EOA 75th Anniversary Luncheon with special Guest Speaker Daniel Moult
2026-01-31 12:30 - 15:30 UTC | County Hotel, Chelmsford
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.

Attendees 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.

Following 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.

Silent film event with Richard Hills
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ

Try the organ day, 28th February, Southend High School for Boys
2026-02-28 09:30 - 21:00 | Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea SS0 0RG
On Saturday 28th February there is an Open Morning at Southend High School for Boys (Prittlewell Chase, Southend SS0 0RG) for anybody who would like to learn more about the organ (https://npor.org.uk/survey/K01507) and to have a go at playing it. Non-organists are welcome! Talks will take place at approximately 9.30am, 11am and 12.30pm. In the evening there is a Showcase Concert featuring musical talent from the School performing an eclectic mix of instruments and voices, as well as the organ (tickets £7 for adults). The Open Morning is taking place 9.30am – 2pm and the Showcase Concert starts at 7.30pm, so it is possible to combine both these events with the EOA Composite Recital that is taking place in Shenfield at 2.30pm the same day.

Composite Recital in aid of the Christopher Kingsley Memorial Fund
2026-02-28 14:30 - 17:00 | St Mary the Virgin, Shenfield, Hall Lane, Shenfield, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9AL, United Kingdom
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.
The recitalists are as follows (not in playing order):
Linden Carey-Bennett (Chorister, Chelmsford Cathedral)
Chris Denney (Southend-on-Sea)
Lyndon Ford (Portsmouth)
Emma Gibbins (Director of Music, Chelmsford Cathedral)
Krystian Kaniecki (Halstead)
Jonathan Lilley (Director of Music, Waltham Abbey Church)
Helen Lunn (Organ Scholar, Chelmsford Cathedral)
Philip Prior (Director of Music, St James the Great, Colchester)
The NPOR entry for the (3MP 32 stop) organ that the recitalists will be playing can be found at https://npor.org.uk/survey/E00670
If you require any further information about this event, please email organistassociation@gmail.com.

Organ recital - Richard Brasier
2026-03-01 16:00 - 17:00 | St Marylebone Parish Church, London NW1 5LT

Lunchtime Concerts at Chelmsford Cathedral, Chelmsford CM1 1TY
2026-03-06 12:00 - 2026-05-01 13:00 | Chelmsford Cathedral, Chelmsford, Essex
Friday 6th March at 1200 (tea/coffee from 1130): Adrian Partington (organ)
Friday 1st May at 1200 (tea/coffee from 1130): Emma Gibbins (organ)

Organ recital - Richard Brasier
2026-03-07 18:00 - 19:00 | St George’s German Lutheran Church, London E1 8EB

Moot Hall Monthly Recital Series at Colchester Town Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ
2026-03-10 13:00 - 2026-06-09 14:00 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ
All recitals start at 1pm and last approximately 45 minutes. Admission is free, with a retiring collection in aid of the Friends of the Moot Hall Organ.
Tuesday 10th March: Claudia Grinnell (Director of Music, St Edmundsbury Cathedral)
Tuesday 14th April: Darius Battiwalla (Leeds City Organist)
Tuesday 12th May: Emma Gibbins (Director of Music, Chelmsford Cathedral)
Tuesday 9th June: Hilary Punnett (Assistant Director of Music, St Paul’s Cathedral)

Organ recital - Gillian Ward-Russell
2026-03-11 13:00 - 14:00 | United Reformed Church, Lion Walk, Colchester CO1 1LX

Organ recital - Lyndon Ford
2026-03-13 19:00 - 20:30 | St Mary’s Church, Chediston, Suffolk IP19 0AU

Organ recital - Emma Gibbins
2026-03-20 12:30 - 13:30 | St Stephen Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN

