Welcome to the RCO’s monthly events and information email, RCO e-Diary.

In this newsletter you will find details of the College’s current events programme, events from partner organisations, new digital resources on iRCO and elsewhere, and any other topical information. Events and updates listed for the first time, or including important new information, are shown in red.

Play the Organ Year 2025

Play the Organ Year is still going strong throughout the summer with lots of brilliant events planned for August – and in September it takes yet another step up with more than a dozen events already scheduled around the UK.

So thank you to everyone who has hosted or planned an event, or simply shared their love of the organ during Play the Organ Year so far. And if you haven’t hosted or visited an event yet, then now is definitely a great time to start making plans!

You can find details of all those September events below in this email, or at our listings page. If you think you could help by hosting an event or introducing people individually to the organ, do visit www.rco.org.uk/play for all the resources and ideas. 

And, no matter how you take part, we want to hear from you! Share your experience on social media using #playtheorgan, add your event to our listings page, and don’t forget to complete our short feedback survey to let us know how it went.

RCO events

Please note that the 24-hour clock is used throughout, on BST/GMT unless stated otherwise. Bursaries may be available to support course fees, especially in support of RCO studies – click for details.

January – December 2025
Play The Organ Year 2025
Worldwide & Online
Join us in our campaign to inspire a year-long effort by the whole organ-playing community to increase the number of people learning to play, and appreciate, the organ. Organists are encouraged to hold Play the Organ sessions, play First Encounter concerts, or simply invite anyone who might be interested to experience this remarkable instrument first hand. To support this, our resource pack includes organiser information, repertoire suggestions, Play the Organ session guides and materials, and advice on everything from working with beginners to publicising events. 
Information & resources >>

Saturday 13 September (10:30 – 16:30)
Reading Town Hall Organ Heritage Open Day 
Reading
Celebrate Play the Organ Year at this expanded free event featuring talks, performances, and the chance for beginners to play the renowned ‘Father’ Willis organ. Highlights include a morning introduction to the organ, a lunchtime recital by Tom Bell, an afternoon masterclass, and parallel talks on organ heritage and restoration. No booking required – just come along!
Presented in partnership with RCO, BOA, IAO, BIOS and Harrison & Harrison.
Details >>

Thursday 2 October (19:00 – 20:30)
Performing under Pressure – a Working Webinar for RCO Members
Online
In the next in our series of free-to-attend Working Webinars exclusively for RCO members, busy orchestral and chamber music violinist and experienced performance coach Amy Littlewood discusses how to be at our best when performing under pressure.
Details >>

Monday 6 October 2025 (18:00 to 21:30)
RCO Gala Dinner
House of Lords, London
RCO Members and Friends are invited to apply for tickets to the College’s Gala Dinner 2025, to be held in the House of Lords Terrace and preceded by a concert by Thomas Trotter in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft.
Details >>

Saturday 18 –  Sunday 19 October
Overseas Study Trip to Switzerland
Muri and Luzern, Switzerland
Join the RCO in Switzerland for an exceptional professional development opportunity. This study trip offers advanced players and observers expert tuition, playing opportunities, and repertoire classes on some of the country’s most remarkable instruments. The programme explores music shaped by Switzerland’s cultural links to Austria, France, Germany and Italy. Led by Richard Brasier, with Freddie James and Stéphane Mottoul. Full itinerary and repertoire guidance on the website.
Details & booking >>

Saturday 1 November (10:00 – 17:00)
RCO Organ Forum – César Franck at the piano, organ and harmonium
Exeter College, Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DP
The RCO’s annual Organ Forum returns, turning the spotlight once again on the music of César Franck – this time exploring how his organ music relates to his compositions for other keyboard instruments, with insights drawn from key original sources.
Taking place in Exeter College Chapel, with its French Romantic-style organ, this year’s Forum promises a rich day of talks and performances from leading experts and musicians.
Details & booking >> 

Play the Organ Year events

The following Play the Organ Events have been listed for the month ahead. Please visit our event listing page at www.rco.org.uk/playevents for details.

Saturday 16 August 2025 (10:30 – 11:10)
Organ Encounter
St. Mary’s Church, Church Street, Willingdon, Eastbourne BN20 9HT

Saturday 23 August 2025 (13:30 – 15:30)
Try the Organ Session
St Mark’s Church in the Cherry Orchard, Worcester WR5 3DW

Sunday 31 August (14:00)
Play the Organ
Coldingham Priory, Scottish Borders

Wednesday 3 September (10:00 – 16:00)
Institute of British Organ Building: National Organ Building Workshop Open Day
Harrison & Harrison Organ Builders, Durham

Wednesday 3 September (10:00 – 16:00)
Institute of British Organ Building: National Organ Building Workshop Open Day
Goetze & Gwynn Organ Builders, Worksop

