Forthcoming events

16th February 2019 – Organ Tuning and Emergencies Talk at The Village Workshop, Finchingfield CM7 4JE 10.30am start. We’re delighted to be able to accept a very kind invitation from Andrew Stevens, organ tuner, and Kevin Rutterford, pipe maker, for a whole day’s visit focused on Organ Tuning, Pipe voicing and dealing with emergencies that happen when playing! As a bonus, we also have access to the historic 3 manual and pedal 30 stop A T Miller tracker organ in St John’s Church, Finchingfield where we will have members’ playing time and the chance to see inside a large mechanical action organ under Andrew’s expert guidance.

The cost of this event will be £8 for everyone attending all or part of it, with the cost of lunch as an extra on top of this. Pre-booking for this visit is essential so that we can work out logistics for the day.

To book your place on this event, please do email me as soon as possible, using the EOA email address, organistassociation@gmail.com


Saturday 2nd March 2019 – The 33rd IAO London Organ Day

This all day Incorporated Association of Organists (IAO) event to take place at Christ Church, Spitalfields (close to Liverpool Street Station) beginning at 10am and finishing at approximately 5.30pm. We’ve just heard that, along with recitals by Ghislaine Reece-Trapp and Daniel Moult, my predecessor as EOA President, Richard Brasier, will be giving a recital as part of what looks to be an exciting day – booking is via the IAO website www. http://iao.org.uk/ or via links on its Facebook page.


Saturday 16th March 2019 – The EOA 2019 Competition

The 2019 EOA Organ Competition will take place at 2pm on Saturday March 16th. The competition is open to all members and non-members, and will be held once again at St Thomas’s Church, Brentwood, using their very fine 3 manual & pedal organ.

We are delighted to have secured the services of Gary Sieling B.Mus, M.A (Organ Performance). F.R.C.O, as our adjudicator this year. Along with previously holding posts as Assistant Organist of Peterborough Cathedral and Organist of Dunstable Priory, Gary has an extensive CV involving teaching, conducting, accompanying choirs and adjudicating at festivals, and we look forward to his positive and encouraging feedback to those who play this year.

Those interested in taking part are invited to perform two contrasting pieces, within one of the following categories, with prizes being awarded as follows:

Beginners (£30)
Intermediate (£50)
Advanced (£70 + EOA trophy + the opportunity to perform a pre-Sunday Evensong recital in Chelmsford Cathedral)

This is a great opportunity to get some feedback on your performances in a friendly and helpful environment, whilst getting the chance to play to an audience on a fine organ - there will be practice time made available for each participant in advance of the competition day. As you can see there are 3 levels, so please do consider taking part in the competition in March – you never know, you might win a prize as well!!

If you have any queries about the competition, please contact EOA Vice Chairman, Richard Nott whose email is richard@rjnott.co.uk . A covering letter and entry form are available below:

EOA Organ Competition Covering Letter

EOA Organ Competition Entry Form

April 2019 – A Lecture-Recital – on the well-known French composer Louis Lefébure-Wely.

Saturday 18th May 2019 – All day visit to organs in Saffron Walden & Thaxted
This visit includes the chance to see, hear and play the Lincoln organ in Thaxted.

June 2019 – EOA AGM – This will be held at Brentwood RC Cathedral and include a talk from the former Master of the Music at York Minster, Philip Moore, as well as a chance to learn about the busy musical life of the cathedral from Andrew Wright, the Master of Music, and Cathedral Organist and EOA Treasurer & Secretary, Stephen King.

July 2019 – All day visit to organs in Cambridge.

Saturday 7th September 2019 at St. Michael's, Galleywood – A Talk on the Development of the English Organ by Richard Brasier.

October 2019 – A Workshop on playing Orchestral Transcriptions on the Organ. Have you ever wondered how to make “Nimrod” work better on your organ? Jonathan Lilley (former Assistant Organist of Ely Cathedral and EOA Committee Member) leads a playing workshop for members covering registration and other facets of playing orchestral transcriptions (such as “Nimrod”) on the organ. Open to players of all levels, so please do start thinking of a piece you’d like some help on or a new insight into!

Saturday 30th November 2019 – A confirmed all-day visit to see hear and play the organs at St John’s Church, Epping, and the new Mander organ currently being built for Waltham Abbey Church (where EOA Committee Member Jonathan Lilley is the Director of Music)

Non-EOA Events