All day visit to organs in the Southend area
2026-03-21 10:00 - 17:00 | Southend
EOA Committee member Chris Denney has arranged an all-day visit to organs in the Southend area. The programme for the day is as follows:
10am St Clement’s Church, Church Hill (off Broadway), Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1PG.
11.30am St Mary’s Church, East Street, Prittlewell SS2 6LQ
1.15pm Lunch at The Saxon King Pub, 160 Priory Crescent, Prittlewell SS2 6QN
2.30pm St Alban the Martyr Church, St John’s Road, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 7JZ
The charge for this event is £10 per person (£5 for students).
Parking in the Southend area can be difficult. There is no parking at St Clement’s Church (10am), so you are advised to park in Elm Road Car Park (SS9 1SL) which is less than 5 minutes’ walk from the church. For St Mary’s Church (11.30am), Chris has arranged for us to be able to park in the C of E Primary School next door to the church. St Alban the Martyr Church (2.30pm) has a small car park or use the North Road Car Park (SS1 1PW) which is a short walk from the church.
The Saxon King (our lunch venue) is a Marstons’ pub with a large menu offering. They would like food to be pre-ordered by 14th March so Chris will send out menus to those who contact him before that date. The Saxon King is a short drive from St Mary’s Church and 15 minutes from St Alban the Martyr Church. The pub has a large car park, or there is an Aldi next door that has free parking for two hours.
A menu and additional information will be sent to members who express an interest in attending. Please contact Chris Denney on chrisdenney1@gmail.com. Remember to contact Chris before 14th March if you would like to order lunch at the pub.

Moot Hall Masterclasses at Colchester Town Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ
2026-04-14 14:00 - 2026-05-12 15:30 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ
Masterclasses will start at c.2pm, following a recital by the person taking the masterclass.
Tuesday 14th April: ‘Navigating a Town Hall Instrument’ with Darius Battiwalla
Tuesday 12th May: ‘Confidence at the Console’ with Emma Gibbons
There are just four playing places available per masterclass, for “advanced students, organ scholars, experienced amateur organists, pianists/keyboard players transitioning to organ and anyone wanting experience on a large civic instrument”, but observers are welcome. To enquire about playing places or to find out more, contact the Colchester City Organist, William Saunders, via www.moothallorgan.co.uk/contact

Organ recital - Tim Patient
2026-04-29 12:30 - 13:00 | St Botolph-without-Aldgate, London EC3N 1AB

A Celebration of the Life and Music of Percy Whitlock (1903- 1946) with distinguished Whitlock scholar Malcolm Riley
2026-05-09 14:30 - 17:00 | Waltham Abbey Church, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1DG
The last big event of the EOA’s 75th Anniversary year is an afternoon dedicated to the Life and Music of Percy Whitlock (1903-1946) which coincides, almost to the day, with the 80th Anniversary of the composer’s death. This special afternoon, which is taking place at Waltham Abbey Church on Saturday 9th May, will feature an illustrated talk by Whitlock expert, Malcolm Riley, author of ‘Percy Whitlock – Organist and Composer: A Biographical Study’ and editor of ‘The Percy Whitlock Companion’, plus a special performance of Percy Whitlock’s Organ Sonata by Jonathan Lilley. The talk will start at 2.30pm (arrive from 2pm) and there will be a refreshment break.
The cost of this event is £10 for EOA members and members of other IAO affiliated associations, £12 for non-members / general public, and £5 for under 18s and fulltime students. For further information about this event and to express your interest in attending, please contact Jonathan Lilley on jonathan.lilley@walthamabbeychurch.co.uk

Recital, Masterclass and Playing Opportunity at the Moot Hall, Colchester Town Hall
2026-05-12 11:30 - 17:00 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ
EOA President Emma Gibbins will be giving a recital and masterclass on the Moot Hall organ in Colchester Town Hall on Tuesday 12th May. It would be lovely to see other EOA members there. If you can come, you would be very welcome to join us for a late brunch / early lunch beforehand, from 11.30am, and there will be an opportunity to play the organ following the masterclass. There is no charge for this event, though members will be responsible for paying for their own brunch / lunch and there will be a retiring collection following the recital, in aid of the Friends of the Moot Hall Organ.
The proposed schedule for the day is as follows:
11.30am Brunch / Lunch at a nearby restaurant (probably Bill’s)
1pm Emma’s recital on the Moot Hall organ
2pm Emma’s masterclass on ‘Confidence at the Console’
3pm An opportunity for EOA members to play the Moot Hall organ
If you would like to join us for lunch and/or if you would like to play the Moot Hall organ, please contact Michaela Cottee (organistassociation@gmail.com) no later than Monday 4th May. If you would like to take part in the masterclass, please contact the Colchester City Organist, William Saunders, via www.moothallorgan.co.uk/contact.

