ESSEX ORGAN ACADEMY
Who We Are
The Academy was founded in December 2021 by the Essex Organists’ Association with Philip Prior as President, and Richard Nott as Membership Secretary & Treasurer. Philip and Richard are both professional organists working in and around Essex who constantly get approached by churches asking for organists. The truth is there are very few organists in the county who aren’t busy on Sundays.
We have set up the Academy to train the next generation of parish church organists across all denominations within Essex and East London. We work with the Music Departments at both Brentwood and Chelmsford Cathedrals, and are very aware of the need to encourage and support those who play the organ at all levels.
The Academy will host a few events through the year to support and encourage church organists.Sometimes these will be linked to or in partnership with other organisations, e.g. the Royal School of Church music in Essex & East London.
Do you know someone who might be interested in learning the organ? Are you interested? You don’t even need to know how to play a keyboard instrument! We also offer “taster” sessions with one of the Academy’s team of professional organ teachers.
Please email us with any questions, to book a “taster” session, or to join the Academy. Membership costs only £10 per year. This will give you access to our “Members Only” pages, plus you will be on our exclusive mailing list.
This academy is linked to the Essex Organists’ Association as a sub-committee. Please have a look at the Organists’ Association website and consider becoming a member. We have different monthly activities, including talks, masterclasses, recitals and visit to see, hear and play organs old and new; we’re hoping, COVID permitting, to spend a week in Paris in 2023, where we will be playing in some of the major churches.
We want you to be the best organist you want to be. We will help partner you up with the right teacher so you can make progress at the appropriate speed. When you feel confident enough, we will help find you a church where you can gain experience in playing hymns and music with a congregation. Some churches have Organ Scholars or choirs, and if this is appropriate for you, we will try to help find a parish offering this experience.
Please be aware that our website www.essexorganacademy.org is very much “work-in-progress”. Do keep checking for updates!
The best organist you can be
We want you to be the best organist you want to be. We will help partner you up with the right teacher so you can make progress at the appropriate speed. When you feel confident enough, we will help find you a church where you can gain experience in playing hymns and music with a congregation. Some churches have Organ Scholars or choirs, and if this is appropriate for you, we will try to help find a parish offering this experience.
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