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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for EOA
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DTSTART:20230101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261027T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261029T170000
DTSTAMP:20260920T113302Z
CREATED:20260223T111245Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260920T113302Z
UID:3327-1793088000-1793293200@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:EOA Extended visit to South Wales
DESCRIPTION:EOA President Emma Gibbins has organised an excellent three-day Extended Visit to play organs in South Wales. The programme of visits (to eight venues) is as follows:\nTuesday 27th October\nSt Mary’s\, Usk (2pm – 4pm)\n3 manuals\, 33 stops Gray & Davison 1861. Ex-Llandaff Cathedral\nSt German’s\, Splott\, Cardiff (5pm – 6.30pm)\n3 manuals\, 37 stops\, Hill\, 1885\nWednesday 28th October\nLlandaff Cathedral (9am – 11am)\n4 manuals\, 77 stops\, Nicholson 2008\nBrangwyn Hall\, Swansea (12.30pm – 2.30pm)\n4 manuals\, 34 stops\, Willis 1920\, built for the Elite Cinema in Nottingham\nSwansea Minster (from 3pm)\n3 manuals\, 48 stop\, Hill Norman and Beard 1959\nInvited to give a recital as background music to their Luke Jerram installation of\nGaia. Composite recital 4pm? Followed by open console? (timings TBC)\nThursday 29th October\nSt John the Baptist\, Cardiff (9am – 10.30am)\n3 manuals\, 38 stops\, Willis 1894\nOrganist Philip Thomas will meet us and talk to us about the organ\nNational Museum of Wales\, Cardiff (11.30am – 1pm)\n2 manuals\, 19 stops\, Snetzler 1774\nRobert Court (Cardiff University Organist and curator of the museum organ) will\nmeet us and talk to us about the organ\nSt Peter’s Roath (2.30 – 4.30pm)\n3 manuals\, 38 stops\, Späth\, 2006\nOrganist Peter Clark will meet us and talk to us about the organ\nFurther details will be provided in due course to those who have expressed an interest in participating in the visit. Non-members are welcome if invited by an EOA member who is attending. \nParticipants in this extended visit are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements. We recommend staying at the Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre (Stadium)\, Custom House Street\, Cardiff\, CF10 1AP\, which is located right next to Cardiff Central railway station. There isn’t any on-site parking at the Premier Inn\, but there is a 24-hour NCP car park nearby on Pellett Street (CF10 4FD). We know from previous extended visits that being in the same hotel as other participants enhances the enjoyment of the visit\, as well as making it easier to sort out lifts\, etc. Some people will be arriving on the Monday and staying until the Friday\, but others may prefer to stay Tuesday to Thursday.\nThe easiest way to get around the venues will be by car. Some people have already said that they plan to drive and can offer people lifts between venues (in return for some petrol money). At this stage\, it would be really helpful to know:\na) If you are interested in participating in the Extended Visit to South Wales\nb) If you are planning to go by car or by train (it may be possible\, by negotiation\, to hitch a lift to/from Wales from one of the car drivers)\nc) If you are likely to need lifts between venues in Wales (if necessary\, places will be allocated on a first come\, first served basis)\nd) If you can offer lifts between venues in Wales (and how many people you could transport)\nIf you plan to travel to Wales by train\, we recommend buying a return ticket to Newport. On Tuesday 27th October\, there is an 1148 from Paddington\, getting into Newport 1324. Newport station is much easier to negotiate than Cardiff station and Newport is the right side of Cardiff for getting to Usk\, which is our first venue and is about a 30-minute drive from Newport. Then you’ll just need to buy a single from Cardiff to Newport on the last day\, to get back to Newport to get the Paddington train. There are lots of trains from Cardiff to Newport\, so you can easily just turn up at the station and buy a ticket when you arrive (tickets are currently only £6.30).\nAs we wish to offer the venues\, who are generously hosting us\, a donation\, we need to charge participants the following to help us cover these costs: £15 per day for players and £7.50 per day for non-players.\nPlease send expressions of interest to Emma Gibbins\, using emmagibbins1978@gmail.com.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/eoa-extended-visit-to-south-wales/
LOCATION:South Wales
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261003T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261003T160000
DTSTAMP:20260809T135320Z
CREATED:20260809T135030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T135320Z
UID:3465-1791036000-1791043200@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Broomfield Organ Centenary Celebrations
DESCRIPTION:The 1926 Hill\, Norman & Beard organ in Broomfield Church (St Mary with St Leonard\, Church Green\, Broomfield\, Chelmsford CM1 7BD) is 100 years old this year and the church is planning to celebrate this milestone with an organ concert at 2pm on Saturday 3rd October. They would love the Essex Organists’ Association to join in the celebrations and have invited EOA members to participate in a composite recital. If you are interested in taking part in this recital\, do please email organistassociation@gmail.com. \nBroomfield Church has been a very welcoming venue for many EOA events over the years\, so it would be great if we can show our appreciation by supporting this event as players and as audience members.\nNPOR: npor.org.uk/survey/A01024
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/broomfield-organ-centenary-celebrations/
LOCATION:St Mary with St Leonard\, Broomfield\, Church Green\, Broomfield\, Chelmsford\, Essex\, CM1 7BD
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260919T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260919T150000
DTSTAMP:20260928T153850Z
CREATED:20260223T111110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260928T153850Z
UID:3325-1789812000-1789830000@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All Day Visit to Organs in the Bishops Stortford Area
