RCO awards Diplomas, Certificates & Medals at 2026 Conferment ceremony

The Royal College of Organists (RCO) has presented Diplomas and Certificates to 49 members of the College and awarded the RCO Medal to three distinguished musicians.

At a ceremony at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 7 March 2026, RCO President Sarah MacDonald conferred College Members with Fellowship of the College (FRCO), Associateship of the College (ARCO), and Colleague of the College (CRCO), and awarded Certificates of Accredited Membership (CAM).

In recognition of distinguished achievement, the RCO Medal was presented to Prof. Bine Bryndorf, Mr Gabriel Jackson, and Mr Paul Spicer.

The ceremony closed with the Ede & Ravenscroft Recital in which Katelyn Emerson played: Felix Mendelssohn, Sonata III in A major, Op. 65; Georg Böhm, Vater unser im Himmelreich; Rachel Laurin, Scherzo from Symphonie No. 1, Op. 36; and Herbert Howells, Allegro assai from Sonata for organ (No. 2).

The vote of thanks was given, according to custom, by Harrison Cole, winner of the Limpus Prize at Fellowship in Summer 2025. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Thomas Simpson, winner of the Limpus Prize at Fellowship in Winter 2026, played the Prelude on the Old CXXXIInd Psalm (alla J. S. Bach) by Charles Wood (1866-1926), a Vice-President and Honorary Fellow of the College.

The Trustees were also pleased to announce the award of Honorary Life Membership (HonLMRCO) to Dr David Roberts and Mrs Jeanne Roberts in recognition of their distinguished service to the College.

Awards were made as follows.

RCO MEDAL

Prof. Bine Bryndorf, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ performance and pedagogy

Mr Gabriel Jackson, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ and choral composition

Mr Paul Spicer, in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral conducting and pedagogy, and scholarship

CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITED MEMBERSHIP (CAM)

Spring, Summer, and Autumn 2025, and Winter 2026

Jingcheng (Sabina) Cai (Macau, China) Stage 3
Karen Dodwell (Doncaster) Stage 2
Jason Drury (Hook) Stage 2
William Horan (Denstone) Stage 3
Asael Kazibwe (London) Stage 3
Suzanne Millar (Falkirk) Stage 3

DIPLOMA OF COLLEAGUE (CRCO)

Susannah Hill (London)
Eve Kelleway (Norwich)
Logan Pritchard (Walsall)
Man San Annabel So (Twickenham)
Catherine Yingxuan Yap (Whyteleafe)

Limpus Prize, Frederick Shinn Prize, and Durrant Prize
Man San Annabel So

Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize
Susannah Hill

Freemasons’ Prize (United Grand Lodge of England)
Susannah Hill

DIPLOMA OF ASSOCIATESHIP (ARCO)

Summer 2025

Tom Bailey (Gringley on the Hill)
William Baker (Northampton)
Thomas Blew (Dartford)
Andreana Chan (London)
Angus Crichton-Stuart (Cambridge)
Adam Heron (Durham)
Arthur Hope Barton (Brigg)
Philip Kennedy (Hereford)
Maurice Maguire (Buxton)
Felix Petheu (London)
Christopher Reid (Cambridge)
Guiliana Tritto (Harrow)
Tomyr Warcaba-Wood (St Albans)
John Williams (Chester)
David Willington (Sheffield)

Limpus Prize, Frederick Shinn Prize, and Durrant Prize
Adam Heron

Sawyer Prize and Durrant Prize
Angus Crichton-Stuart

Lord St Audries Prize
Angus Crichton-Stuart

Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize
Tom Bailey; Thomas Blew; Tomyr Warcaba-Wood

Doris Wookey Prize
Andreana Chan; Angus Crichton-Stuart

Samuel Baker Prize
Adam Heron

Winter 2026

Lorenzo Bennett (London)
Alfred Beston (Orpington)
Michael Chesters (Ramsgate)
Kim Chin (Bedworth)
Oliver Clements (Buckingham)
Ben Cole (London)
Oliver Macmullan (London)
Nathan Monk (Stockport)
Robin Shakespeare (Manchester)
Samuel Trueman (Elsworth)
Thomas Watkin (Haywards Heath)

Limpus Prize, Frederick Shinn Prize, and Durrant Prize
Robin Shakespeare

Sawyer Prize and Durrant Prize
Kim Chin

Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize
Kim Chin

Doris Wookey Prize
Michael Chesters

Dr F. J. Read Prize
Kim Chin

DIPLOMA OF FELLOWSHIP (FRCO)

Summer 2025

Harrison Cole (Felixstowe)
Simon Harvey (Chelmsford)
Dãvids (David) Heinze (Bronxville, New York, USA)
Marcus McDevitt (Tinwell)
Tingshuo Yang (Cambridge)

Limpus Prize, Frederick Shinn Prize, and Durrant Prize
Harrison Cole

Turpin Prize and Durrant Prize
Dãvids (David) Heinze

Dixon Prize
Dãvids (David) Heinze

Harding Prize and Durrant Prize
Marcus McDevitt

Samuel Baker Prize
Harrison Cole

Coventry Cathedral Recital Award 2025–2026
Harrison Cole

Winter 2026

Daniel Baker (Oxford)
Augustine Cox (Harpenden)
Stanley Godfrey (Ely)
Conor McGlone (St Albans)
Thomas Simpson (Witney)
Timothy Stewart (West Horsley)
Mark Zang (London)

Limpus Prize, Frederick Shinn Prize, and Durrant Prize
Thomas Simpson

Turpin Prize and Durrant Prize
Conor McGlone

Harding Prize and Durrant Prize
Thomas Simpson

The Lawrence Phelps Prize
Conor McGlone

Dr F. J. Read Prize
Thomas Simpson