RCO launches new season with a celebration of cinema

The RCO begins its 2017 events programme in January with a celebration of all things light.

RCO Organ Forum – The Organist Entertains on Saturday 7th January will explore the world of light organ and cinema music.

Promoted in partnership with the Cinema Organ Society, the event will feature talks, demonstrations, masterclasses, concerts with Richard Hills and Simon Gledhill, and the largest Wurlitzer cinema organ in Europe.

RCO Organ Forum – The Organist Entertains will be held at the Troxy in Stepney, London from 10:00 to 17:00, with an evening concert at 19:30. Click for more details and booking.

Looking ahead to April, the College’s traditional Easter Course moves in 2017 to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, with its brand new Flentrop organ and recent Taylor and Boody chamber organ.

The event runs from 5th to 7th April. It is ideal for those preparing for or considering RCO organ playing accreditation, but also features a non-examination professional development strand.

Following straight after on Saturday 8th April, also at Sidney Sussex College, is Set Your Sights which offers ambitious teenage organists tuition in organ playing, choral accompaniment and conducting.

Also for teenage organists and would-be organ scholars, booking opens on December 1st for The Organ Scholar Experience, which runs in Oxford from 18th to 22nd July.

This popular event allows students to experience and prepare for a scholar’s life through five days packed with organ playing; encouragement to extend repertoire and keyboard skills; singing, conducting and accompanying chapel services; celebrity recitals; high-profile student concerts; and a lively social scene.

Finally, booking also opens in December for the College’s flagship summer event, the RCO Summer Course.

Held in London from 31st July to 5th August, this is ‘the big course with the personal touch’, suitable for all ages and stages. Every year it welcomes up to 75 organists of all standards for a mix of masterclasses, informal learning groups, concerts, workshops, visits and daily services – scores of separate group events plus individual lessons and daily access to practice organs.

With seven levels of study from absolute beginner to post-Diploma and a range of more than 20 organs available for practice, tuition and performance, the event is suitable for any organist, whether church organist, self-taught, examination candidate or recreational player.

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