DESCRIPTION:On the 19th September members met at 10am at St Mary’s\, Stanstead Mountfitchet\, for an all day visit to the Bishops Stortford area. St Mary’s is one of two churches in the town but is sadly redundant and owned and cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. Linda\, who welcomed us with refreshments\, is very active in raising money to help maintain the church fabric and organ. This includes ‘Champing’ where you can pay to stay in the church all night with beds etc laid on. The Hill organ was in good condition thanks to Andrew Stevens and members enjoyed playing a variety of music including Parry\, Lefebre-Wely\, Oldroyd and Rheinberger. Two members played a duet by Samuel Wesley and the fine trumpet stop was commented on. \nWe then travelled to St Mary’s\, Birchanger\, a much smaller church where members were able to play the most unusual and rare Gern organ. The whole 3 manual pipework in held within a louvred case and then the Swell is in another case withing the main one-a swell within a swell. There were two kick-swell pedals close together. There was plenty of free playing\, members choosing to experiment with the sounds available\, but it was atmospheric enough to make Vierne effective. \n15 of us sat down to an excellent lunch at The Three Willows in Birchanger\, in a marquee to ourselves. This all-day event was thrown open to Beds & Herts OA and Enfield and District OA\, which swelled the numbers and made for a jolly day. \nAfter lunch we visited St Michael’s Bishops Stortford where members were welcomed by the Director of Music\, Nathan\, and enjoyed playing the Kirkland/Walker organ\, beautifully restored by Manders. There was also a lovely little one manual 3 stop positive organ by Peter Collins. Members played music by\, amongst others\, Whitlock\, Bach\, EJ Moeran and Satie while Emma played from Ad Wammes’ Tryptich on the Collins. It was a thoroughly successful day organised by Andrew Stevens and Andrew deserved the thanks from all present for his hard work making the morning instruments playable. It is hoped to organise more joint events in the near future.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-organs-in-the-bishops-stortford-area/
LOCATION:Bishops Stortford
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/260920-Bishops-Stortford-1-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260725T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260725T170000
DTSTAMP:20260809T150758Z
CREATED:20260223T110922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T150758Z
UID:3323-1784980800-1784998800@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:EOA Summer Social in Thaxted
DESCRIPTION:Eight people travelled to the pretty market town of Thaxted in order to participate in the EOA Summer Social. We began at Thaxted Parish Church (dedicated to St John the Baptist with Our Lady and St Laurence) where we were made most welcome\, with refreshments provided upon arrival. \nFollowing a brief Extraordinary General Meeting (to approve the Independently Examined accounts) the six players present each played the lovely little one-manual\, electro-pneumatic action\, 8 stop organ at the west end of the church. Built by local builder Cedric Arnold in 1952\, the case and most of the pipework is by George Pike England and dates from 1795. \nWe then moved across to the historic Lincoln organ\, which was awarded a Grade 1 Historic Organ Certificate by BIOS following restoration work by Goetze & Gwynne in 2014. This three manual\, tracker action\, 23 stop organ with a straight flat pedalboard and 1/6th comma meantone tuning\, was originally built by Henry Lincoln in 1821 for the church of St. John\, Bedford Row\, Holborn\, London\, where Theophania Cecil was the organist. The organ was moved to Thaxted Church in 1858. Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan-Williams would have played this organ\, as have many well-known organists in more recent years (including Anna Lapwood\, Thomas Trotter and Iain Farrington) as part of the Thaxted Festival. \nUnfortunately\, there wasn’t time for anybody to play the three-manual Makin digital organ as we needed to walk to Thaxted URC in order to play the two-manual\, tracker action\, 15 stop instrument therein. Originally by Peter Conacher and installed in 1883 (according to NPOR) or 1889 (according to the church website)\, the highly decorated pipework is visually stunning and dominates the church. It is hoped that the URC will find the necessary funding in order to sort out the problems caused by cone tuning. \nFollowing our visit to the two Thaxted churches\, six people\, plus two people from Thaxted Parish Church\, made their way to the India Villa restaurant for a very enjoyable and sociable meal. \nThe EOA is very grateful to both churches for making us so welcome\, and to Committee members Michaela Cottee and Andrew Stevens for their help to make this event possible.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/eoa-summer-social-in-thaxted/
LOCATION:Thaxted
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/260725-EOA-3.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260627T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260627T160000
DTSTAMP:20260809T151009Z
CREATED:20260223T110736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T151009Z
UID:3321-1782561600-1782576000@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:EOA AGM plus lunch and a concert at Chelmsford Cathedral
DESCRIPTION:The 76th Annual General Meeting of the Essex Organists’ Association took place on Saturday 27th June in the Song School at Chelmsford Cathedral. Dr. Emma Gibbins presented her first report as President\, and Dr. Michaela Cottee presented her third report as Treasurer & Membership Secretary. Together\, these comprehensive reports showed that the EOA had enjoyed a very busy and successful year. Although the accounts were presented in draft form\, as they had not yet been signed off by the Independent Examiner\, they showed that efforts to top-up the Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund during the year had been very successful\, that a number of events had either broken even or made a profit\, and that the EOA made a surplus in 2025/26\, after reporting a deficit in 2024/25. \nBefore the AGM\, some members of the EOA enjoyed lunch together at the Côte Brasserie near to the Cathedral and a performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf in the Cathedral\, narrated by storyteller Mike Dodsworth with Samuel Bristow (Assistant Director of Music) on the organ. Elections for Committee roles took place as follows:\n Chris Denney was elected as Minutes Secretary for another two years (until June 2028).\n Andrew Stevens was elected as an Ordinary Committee Member for another two years\n(until June 2028)\n Fiona Bodmer was elected as an Ordinary Committee Member for two years (until June\n2028)\, having previously been a co-opted member of the Committee. \nThis means that the EOA Committee for the year 2026-27 is as follows:\nPresident: Dr. Emma Gibbins (until 2027)\nVice-Chairman: Dr. Michaela Cottee (until 2027)\nTreasurer & Membership Secretary: Dr. Michaela Cottee (until 2027)\nWebmaster: Suzanna Brooks (until 2027)\nMinutes Secretary: Chris Denney (until 2028)\nOrdinary Committee Members: Lyndon Ford (until 2027)\nJonathan Lilley (until 2027)\nFiona Bodmer (until 2028)\nAndrew Stevens (until 2028)
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/eoa-agm-plus-lunch-and-a-concert-at-chelmsford-cathedral/
LOCATION:Chelmsford Cathedral\, Chelmsford\, Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260512T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260512T170000
DTSTAMP:20260809T151357Z
CREATED:20260223T110259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T151357Z
UID:3319-1778585400-1778605200@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Recital\, Masterclass and Playing Opportunity at the Moot Hall\, Colchester Town Hall
