Organs, organ music and organists around the world will be celebrated in a week of online broadcasts leading up to interNational Organ Day on Saturday 24 April.
With global pandemic restrictions still in place, The Royal College of Organists (RCO) has turned interNational Organ Day 2021 into a fully online event, and made it the culmination of a full week of broadcasts running from 18 to 24 April.
Each live daily programme will feature a mix of interviews, chat, features and studio guests, and explore different themes.
The aim is to inspire non-organists to learn to play, seek out organ music and events, and support the work of the RCO in developing new generations of musicians and enthusiasts.
RCO Chief Executive Sir Andrew Parmley explained: “The organ is a truly unique and wonderful musical instrument which is inspiring to hear and thrilling to play.
“Sadly, far too few people get the chance to experience this. Long-term trends such as the decline of music education in schools have been compounded dramatically over recent months by the pandemic restrictions which have seen so many instruments fall silent.
“We hope that by taking interNational Organ Day online as part of a full week of broadcasts, we can help to put this right, reaching people right around the world and inspiring a whole new generation to embrace the King of Instruments.”
Sir Andrew will host the daily programmes live from a studio in London, along with British soprano Cheryl Enever. Organist and broadcaster Anna Lapwood will be a guest interviewer throughout the week.
Cheryl’s father was an organist, and she has worked extensively with many of London’s leading organists. She said: “It’s time the fantastically varied world of the organ was better known. After this week, it will be!”
The Organ Week and International Organ Day programmes will be available to watch every day on the RCO website at www.rco.org.uk/InternationalOrganDay2021. Programmes will be broadcast live at 8pm from Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 April, and then be available for catch up viewing. Everyone is welcome, with no registration or payment required. A week of social media discussion will use the hashtag #InternationalOrganDay.
To find out more and for the scheduled programme visit the RCO website.
Some videos from the International Organ Week
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
