RCO Medal honorands confirmed for 2013 ceremony

RCO Medal honorands confirmed for 2013 ceremony


The Royal College of Organists is to honour three distinguished practitioners and scholars from the fields of organ and choral music by awarding them its highest honour, the RCO Medal.

Awarded for the first time in 2012, The Medal of the Royal College of Organists (‘RCO Medal’) recognises distinguished achievement in one or more of the following areas relating to organ and choral music: performance, teaching, scholarship, composition, organ-building, conducting, administration, philanthropy. It is also available to recognise specific service to the College.

The 2013 RCO Medal recipients are:

Prof. John Butt OBE, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ and choral performance, organ- and choral-related scholarship, and choral conducting. Prof. Butt is currently Gardiner Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow and is the musical director of the acclaimed Dunedin Consort. He is noted for his scholarship on J. S. Bach and for his many musicological publications.

Dr Peter Hurford OBE, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ and choral performance, organ teaching, organ and choral composition, and organ-related administration. Dr Hurford founded the St Albans International Organ Competition in 1963 and for many decades has enjoyed a reputation as one of the nation’s leading concert organists and recording artists. His Bach recordings are legendary and his book Making Music at the Organ is known worldwide.

Mr Mark Venning, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ-building, organ-related scholarship, and organ-related administration. Mr Venning became managing director of Harrison & Harrison in 1975, and later chairman, retiring as director in 2011. Under his administrative and intellectual leadership, Harrisons have achieved some of their most significant work, in both new organ building and organ restoration.

The three honorands will receive the RCO Medal at the College’s Conferment of Diplomas at Southwark Cathedral on March 9th 2013.

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