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday 12th May\, EOA President Emma Gibbins gave a very enjoyable recital on the 1902 Norman & Beard organ to an audience of over 150 people in the Moot Hall of Colchester Town Hall. Emma’s programme\, which was carefully chosen to suit the instrument and to appeal to the audience\, was as follows:\nCrown Imperial\nWilliam Walton (1902-1983) Tr. Herbert Murrill\nLiebster Jesu\, wir sind hier\, BWV 731\nJ.S. Bach (1685-1750) \nWaltz & Dancing Feet (from Dance Suite)\nNoel Rawsthorne (1919-2019)\nVariations on Amazing Grace\nDenis Bédard (b. 1950)\nOver the rainbow\nHarold Arlen (1905-1986) Tr. David E. Coleman\nFinlandia\nJean Sibelius (1865-1957) Tr. Herbert Austin Fricker \nThis was followed by a Masterclass\, led by Emma\, in which two EOA members\, Wendy Hildreth and Michaela Cottee\, participated alongside Chelmsford Cathedral Organ Scholar\, Helen Lunn. The theme of the Masterclass was ‘Confidence at the Console’. The session focussed on building confidence in performance situations – from managing nerves to developing physical and musical control at the instrument. Following an overview of strategies and techniques by Emma\, the three Masterclass participants each had an opportunity to perform a piece on the Moot Hall organ\, with assistance\, input and insights from Emma\, all of which helped to inspire confidence in the three players.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/recital-masterclass-and-playing-opportunity-at-the-moot-hall-colchester-town-hall/
LOCATION:Colchester Moot Hall\, High Street\, Colchester CO1 1PJ
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260509T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260509T170000
DTSTAMP:20260729T145354Z
CREATED:20250922T092052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260729T145354Z
UID:3197-1778337000-1778346000@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:A Celebration of the Life and Music of Percy Whitlock (1903-1946)
DESCRIPTION:On Saturday 9th May\, we were delighted to welcome renowned Whitlock scholar\, Malcolm Riley to give an illustrated talk about Percy Whitlock at Waltham Abbey Church.  The talk was attended by members of the EOA\, members of neighbouring Organists’ Associations and even attracted some non-members. \nMalcolm gave a fascinating talk with plenty of insights into Whitlock’s life and music. We learnt about those who influenced Whitlock and helped him develop his own distinctive\, idiomatic style\, which combined elements of his teacher at London’s Royal College of Music\, Vaughan Williams\, elements from Elgar\, Stanford and Rachmaninov\, the influence of folksongs and traces of the lush harmonic style of Gershwin and other popular composers of the 1920s. The audience was particularly interested to learn about all the links and connections between musicians at that time. \nMalcolm talked in some detail about Whitlock’s life\, illustrated by many interesting photographs from his childhood\, from his time at Rochester Cathedral\, St Stephen’s Church in Bournemouth and as Bournemouth’s borough organist\, playing at the Pavillion Theatre\, regularly working with the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra. \nWe heard several musical examples\, including the only known recording of Whitlock playing his own music\, a tiny 16 second fragment of him playing the Scherzetto from the Organ Sonata\, recorded in October 1945 on the Compton organ of St Osmund’s Parkstone. \nAfter a break for refreshments\, Jonathan Lilley\, Director of Music at Waltham Abbey Church\, gave a brilliant rendition of Whitlock’s Sonata in C minor.  This was a truly breath-taking and magical performance\, on a magnificent organ perfectly suited to Whitlock’s music.  Everybody appreciated the variety of colours in Jonathan’s registrations\, which really helped communicate the structure and form of this epic work\, from the brassy four-note theme in the first movement\, through the lyrical\, wistful Elgarian motifs\, the sombre chorale sections\, the melodies on the solo clarinet to the grand fanfares and flourishes. \nIt was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative event.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/a-celebration-of-the-life-and-music-of-percy-whitlock-1903-1946-with-distinguished-whitlock-scholar-malcolm-riley/
LOCATION:Waltham Abbey Church\, Highbridge Street\, Waltham Abbey\, EN9 1DG
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260321T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260321T170000
DTSTAMP:20260324T215840Z
CREATED:20250922T091921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T215840Z
UID:3194-1774087200-1774112400@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to organs in the Southend area
DESCRIPTION:Members travelled to the Southend area on Saturday 21st for a visit hosted by committee member Chris Denney and Nancy his wife. We started at St Clements\, Leigh on Sea\, which dates from 1460. The Director of Music\, Rory Windass\, showed us the organ and demonstrated it for us. Our second stop was at St Mary’s\, Prittlewell\, where there has been a church on site since Saxon times in the 7th century\, the Norman nave dating back to the 11th century with later additions. Unfortunately they do not have a regular organist at the moment but Paul Mckay (Vicar) welcomed us and the 1916 Hill organ performed excellently\, filling the church with some wonderful sounds as well as having beautiful flute tones. Bach\, Finzi\, Cozyn and others sounded very fresh and all members very much enjoyed this instrument. After an excellent lunch at The Saxon King\, we proceeded to St Alban the Martyr\, Westcliff on Sea where we were met by Trish (churchwarden) who supplied us with refreshments\, and David Adkins who talked about the church and the organ and gave us a short demonstration. Thanks to all the lovely people who looked after us and to Chris Denney for organising this enjoyable day.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-organs-in-the-southend-area-venues-tbc/
LOCATION:Southend
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/260324-Southend-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260228T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260228T170000
DTSTAMP:20260223T105655Z
CREATED:20250922T091841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T105655Z
UID:3192-1772289000-1772298000@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Composite Recital in aid of the Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund
DESCRIPTION:Do come along\, if you are able\, to the EOA Composite Recital taking place at Shenfield Parish Church (St Mary the Virgin\, Shenfield CM15 9AL) on Saturday 28th February at 2.30pm. It promises to be a very varied and interesting programme. Several EOA members\, together with a couple of special guests\, are kindly donating their time and their talent in order to raise funds for the EOA’s Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund (CKMF)\, which offers financial support towards the cost of items such as organ shoes\, organ music and organ lessons to young organists who are living\, working or studying in Essex. There is no charge for entry\, but there will be a collection for the CKMF\, so please bring some cash with you (payment by card or BACS is also possible) and please give generously! Donations for the refreshments will go to the church. \nThe recitalists are as follows (not in playing order): \nLinden Carey-Bennett (Chorister\, Chelmsford Cathedral)\nChris Denney (Southend-on-Sea)\nLyndon Ford (Portsmouth)\nEmma Gibbins (Director of Music\, Chelmsford Cathedral)\nKrystian Kaniecki (Halstead)\nJonathan Lilley (Director of Music\, Waltham Abbey Church) \nHelen Lunn (Organ Scholar\, Chelmsford Cathedral)\nPhilip Prior (Director of Music\, St James the Great\, Colchester) \nThe NPOR entry for the (3MP 32 stop) organ that the recitalists will be playing can be found at https://npor.org.uk/survey/E00670\nIf you require any further information about this event\, please email organistassociation@gmail.com.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/composite-recital-in-aid-of-the-christopher-kingsley-memorial-fund/
