About The Berkshire Organists' Association

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 (No 298088).

Our aims as an Association:

	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:

1. Organising events for members

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

Since 1965 we have arranged regular celebrity 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 are striving to raise our profile in Berkshire, along with the Newbury and Windsor Associations, in order to involve as many people as possible in achieving the four aims listed above.

Join us

Our Patron is Dame Gillian Weir.

The current officers of the Association include:

Christopher Cipkin - President

Donald Hickson - Acting Honorary Secretary

Mark Jameson - Treasurer

Patron: Dame Gillian Weir

Registered Charity No.298088