Organ recital - Emma Gibbins
2026-05-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Colchester Moot Hall, High Street, Colchester CO1 1PJ

Summer Lunchtime Concert at St James the Great, East Hill, Colchester CO1 2QL
2026-06-02 12:30 - 14:30 | St James the Great, East Hill, Colchester CO1 2QL
On Tuesday 2nd June at 1300 (with light refreshments from 1215): Samuel Bristow (Assistant Director of
Music, Chelmsford Cathedral)

EOA AGM plus lunch and a concert at Chelmsford Cathedral
2026-06-27 12:00 - 16:00 | Chelmsford Cathedral, Chelmsford, Essex
We are planning to combine this year’s AGM with a concert taking place in Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday 27th June and a meal. The provisional programme is as follows:
12pm Lunch in Chelmsford
2pm Samuel Bristow (Assistant Director of Music) will be performing Prokofiev’s musical fairytale ‘Peter and the Wolf’ at Chelmsford Cathedral, with narration by storyteller Mike Dodsworth.
3pm AGM in the Cathedral
Further details to follow. In the meantime, please save the date. If you require any further information about this event at this stage, or wish to express an interest in taking part, please contact Emma Gibbins on emmagibbins1978@gmail.com.

Organ recital - Stephen King
2026-06-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea SS0 0RG
On Saturday 27th June at 7:30pm, Stephen King (Organist Emeritus at Brentwood Cathedral) will give a recital at the Southend High School for Boys based on the theme of ‘dance’.

EOA Summer Social in Thaxted
2026-07-25 12:00 - 17:00 | Thaxted
This year’s Summer Social will take place on Saturday 25th July in the pretty little market town of Thaxted. We have arranged to visit Thaxted Parish Church, which is home to three organs: the historic 1821 3MP 23 organ by Henry Lincoln; a 1MP 8 organ by Cedric Arnold; and a 3MP digital organ (the Thaxted Festival organ) by Makin. We are also hoping to visit Bolford Street URC, which is home to a 2MP 14 organ by Cedric Arnold with painted pipes. We are planning to combine our visit with an early evening meal at the India Villa opposite the Parish Church. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please save the date. If you require any further information about this event at this stage, or wish to express an interest in taking part, please contact Michaela Cottee on organistassociation@gmail.com.

All Day Visit to Organs in the Bishops Stortford Area
2026-09-19 10:00 - 15:00 | Bishops Stortford
We were hoping to run this event last year, but it was cancelled because there were insufficient expressions of interest in a timely manner. A number of people subsequently said that they were planning to take part, so we are rescheduling the planned visit to organs in Stansted Mountfitchet, Birchanger and Bishops Stortford, to take place on Saturday 19th September. This will be run as a joint meeting, organised by the EOA, to which members of the Enfield & District Organists’ Association and Beds & Herts Organists’ Association will also be invited. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please save the date. If you require any further information about this event at this stage, or wish to express an interest in taking part, please contact Andrew Stevens on a.stevens50@btinternet.com.

EOA Extended visit to South Wales
2026-10-27 08:00 - 2026-10-29 17:00 | South Wales
EOA President Emma Gibbins is in the process of organising an Extended Visit to South Wales, which will take place during half-term week. We will be visiting and playing several interesting organs over three days, from Tuesday 27th October to Thursday 29th October. Given the distance from Essex, members might like to plan to arrive on the Monday and depart on the Friday. Some people will be taking their car, so for people going by train it should be possible to have a lift between venues. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please save the date. If you require any further information about this event at this stage, or wish to express an interest in taking part, please contact Emma Gibbins on emmagibbins1978@gmail.com.

Organ recital - Philip Prior
2026-11-13 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Baptist Church, 55 Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4NG

Bring & Share Music for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, at Christ Church, Chelmsford
2026-11-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Christ Church, Chelmsford
The idea of this event is to bring and “share” – by talking about and playing – organ music that is appropriate for Advent, Christmas or Epiphany. This event will take place at Christ Church Chelmsford on Saturday 21st November 2026. Further details to follow. In the meantime, please save the date. If you require any further information about this event at this stage, or wish to express an interest in taking part, please contact Emma Gibbins on emmagibbins1978@gmail.com.
