About Us

The Berkshire Organists' Association was founded at a meeting held on 19th April 1921, arranged by Percy Scrivener (the Founder President) and Archibald Lusty, who subsequently served as Secretary for 46 years. The Association was affiliated to the National Union of Organists' Associations: this body became the Incorporated Association of Organists, to which we are still affiliated. In 1988 we became a registered charity.

Our Patron is Dame Gillian Weir.

The logo of the Association is a drawing of the case of the Father Willis organ in Reading Town Hall.

Our aims are:

to promote the art of playing the organ
to encourage the public to appreciate organ music
to provide help and advice to church musicians
to enable organists to meet each other

These aims are of equal importance, and we try to achieve them in three ways:

Organising events for members

We hope to cater for as many tastes as possible by promoting organ recitals and concerts, masterclasses, talks on organs, discussions on church music, publishers' evenings, choir workshops, social evenings and visits to interesting organs.

Since 1965 we have arranged regular recitals on the historic Father Willis organ in Reading Town Hall, and we also organise a series of lower-profile recitals given by members in local churches.

Communication with members

In addition to maintaining this website, we issue a newsletter every two months, and each year since 1948 have published The Berkshire Organist, a substantial magazine which has few equals amongst other organists' associations.

Exercising an influence in the outside world

We consider it important to be, and be seen to be, a source of help and advice to all organists and church musicians. We strive to raise our profile in Berkshire, along with the Newbury and District Organists' Association, in order to involve as many people as possible in achieving the four aims listed above.

We send out a monthly email listing of local organ-related events to a mailing list of members and the wider public.

We are always delighted to welcome new members, whether they are organists or just enjoy listening to organ music. More information and an application form can found on our Join Us page.

Our constitution document can be downloaded here.