Wednesday 3 September (10:00 – 16:00)
Institute of British Organ Building: National Organ Building Workshop Open Day
Nicholson & Co. Ltd, Lower Interfields, Malvern WR14 1UU

Saturday 6 September (10:30 – 15:30)
Play Like a Girl
St Giles Cripplegate, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DA

Saturday 13 September (11:00 – 14:00)
Hands on the Willis Organ
St Mary & St Giles church, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes

Saturday 13 September (10:00)
Monken Hadley Organ Day
St Mary’s Church, Monken Hadley, Barnet EN5 5QD

Monday 15 September (14:30)
Organ Event – Play the Organ Year 
St Ecgwin’s Church, Honeybourne, Worcestershire, WR11 7PP

Tuesday 16 September (12:45)
Introduction to the Organ, its history and how it works
Brangwyn Hall, Swansea

Saturday 20 September (10:30 – 17:00)
Newport Play The Organ Day
Newport Cathedral; St John’s Church, Maindee; St Mark’s Church, Gold Tops

Saturday 20 September (14:00 – 17:30)
Come and Play our Organ!
St Oswalds Church, Croxley Green, Hertfordshire

Saturday 20 September (14:00 – 17:00)
Play the Organ Day
St Georges Church, Aubrey Walk, W8 7JG

Saturday 20 September (19:00 – 20:00)
Organ Celebration in Words and Music
Holy Trinity Church, Westcott Heath, Westcott, Dorking, Surrey RH4 3JZ

Tuesday 30 September (10:30 – 12:00)
Come and Play the Organ
United Reformed Church, Sutton Coldfield

Wednesday 1 October (18:30 – 21:00)
Llandaff Play the Organ Event
Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff, CF5 2LA

Saturday 4 October 2025 (12:00 – 17:00)
‘Play the Organ’ Day
New Victoria Centre, High Street, Howden le Wear, Crook, Co. Durham, DL15 8EZ

Please note, our Play the Organ Year event listings page is regularly updated with many more events this month and beyond. Click below for the most up-to-date information. 

View all Play the Organ Year events >>

Add your Play the Organ Year event to our listings here >> 

Partner Events & News

Application deadline: Monday 1 September 2025
University of St Andrews Postgraduate Certificate in Sacred Music
Online
The PGCert in Sacred Music offers distance learning to enhance knowledge and skills in sacred music. Taught by academics from Scotland’s oldest university, who are also professional practitioners in the field of church music, this course is ideal for those in church music roles, ministry, or anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of sacred music.
Find more information and apply here >> 

Saturday 3 September
The Institute of British Organ Building: National Open Day
The IBO is holding National Organ Building Workshop Open Day on Saturday 3 September. Organ builders including Goetze & Gwynn in Worksop, Nicholson & Co. in Malvern, and Harrison & Harrison in Durham, are opening their doors to the public for an opportunity to learn more about the craft of organ building and restoration. Details on the Play the Organ Year event page. Read more >>

Saturday 6 September
Society of Women Organists: Play Like a Girl
Booking is still open for the Play Like a Girl event organised by the Society of Women Organists. Taking place at London’s St Giles Cripplegate on Saturday 6 September, this inspiring day has been designed especially for girls and young women aged 11–21 who want to discover more about the organ and have a go themselves – no experience necessary! Places are limited, so book now. Read more >>

Deadline: Friday 7 September
ABRSM organ teacher survey
Our partners at ABRSM are inviting organ teachers to share their views in a short survey, helping them understand today’s teaching landscape and how best to support both teachers and learners. The survey is anonymous, takes around 10–15 minutes to complete, and closes on 7 September. Take part here: https://abrsmresearch.questionpro.com/t/AVT5Z6vlp

21-22 November
RSCM: Director’s Challenge
The RSCM’s Hugh Morris has set himself the task of a 25-hour marathon of organ playing on 21–22 November. At 2pm on Saturday 22 November he is encouraging organists around the world to join him by playing Handel’s Ombra mai fu at the same local time, wherever they are – and ideally to use that as a springboard for their own Play the Organ Year event. Read more >>

RSCM: Church Music Skills course
A distance-learning programme designed to help practising church musicians to develop the skills required to lead music in worship.  Read more >>

Digital resources

On our iRCO content hub our members can find over 500 resources for organists including films, articles, publications, papers, and other downloads. Some iRCO content is available free to guest users; many items can be purchased individually; and of course RCO Members enjoy 100% free and unrestricted access to all resources. This includes films such as: Improv Shorts with Stephane Mottoul –  The Classical French Suite, the latest instalment in a series of short films on improvisation by the organist at the Church of St. Leodegar in Lucerne, Switzerland. Membership of the RCO is therefore recommended for those wanting full access. 

You can also find many videos on the RCO YouTube channel.