RCO heads to Scotland for flagship autumn events

RCO Academy has announced a busy autumn programme of courses and classes, with Scotland a focus for three major events at the end of October.

Two events for young organists will run in parallel with OrganFest in Edinburgh over three days, from October 28th to 30th.

Find Your Feet! is for organists aged eight to 15 years, from complete beginners to c. Grade 5 level.

Build Your Skills! then takes up the mantle for ambitious teenage organists already at Grade 5 or higher.

An excellent team of tutors includes Christopher Allsop (Worcester Cathedral), Brigitte Harris (Edinburgh), and James Parsons (Birmingham Conservatoire). Accommodation for these three-day half-term events is at Edinburgh Youth Hostel, and non-residents are also welcome.

Over the same three days, OrganFest 2016 will run at venues across the city.

Promoted by the RCO, the British Institute of Organ Studies, and the Incorporated Association of Organists, the event features a varied programme of talks, visits and recitals, starting with an opening recital on the Rieger organ of St Giles' Cathedral by Professor Ullrich Böhme of Thomaskirche, Leipzig.

See www.organfest.net for full details and bookings.

Young organists who can't get to Edinburgh at half term should aim instead for a packed day of learning in London on Saturday 5 November.

The Raise Your Game! and Set Your Sights! events will together support young musicians aged from eight to 19 years, from complete beginners to Grade 8 level, with tuition in organ playing, keyboard skills, conducting and accompanying choirs.

Other events in the College’s autumn programme include:

Preparing for CertRCO, ARCO and FRCO (Saturday 19 November, Dulwich): another of our popular study days for those entered for or considering taking RCO organ playing exams.

RCO Academy classes (various dates, in Birmingham, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield, London, and The Netherlands): 12 three-hour classes covering theory, technique and interpretation topics.

RCO Organ Forum (Saturday 7 January 2017, Stepney, London): not strictly part of the autumn programme, but following hard on the heels of the hectic Christmas period! The 2017 RCO Organ Forum, delivered in partnership with the Cinema Organ Society and Richard Hills, promises to be an uplifting antidote to any January blues, taking light organ music as its theme. More details will be published in due course.

Details and booking information for all RCO events can be found at www.rco.org.uk.