teacher Claire Hobbs was organ scholar at St John’s College, Oxford before postgraduate organ study at the Royal Northern College of Muic and Geneva Conservatoire (with François Delor). She has held positions as Assistant Organist at Bristol Cathedral and Organist at Clifton Cathedral.
Click here to send an email [events @ rco.org.uk].
Fee: RCO member player £66; non-member player £80; RCO member observer £25; non-member observer £30.
A piece is only thoroughly learned when you have had the opportunity to perform it several times to others. This class provides one of those opportunities and is aimed at players of at least grade 5 through to diploma level. Six playing places (giving 25 minutes time at the console) are available. Observer places will be added once four playing places have been booked.
Please note the start and end times for this class: 15:00 - 18:00.
What to prepare
Take a look at the specification of the organ and then choose one longer or two shorter pieces of up to c. 6 minutes in duration. Click here to see the organ specification (scroll down to the entry for St Giles). Read more about the organ organ here .
Although one of the most historic organs in the country, this three-manual and pedal organ is very versatile, aided by beautifual vocing and sensitive mechanical action. Any music from any period will be suitable provided it does not require rapid and complicated registration changes (the organ has no playing aids). Note that both the Great and Choir divisions go down to low G beneath the usual 'bottom C', enabling the performance of pre-nineteenth-century English organ music requiring these low notes.
The teacher
Jonathan Bunney studied on a scholarship at the Royal College of Music. His teachers have included Anne Marsden Thomas, Nigel Stark, David Graham and Margaret Phillips. During his time at the RCM he won all the major prizes for organ. In 2004 Jonathan became Director of Music at St. Giles-in-the-Fields and in 2008 he returned to the RCM to study for a Masters in Advanced Performance, achieving a distinction. He has made several broadcasts on radio and recorded the organ at St Giles for Regent Records ('Let the Pealing Organ Blow').
The venue
The beautiful eighteenth-century church of St Giles in the Fields is situated in Central London close to Tottenham Court Road underground station. Many buses stop nearby.
Click here to send an email [events @ rco.org.uk].
Fee: RCO member player £78; non-member player £91; RCO members observer £30; non-member observer £35
In this series of ten classes spread over three years, acclaimed performer, teacher and scholar Richard Brasier will explore the various stylistic and historical issues associated with performing European organ repertoire. In addition to learning about the historical background, students will engage with period practices and present repertoire of their choice.
Venues have been carefully chosen for the suitability of their organs. You can book for as many or as few classes as you wish as they become available on this website. These classes are ideal for those preparing for performance-based exams and for anyone who simply wishes to improve their knowledge.
Five places for players are available. Once four of these have been booked four observer places will be made available. Those booking as players will have 30 minutes each at the console. They should prepare repertoire relevant to the class—we suggest one longer piece or two contrasting shorter pieces with a total playing time of 7–8 minutes. Richard Brasier will also bring excerpts of pieces for players to try.
Class 3. Italian Organ Music to Frescobaldi
This class will use the Royal Academy of Music's 1763 Italian organ housed at St Mark's Church Regent's Park. Please note that this organ has a single manual and no pedals. Click here for further infortmation and the specification.
Suggested composers
Vincenzo Bellavere
Sperindio Bertoldo
Jacques Buus
Marc'Antonio Cavazzoni
Girolamo Cavazzoni
Giovanni de Macque
Girolamo Diruta
Giacomo Fogliano
Andrea Gabrieli
Giovanni Gabrieli
Luzzasco Luzzaschi
Ascanio Mayone
Claudio Merulo
Annibale Padovano
Girolamo Parabosco
Rocco Rodio
Giulio Segni
Antonio Valente
Claudio Veggio
Adrian Willaert
Girolamo Frescobaldi
Gaetano Greco
Tarquinio Merula
Pietro Domenico Paradisi
Bernardo Pasquini
Michelangelo Rossi
Giovanni Salvatore
Alessandro Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti
Bernardo Storace
Giovanni Maria Trabaci
Domenico Zipoli
The venue
Click here for travel information.
Other classes in the series
1. The French Classical Organ School, 28 February 2026
2. English organ music to c.1750, St Botolph's Aldgate, Saturday 13 June 2026. Click here for further information.
4. Catholic Germany and Austria
5. The North German organ school
6. The organ music of J.S. Bach
7. Classical organ music
8. German organ music after 1800
9. French and Belgian organ music after 1800
10. British organ music after 1800
RCO members enjoy discounted rates for attending all RCO Academy classes, events and courses. Not yet a member? Join now and benfit from the lower price immediately. Click here to read about membership and to join online.
Fee: Playing places: RCO members £85; £98 non-members
All prices quoted are inclusive of VAT @ 20%