LOCATION:St Mary the Virgin\, Shenfield\, Hall Lane\, Shenfield\, Brentwood\, Essex\, CM15 9AL\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=application/pdf:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/260202-EOA-composite-recital.pdf
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260131T123000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260131T153000
DTSTAMP:20260223T104927Z
CREATED:20250922T091701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T104927Z
UID:3189-1769862600-1769873400@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:EOA 75th Anniversary Luncheon with special Guest Speaker Daniel Moult
DESCRIPTION:Eighteen people attended the EOA 75th Anniversary Luncheon that took place at the end of January in a private dining room at the County Hotel in Chelmsford. We were delighted to be joined by special guest Daniel Moult who\, in addition to being Head of Organ Studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire\, is well-known as an international concert organist\, recording artist and film presenter.\n\nAttendees enjoyed a delicious two-course lunch\, followed by tea/coffee\, and Dan changed tables between courses so that everybody got a chance to talk to him. Whilst we were waiting for tea/coffee to be served\, Dan delivered a brilliant 15-minute carefully-prepared speech about organ performance\, commenting that musical feeling is more important than accuracy\, and recounting some hilarious tales of when things go very wrong. As Dan helpfully pointed out\, the Royal Festival Hall is also 75 years old\, and so Dan topped-and-tailed his speech by talking about the organ therein.\n\nFollowing the success of this year’s Luncheon\, your committee is considering holding another Luncheon next year and we already have a special guest speaker lined up.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/eoa-75th-anniversary-luncheon-with-special-guest-speaker-daniel-moult/
LOCATION:County Hotel\, Chelmsford
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/260204-Anniversary-lunch-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251115T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251115T160000
DTSTAMP:20260223T105126Z
CREATED:20250922T091246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T105126Z
UID:3185-1763217000-1763222400@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:"Pipe up for pipe organs" event\, Broomfield Church Hall
DESCRIPTION:We were delighted that George Allan\, Chairman of ‘Pipe Up for Pipe Organs’ (www.pipeup.org.uk)\, agreed to talk to EOA members in Broomfield Church Hall in November about the somewhat depressing future for pipe organs\, in a talk entitled “Getting Disorganised?”. ‘Pipe Up for Pipe Organs’ is a charity set up in 2022\, which aims to save pipe organs threatened with destruction. Perhaps the most well-known organ rescued by ‘Pipe Up’ is the Henry Jones organ (known as Henry) which is available for the public to play at London Bridge Station. \nGeorge Allan is a retired solicitor and an adult learner of the organ. After many years involvement with building conservation\, his passion is now for organ conservation. His excellent talk contained many depressing statistics. For example\, in Victorian times there were 43\,000 organs\, now there are 15\,000. 1\,280 Anglican churches closed during the 20-year period 1969-1989 and it is estimated that 2\,000 churches will close over the next 5 years. But pipe organs are being lost even when churches are not closing. It is estimated that 1\,520 churches have organs in urgent need of repair\, and a further 6\,000 need major repairs. On top of that\, it is reckoned that 20% of organ-builders will retire in the next 10 years and won’t be replaced. Longer term projections suggest that half of Britain’s remaining organs could be lost or unplayable by 2040 (i.e. in just 15 years’ time). By 2065 it is possible that there will only be a handful of playable organs (estimated to be 165 instruments) remaining outside of cathedrals\, Oxbridge colleges and major parish churches. \nUnfortunately\, there is no easy solution. One possibility might be to train churchwardens and people with responsibility of the care for church organs as to what can be done to keep their instruments playable. Money is clearly an issue\, and George explained how the National Lottery Heritage Fund now rarely provides support for organ projects. The only other thing that can be done\, it seems\, is to advocate for the organ\, by raising public awareness and increasing appreciation of the organ\, attracting new audiences and encouraging more people – young people in particular – to take up the organ. \nThere then followed a very stimulating discussion and refreshments.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/pipe-up-for-pipe-organs-event-broomfield-church-hall/
LOCATION:Broomfield Church Hall\, Broomfield Parish Church (St Mary with St Leonard)\, Church Green\, Broomfield CM1 7BD
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2511-Pipe-up-for-pipe-organs.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251014
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251017
DTSTAMP:20260223T105255Z
CREATED:20250311T211015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260223T105255Z
UID:3057-1760400000-1760659199@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Three day extended visit to organs on the island of Jersey
DESCRIPTION:Seven players and three non-players participated in the EOA’s Extended Visit to Jersey during the October half-term week. The visit was arranged by Andrew Stevens\, who is a frequent visitor to the Channel Islands and responsible for tuning the organs that we visited. Although Jersey is just 9 miles wide and 5 miles high\, it contains a rich variety of churches and organs as well as impressive coastal scenery and a fascinating history stretching back to prehistoric times. \nWith the help of three people who had taken their cars with them\, participants had the pleasure of visiting and playing nine very different organs across the island\, the smallest being the 2MP 9 stop 1923 John Walker & Sons organ at Ebenezer Methodist Church and the largest being the 3MP 50 stop organ in the Town Church\, in St Helier\, originally built in 1926 by Jardine & Co but much modified over the years. The only other 3MP organ which we played was the 3MP 27 stop 1913 J.W. Walker & Sons organ in St Paul’s Church\, St Helier. Every organ that we visited had its merits\, but for several people the favourite was the 2MP 21 stop 1959 Henry Willis & Sons organ\nin St Thomas’s Roman Catholic Church\, enhanced by a generous acoustic. \nMost participants stayed in a Premier Inn in St Helier\, but meals were enjoyed in a variety of locations around the island\, including several with sea views. The camaraderie amongst the participants and the variety of instruments that we visited\, combined with good weather\, helped to make for a very interesting and highly enjoyable visit\, which could not have been improved upon in any way. Thanks to Andrew Stevens for all his work in securing the venues and ensuring the organs were in good voice\, and to Michaela Cottee for helping to prepare the visit documentation.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/14th-16th-october-extended-visit-to-organs-on-the-island-of-jersey/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2508-Trip-to-Jersey.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250927T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250927T163000
