Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Organ Department

It was a real joy to welcome members of the Assistant Cathedral Organists' Association this week – what a lovely group of people! Dan thoroughly enjoyed giving a masterclass to these talented and passionate musicians.

Thank you to Martyn Rawles (and Dan) for the photos.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

🎹 'A new generation of Nigerian organists'

Our talented MMus student, Joseph Jacob, has been featured in an excellent article on the Royal College of Organists website.

📖 Read the full story here:
https://i.rco.org.uk/a-new-generation-of-nigerian-organists/

🔐 RCO members can access the article using their member password. Non-members are invited to create a free guest registration.

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

🎉✨ Many congratulations to Godfrey Leung (BMus 4) on a superb performance yesterday as part of the prestigious John Hill – Catherine Ennis Organ Series 🎶👏

We’re delighted that Godfrey will be performing again next week, alongside fellow leaver, Thomas Howell, in a concert positively overbrimming with talented organists! 🎹✨

📍 Organ Studio, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
🗓️ Monday 8th June
🕐 1305 – 1400
🎟️ Free admission

👉 Book your place here: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/organ-recital-08-06-2026

🎼 Programme to include everything from Lucchinetti to Leighton’s compelling ‘Martyrs’! 🎶

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

🎶FINAL CALL FOR OPEN DAY! 🎶

📅 Thursday 11th June

Thinking about studying with us? Come and experience life at the Conservatoire! Meet our staff and students, explore our facilities, and get answers to all your questions.

🎹 The Organ Department session runs from 1350 to 1450, with plenty of other activities happening throughout the day.

🎟️ Reserve your free place here:
https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/about-us/open-days

See you there! 😊

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

🎉 Many congratulations to postgraduate students Conor and George on their new positions as Assistant Director of Music, and Organ Scholar of Birmingham Cathedral respectively. 🎶

👏 Richly deserved!

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Godfrey Leung (BMus4) performs in the prestigious John Hill – Catherine Ennis Organ Series

📍 Grosvenor Chapel, London
⏰ 2 June 2026, 1.10 - 1.50pm

A wonderful programme of Bach, Mozart and Brahms - Not to be missed!

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Royal College of Organists The John Hill - Catherine Ennis Organ Series

OPEN DAY 🎶 Thursday 11th June

An opportunity to hear directly from staff and students, explore our facilities, and ask any questions you like!

The Organ Dept slot is 1350 – 1450, but there are many more activities to consider too.

We offer pathways for gap year students, undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as people already in work. Book a free place here: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/about-us/open-day

See you there 🙂

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

🎉Congratulations to Conor McGlone, winner of RBC’s 2026 Dame Gillian Weir Messiaen Competition!

👏Bravo to Conor, Harry and Joseph for three superb performances today before a large and very supportive audience.

Held as part of the joyous New Paths Music Spring Festival, the competition took place in Beverley Minster, surely one of the country’s most beautiful buildings. 🎶

Thank you to everyone at New Paths Festival, to Robert Poyser and Beverley Minster, and to our wonderful panel: Andrew McCrea (chair), Cathy Lamb and Tom Bell.

Finally, heartfelt thanks – as ever – to Dame Gillian. ✨

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

In a couple of weeks, three finalists will travel to Beverley to compete for RBC’s 2026 Dame Gillian Weir Messiaen Prize 🎶✨

Hosted by the wonderful New Paths Music Spring Festival 🌸, the competition takes place on 17th April at 10am in Beverley Minster.

The finalists are… 👏

Harry Brown
Joseph Jacob
Conor McGlone

Best of luck to all three! 🍀🎹

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

A busy fortnight of exams, competitions, and concerts brings the spring term to an end...🎉

Congratulations to: 👏
• Thomas Howell (pictured at the recent BIOS conference 📷) on winning the Leonard Gibbons Competition, kindly offered by the BOA – with Godfrey Leung highly commended 🥇 🌟
• Josh Cahm (📷 2) on winning second prize in the Kent County Organists’ Association Competition 🏆

Bravo to: 🎵
• Alex Trigg for his concert at the Temple Church (📷 3), courtesy of The Keyboard Charitable Trust
• Joseph Jacob for his recital at Stratford-upon-Avon (📷 4)

Amy Littlewood (📷 5) gave our final seminar of term 🎤, speaking eloquently on performance anxiety, complementing earlier sessions from Dan (also on MPA,📷 6 ) and Charles Francis (📷 7) on study 📚 and careers in the United States.

Stretching back beyond the past fortnight, many thanks to our visitors this term 🙏 – Annette Richards, Sietze de Vries, and Matthias Havinga (📷 8)– for their inspirational playing and teaching🎹, and to our visiting tutors, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, Will Fox, and Richard Hills (📷 9), for their brilliant sessions on choral directing, accompaniment, and liturgical improvisation 🎶

If you’d like some holiday reading 📖, the new edition of Choir & Organ is out, featuring an article on the Lady of Clare organ (📷 10).

Looking ahead… 👀 Stay tuned for the announcement of finalists travelling to New Paths Music festival in Beverley to compete in the Dame Gillian Weir Messiaen Competition in April 🌷🏆

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire