College announces four RCO Medal honorands

The Royal College of Organists is to recognise the achievements of four distinguished musicians by awarding them its highest honour, the RCO Medal, at a ceremony in March.

The Medal of the Royal College of Organists (‘The 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, and philanthropy; it is also available to recognise specific service to the College.

At the College’s conferment ceremony in Southwark Cathedral on 4 March 2023, the RCO Medal will be awarded to:

Mr David Briggs, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ performance and composition;
Mr Andrew McCrea, in recognition of distinguished service to the College;
Mr James Parsons, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ pedagogy; and
Prof. Patrick Russill, in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral direction and pedagogy, and in church music.

RCO President David Hill said: “The 2023 honorands are rightly respected and celebrated in their respective fields and it is an honour for the College to acknowledge their many achievements by awarding them the RCO Medal.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming them to our conferment ceremony in March, to present these RCO Medals along with the diplomas and certificates of the many College members who have been successful in their studies over the last 12 months.”