DTSTAMP:20250922T092324Z
CREATED:20250506T174614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T092324Z
UID:3088-1758967200-1758990600@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to organs in Bishops Stortford\, Hertfordshire - CANCELLED
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/saturday-27th-september-all-day-visit-to-organs-in-bishops-stortford-hertfordshire/
LOCATION:Bishops Stortford
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250817T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250817T170000
DTSTAMP:20250718T093759Z
CREATED:20250506T175905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250718T093759Z
UID:3104-1755442800-1755450000@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Organ recital by Dr Emma Gibbins\, Ridgewell Parish Church
DESCRIPTION:We do hope that members will be able to join us on the afternoon Sunday 17th August for what promises to be an enjoyable programme of social activities organised by EOA Vice-Chairman & Treasurer Michaela Cottee\, beginning with a recital at 3pm by the new EOA President Dr Emma Gibbins at St Lawrence Church in Ridgewell\, North Essex\, followed by refreshments and an opportunity to socialise (cost £10\, including refreshments afterwards). We will then drive the short distance to Clare in Suffolk\, where there will be an opportunity to play the organ in the church of St Peter & St Paul – an instrument which world-renowned organist Wayne Marshall OBE has recently said he wants to play (no charge but donations welcome)! We will then walk the very short distance to the (excellent) Mughal Knight restaurant on the High Street for a curry and drinks at 6.15pm. We hope that you will be able to join the President and other members of the Committee for a convivial meal. Please note that diners are expected to pay for their own meals\, and that this restaurant does not have an alcohol licence\, so you should bring your own alcoholic drink(s) – there is no corkage charge\, and the restaurant will provide a corkscrew\, glasses\, ice\, etc. Soft drinks are available to purchase from the restaurant\, so please do not bring your own soft drinks. You are welcome to join us for one\, two or all three of these activities. To help with planning and catering\, please RSVP to EOA Vice-Chairman & Treasurer Michaela Cottee using MichaelaCotteeEOA@gmail.com.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/organ-recital-by-dr-emma-gibbins-ridgewell-parish-church/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250719T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250719T170000
DTSTAMP:20250718T091643Z
CREATED:20250119T220516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250718T091643Z
UID:3024-1752919200-1752944400@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to St Mary's\, Dedham and Royal Hospital School\, Holbrook
DESCRIPTION:In this joint visit with The Organ Club\, organised by EOA Committee Member Andrew Stevens\, we are delighted to be able to visit the large 2 manual and pedal Binns organ at St Mary’s Dedham\, recently installed\, as well as to be invited back to play the huge 4 manual and pedal 1933 Hill Norman and Beard organ in the Chapel of the Royal Hospital School\, at Holbrook\, near Ipswich. A pre-booked cooked lunch\, provided by the school catering\, is already included in the visit fee for this event which will be £20 per person. Given that the visit is taking place very soon\, if you have not already booked a place on this visit it may be too late by the time you read this. To enquire about the availability of places\, please email EOA Committee member Andrew Stevens using a.stevens50@btinternet.com. Note that a pre-booked cooked lunch\, provided by the Royal Hospital School\, is included in the visit fee for this event. If you have booked a place on this visit and have dietary requirements\, please let Andrew Stevens know immediately so that he can let the School know.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-st-marys-dedham-and-royal-hospital-school-holbrook/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/royal-holbrook-school.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250615
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250616
DTSTAMP:20250718T091500Z
CREATED:20241105T083333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250718T091500Z
UID:2989-1749945600-1750031999@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting with supporting attraction and start of 75th celebration year
DESCRIPTION:To mark the 75th anniversary of the re-founding of the Essex Organists’ Association (then known as the Chelmsford & District Organists’ Association) after the Second World War in June 1950\, by the then Master of the Music at Chelmsford Cathedral\, Dr Stanley Vann\, this year’s Annual General Meeting took place at Chelmsford Cathedral and was followed by a special Choral Evensong and a meal at a nearby restaurant. The 75th Annual General Meeting\, which took place in the Cathedral Chapter House\, marked the end of Philip Prior’s seven-year Presidency of the EOA. Then came a special celebratory service of Choral Evensong\, with the new EOA President\, Dr Emma Gibbins – who is Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral – conducting\, in the Cathedral at 3.30pm. This was followed by an informal drinks reception in the Cathedral to which all the congregation\, choir members and clergy were invited. Samuel Bristow\, Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral\, played for the service. The concluding voluntary was the premiere of a new work composed by Sam\, called “Essex Paean”. This work was specially commissioned by the EOA to mark the 75th Anniversary. A copy of this commission has been made available to current EOA members with this newsletter. At 5.30pm\, 15 people\, including the new EOA President Emma Gibbins\, former EOA Presidents Philip Prior and Richard Brasier\, and the composer Samuel Bristow\, went for a group meal at a nearby Italian restaurant\, Il Palazzo – a very sociable and enjoyable conclusion to a very special afternoon of music and celebration. Whilst thanks are due to everyone who attended or was involved in some capacity\, particular thanks are owed to EOA Committee members Andrew Stevens and Michaela Cottee for organising the refreshments\, to former President Philip Prior for making all the arrangements with the Cathedral and the restaurant\, and to Samuel Bristow for his composition. Special thanks are owed to the new President Emma Gibbins who not only curated a wonderful musical service\, but who also spent several hours making and icing special ‘organ stop’ biscuits which were enjoyed by the choristers\, and others\, after the service.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/annual-general-meeting-with-supporting-attraction-and-start-of-75th-celebration-year/
LOCATION:Chelmsford Cathedral\, Chelmsford\, Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250412T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250412T170000
DTSTAMP:20250506T173625Z
CREATED:20250119T220141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250506T173625Z
UID:3020-1744452000-1744477200@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to village organs in the area to the east of Colchester
DESCRIPTION:On a lovely April day with super weather\, a good number of members and friends visited three interesting and historic instruments at parish churches in Bradfield\, Mistley and Ardleigh. At St Lawrence\, Bradfield\, John Barrow\, the church’s organist\, met us and talked about the organ that we see today. Originally a 3 manual and pedal instrument\, it was rebuilt in 1964 by Cedric Arnold as a 2 manual and pedal organ. After a short drive\, which included lovely views of the River Stour estuary\, we arrived at our second venue of the day\, the Georgian Church of St Mary and St Michael\, Mistley\, and after an excellent lunch at The Wooden Fender\, Colchester Road\, Ardleigh\, we moved onto our final venue of the day\, nearer into Colchester. This was the lovely medieval parish church of St Mary’s\, Ardleigh\, with very East Anglian flint exterior and excellent Victorian interior restoration. Our thanks to EOA Minutes Secretary\, Chris Denney\, with the help of his wife Nancy\, for organising such a great day out for us\, including arranging the wonderful food and weather!
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-village-organs-in-the-area-to-the-east-of-colchester/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250329T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250329T160000
DTSTAMP:20250506T173340Z
CREATED:20241105T083153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250506T173340Z
UID:2985-1743242400-1743264000@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to organs in Reed\, Standon and Ware\, Hertfordshire
DESCRIPTION:A good number of our members drove the distance to Hertfordshire for this joint event organised by our colleagues in the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Organists’ Association\, to visit 4 very different organs that the EOA had not visited before. We began with a brand new 2 manual & pedal tracker organ built in 2024 by N P Mander of Canterbury in the small village church of St Mary’s\, Reed\, between Ware and Stevenage on the old Roman road. We then travelled to St Mary’s Church\, Standon\, a medieval church with an incredibly high chancel\, dating from its earliest days. After an excellent and convivial lunch at The Star pub opposite the church\, where members of both Association were able to socialise\, we drove a few miles to the large market town of Ware for our afternoon visits – the Parish Church of St Mary’s and Christ Church. Our thanks to our colleagues in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Association for their excellent organisation of an excellent day out!
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-organs-in-standon-and-ware-hertfordshire/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250201T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250201T160000
DTSTAMP:20250311T204606Z
CREATED:20241104T222912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T204606Z
UID:2976-1738420200-1738425600@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Desert Island Discs with Castaway Dr Emma Gibbins
DESCRIPTION:As we welcome Dr Emma Gibbins to her new role as Master of the Music at Chelmsford Cathedral\, and to membership of the Association\, we were delighted that she agreed to be the castaway for a Desert Island Discs event\, with a very good attendance from members. Emma has both a background in cathedral music and engineering and\, in the style of Desert Island Discs\, chose her significant music tracks and shared a little of her own life journey\, which led to Chelmsford Cathedral! As Lauren Laverne was unable\, EOA President Philip Prior hosted and guided Emma through sharing her life journey to Chelmsford!
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/desert-island-discs-with-castaway-dr-emma-gibbins/
LOCATION:Broomfield Church Hall\, Church Green\, Broomfield\, CM1 7BD
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/emma-gibbins.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250118T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250118T170000
DTSTAMP:20250311T204412Z
CREATED:20241104T222528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T204412Z
UID:2973-1737210600-1737219600@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Bring and share choral music workshop
DESCRIPTION:One of the goals of this event was to encourage those working with small or inexperienced choirs and singers to explore new repertoire and gain support on choir training and conducting. All participants had the chance to conduct the choir and receive some helpful tips and feedback from both EOA President Philip Prior (Director of Music\, St James the Great\, Colchester) and EOA Committee Member\, Jonathan Lilley (Director of Music\, Waltham Abbey). The choir was made of the handful members of the Association who attended the event and allowed music for SATB down to unison to be included. The church’s fine 3 manual and pedal organ recently rebuilt by Andrew Stevens) was used excellently for accompaniment.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/bring-and-share-choral-music-workshop/
LOCATION:St Mary the Virgin\, Shenfield\, Hall Lane\, Shenfield\, Brentwood\, Essex\, CM15 9AL\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/st-marys-shenfield.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241102T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241102T170000
DTSTAMP:20250119T224914Z
CREATED:20241105T082839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250119T224914Z
UID:2981-1730557800-1730566800@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Afternoon composite recital at Old Independent URC Church\, Haverhill
DESCRIPTION:Your committee was delighted to accept an invitation from the EOA Vice-Chairman\, Treasurer and Membership Secretary\, Dr Michaela Cottee\, for EOA members to take part – as players or audience members – in her 60th birthday celebration composite recital at the Old Independent Church in Haverhill (where the EOA’s AGM took place in 2022). Michaela invited some excellent players from the Association\, including EOA President Philip Prior\, former President Gillian Ward-Russell\, committee member Lyndon Ford\, members Krystian Kaniecki and David Parry-Smith\, as well as organist friends from outside the Association\, including Roger Carter\, Philip Luke\, Timara Easter\, Andrew Garfath-Cox\, and Tony Dunn. The varied repertoire showed off the church’s excellent 41 stop\, 3 manual and pedal J.J. Binns organ to its best!
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/afternoon-composite-recital-at-old-independent-urc-church-haverhill/
LOCATION:Old Independent URC Church\, Haverhill\, CB9 8EF
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/urc-church-haverhill.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241001T000000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241031T000000
DTSTAMP:20250119T215402Z
CREATED:20240719T145422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250119T215402Z
UID:2242-1727740800-1730332800@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:3 day extended visit to play organs in Bath
DESCRIPTION:With the help of Dr Dave Hyatt who has known the organs of Bath all his life\, EOA Vice Chairman and Treasurer\, Dr Michaela Cottee organised a very varied three day extended visit to the city of Bath and its environs for EOA Members and friends. It included visits to the two churches at Bathwick\, the Victorian Gothic-style Christ Church\, Manvers Street Baptist Church and Holy Trinity in Bradford-upon-Avon\, the wonderful Klais organ at Bath Abbey and the huge Compton organ of Downside Abbey.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/3-day-extended-visit-to-play-organs-in-bath/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bath-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240921
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240922
DTSTAMP:20241105T082345Z
CREATED:20240719T145237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241105T082345Z
UID:2239-1726876800-1726963199@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to organs in Woodbridge and Orford
DESCRIPTION:A handful of keen members of all ages began our all day visit to coastal Suffolk in the market town of Woodbridge\, at the historic (and former Abbey) church of St Mary’s\, Woodbridge. This impressive medieval flint church boasts a very good parish church choir to supplement its Anglo-Catholic liturgy\, and St Mary’s is very fortunate to have recruited James Davy (formerly of Chelmsford Cathedral) as its Director of Music at the beginning of 2024. The organ was originally built in 1886 by Monk as a 3 manual and pedal instrument\,\nreplacing an earlier gallery organ\, and then reduced to 2 manuals and pedals by Bishops of Ipswich in 1976\, with a detached console\, with further additions by Bishop & Sons in 1989 (inc. Tuba\, Clarinet\, Pedal Bombarde). In 2005 – Bishop moved the console to its rather distant position in the East End of South Aisle as part of reordering of East End\, when a Pedal 32ft Contra Bass added. James demonstrated the organ after which members had plenty of time to explore this fine instrument\, which is currently undergoing restorative care work and tuning from Andrew Stevens.\nA few minutes away was the beautiful village church of St Mary’s Parish Church\, Great Bealings. Situated down a peaceful lane with fields and the river close by\, this is an idyllic spot for a church. We were welcomed by the enthusiastic churchwarden who talked about the church and its history before unlocking the organ for us! This was one of those small instruments where “every stop counts” in the ensemble and makes a difference. Built in 1894 by the great northern builder\, James Jepson Binns (or “Battleship Binns”) and untouched since\, this superb little organ did everything you would expect it to and more. Despite only having 10 stops across 2 manuals and pedals (and nothing above 4 ft pitch) this organ more than comfortably filled the building from its West End position and was an absolute hidden gem to play\, as those members who tried it soon discovered.\nAfter an exceptionally good pub lunch at the Kings Head pub in Orford\, we ventured a short walk to the parish church of St Bartholomew’s\, Orford. Although the Director of Music Graeme Kay had joined us briefly over lunch\, he was unable to be with us in the church\, and we were pleased that the Organist Adrian Nicholson was able to host us there. The stunning 3 manual and pedal Classical style organ was originally built in 1977 by Peter Collins for Turner-Sims Concert Hall\, Southampton University. Whilst there\, it was an instrument which never settled properly to its surroundings. In 2019\, after much discussion and wrangling between church and diocese\, it was installed here by Cousans Organs\, with some revoicing\, and the original Brustwerk doors replaced with shutters and combination system upgraded. With 28 speaking stops it is very much in the North German style\, but this does not limit what can be played on it to just that genre of repertoire. Everyone who played it thoroughly enjoyed its very responsive action\, and soon discovered that the more inventive reached a wider range of additional colours possible from it. Clearly this time it has settled brilliantly into its new home. Along with excellent playing from Philip Prior\, Jonathan Lilley\, and Fay Hepworth\, we were even treated to a Toccata & Fugue in D minor battle by members Chris Denney and Krystian Kaniecki\, who had both chosen this infamous piece to play.\nThis was an excellent day’s playing in an area of Suffolk we have not visited before and our thanks to EOA President\, Philip Prior\, and James Davy for organising it so superbly for us.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-organs-in-woodbridge-and-orford/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Peter_Collins_Organ.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240810T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240810T170000
DTSTAMP:20240722T142545Z
CREATED:20240719T145108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240722T142545Z
UID:2235-1723294800-1723309200@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Summer Picnic at Waltham Abbey
DESCRIPTION:Jonathan Lilley has kindly offered to host this year’s summer party as an afternoon/evening picnic\, with members providing their own food and drink\, at Waltham Abbey\, using the Church Hall as a base and with the Abbey organ available for players. It will be a picnic style event (bring your own food) based around the Abbey’s Parish Hall but allowing us to meet in the Abbey grounds (if weather permits)\, so bring rugs and chairs to sit on as needed. Members\, their families and non-members are very welcome to join us for this event! Please bring your own picnic food along with plates\, cutlery etc – Jonathan will be kindly providing us with a variety of drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic! There will also be the chance for anyone who would like to play the Abbey Church’s 3 manual and pedal pipe organ and Piano. To cover costs of hiring the Parish Hall\, there will be an opportunity for those attending to make a suggested donation of £5 each. Parking is available nearby on street or in nearby carparks. Please do email EOA Committee member\, Jonathan Lilley as soon as possible if you would like to join us for this event\, using jonathan.lilley@walthamabbeychurch.co.uk.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/summer-picnic-at-waltham-abbey/
LOCATION:Waltham Abbey
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/summer_picnic.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Jonathan Li":MAILTO:jonathan.lilley@walthamabbeychurch.co.uk
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240719T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240719T170000
DTSTAMP:20240722T125946Z
CREATED:20240719T144826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240722T125946Z
UID:2233-1721376000-1721408400@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to organs in Southend
DESCRIPTION:Our newly elected Committee member and Minutes Secretary\, Chris Denney has organised a day’s visits for us in Southend – somewhere which the EOA has not visited for many years\, and we hope members will take advantage of this opportunity to play the organs at these churches in the bottom right corner of coastal Essex! The schedule (with travel in members’ cars) is as follows: \n10.15am St Augustine’s\, Thorpe Bay \n11.30am Cornerstone United Reformed Church\, Bournemouth Park Road \n1pm Pre-booked Lunch at The Trading Rooms\, Westcliff \n2.30pm Kings Rd URC\, Westcliff \nThe cost of this event is £10 for players and £5 for non-players or players under 18. Please email Chris Denney on chrisdenney1@gmail.com asap if you would like to join this event\, giving details of whether you would like to book for lunch at The Trading Rooms.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-organs-in-southend/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/southend_on_sea.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240716
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240717
DTSTAMP:20240722T125751Z
CREATED:20240719T152336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240722T125751Z
UID:2261-1721088000-1721174399@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:“A Byrd in the Hand” a lecture-recital by Dr Richard Overill on the life and music of William Byrd at St Nicholas
DESCRIPTION:In this\, the 400th anniversary year of the death of the Essex composer\, William Byrd (1540-1623)\, for our July event\, EOA members were very pleased to be able to support EOA Member Dr Richard Overill’s lecture-recital\, “A Byrd in the Hand”\, at St Nicholas Church in Witham.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/a-byrd-in-the-hand-a-lecture-recital-by-dr-richard-overill-on-the-life-and-music-of-william-byrd-at-st-nicholas/
LOCATION:St Nicholas Church\, Chipping Hill\, Witham\, CM8 2JS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:EOA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://essexorganists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/organist15.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240615
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240616
DTSTAMP:20240724T112135Z
CREATED:20240724T112047Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240724T112135Z
UID:2749-1718409600-1718495999@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:The 74th AGM of the Association
DESCRIPTION:Although only 5 EOA Members were able to attend the 2024 EOA AGM held in the Octagon Hall of St Mary’s Church\, in Maldon to celebrate and review the Association’s year from 2023-2024\, the meeting received full and inspiring reports from its President and Treasurer leaving no doubt about the secure financial state the Association is now to be found in\, after a very successful year\, with membership remaining at around 50 members. After the business part of the meeting\, and tea and cakes provided by the church\, it was a great pleasure to have Samuel Bristow (Assistant Organist\, Chelmsford Cathedral) to play for our AGM recital this year\, on the Klais organ of St Mary’s Church\, Maldon. His North-German influenced programme showed off the colours of the organ and his excellent playing skills\, honed at venues including Coventry\, St Paul’s and Salisbury Cathedrals.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/the-74th-agm-of-the-association/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240504
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240505
DTSTAMP:20240724T112012Z
CREATED:20240724T112012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240724T112012Z
UID:2747-1714780800-1714867199@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:Visit to All Saints and St Andrew’s Churches\, Hertford and Haileybury College
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/visit-to-all-saints-and-st-andrews-churches-hertford-and-haileybury-college/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240323
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240324
DTSTAMP:20240724T111907Z
CREATED:20240724T111907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240724T111907Z
UID:2743-1711152000-1711238399@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:“Bring and Share organ music for Lent and Easter”
DESCRIPTION:6 EOA members and friends accepted the invitation to bring along a couple of pieces with a Lenten or Eastertide theme to introduce\, share\, and perform on the fine organ 3 manual and pedal organ of St Peter’s Bocking\, which offers much to the inventive player as provide a wide palette of colours needed for range of organ schools. There was a huge range of styles and periods shown in the choice played. Everyone encountered some new seasonal pieces which they hadn’t heard before\, as well as being reminded of some old favourites\, and all were left with plenty of new ideas to add to their own repertoire and usefully include in services during Lent and Easter next year!
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/bring-and-share-organ-music-for-lent-and-easter/
LOCATION:Essex
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240224
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240225
DTSTAMP:20240724T112142Z
CREATED:20240724T111822Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240724T112142Z
UID:2740-1708732800-1708819199@essexorganists.org
SUMMARY:All day visit to organs in Halstead and Earl’s Colne
DESCRIPTION:Our day in visiting churches in the Colne Valley in North Essex\, began at St Andrew’s Parish Church\, Halstead\, the medieval parish church of the town. We then moved to the next venue\, just a few minutes away\, St Francis RC Church\, in Halstead. After lunch at the The Lion Pub\, at Earls Colne\, the party moved across the road to St Andrew’s Parish Church\, Earls Colne. Everyone who participated enjoyed the day and the wide variety of organs we visited\, and it was good to hear newer members taking to the organ bench as well.
URL:https://essexorganists.org/event/all-day-visit-to-organs-in-halstead-and-earls-colne/
LOCATION:Halstead
CATEGORIES:EOA
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR