The Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO), founded in 1909, is a national association of

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

s and church musicians in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, with 28 centres from

Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlottetown was an unincorporated town until it was incorporated as a city in ...

, Prince Edward Island. The National Office is in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

. The chief aim of the College is to promote a high standard of organ playing, choral directing, church music and composition. To this end, it holds examinations and grants diplomas, encourages musical events such as workshops and recitals, commissions new works, affords opportunities for discussion, and provides advice on being a professional musician. The College holds an annual summer convention. Recent conventions were held in Montreal QC (2017), Calgary AB (2018) and Halifax NS (2019). The College is registered as a charitable organization in Canada.

History

On 27 October 1909, a resolution recognising "the importance of establishing a college of organists, similar to that of England, in Canada" was passed at the Conservatory of Music in Brantford, Ontario and in December of that year, the Canadian Guild of Organists was founded. In 1920 the Guild was renamed as the Canadian College of Organists, and in 1959 it was granted the prefix Royal, in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the College.

Publications

From October 1968 to June 2009, ''The American Organist'', published monthly by the

American Guild of Organists The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is an international organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the US, headquartered in New York City with its administrative offices in the Interchurch Center. Founded as a professional educat ...

(AGO), was the official journal of the RCCO as well as of the AGO. In September 2009, because of changes in United States Postal Service regulations, the RCCO began to publish its own official journal. Its quarterly newsletter ''Organ Canada/Orgue Canada'' was redesigned as a glossy bimonthly publication, with the purpose of "celebrating excellence in Canadian organ building, performance, composition, and education".Cross, Bruce. "RCCO Publications: A Brief History", ''The American Organist'', June 2009, vol. 43 (no. 6), p. 11. ''The American Organist'', while no longer the official journal of the RCCO, remains available to members by subscription, along with a selection of other choral and organ publications, at group rates. Since 2000 the RCCO has also published a range of choral and organ music by Canadian composers.

Diplomas

The College grants several levels of accreditation, for which it holds examinations annually: * Colleague Diploma (CRCCO) * Associate Diploma (ARCCO) * Fellow Diploma (FRCCO) * Professional Diploma in Choral Conducting (Ch.RCCO) * Service Playing certificate * Worship Accompanist certificate * Choir Training certificate The College offers printed materials and recordings on topics including organ study, choir training, preparation for examinations, commissioning of compositions, purchase of organs, employment and ethics. It holds composition competitions and organ playing competitions, and awards prizes and scholarships.

Some Notable Members

Healey Willan James Healey Willan (12 October 1880 – 16 February 1968) was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and ...

, President 1922–1923, 1933–1935 *

Sir Ernest MacMillan Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, (August 18, 1893 – May 6, 1973) was a Canadian orchestral conductor, composer, organist, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from th ...

, President 1927–1928 *

W. H. Hewlett William Henry Hewlett (16 January 1873 – 13 June 1940) was a Canadian organist, conducting, conductor, composer, and music educator of English birth. Early life and education Born in Batheaston, Hewlett was a Boy soprano, treble in the choir a ...

, President 1928–1929 * Alfred Whitehead, President 1930–1931, 1935–1937 *

Herbert Sanders Herbert Sanders (20 September 1878 – 18 May 1938) was a Canadian organist, pianist, conductor, composer, music writer, and music educator of English birth. His compositions include numerous sacred songs, anthems, and organ works. He twi ...

, President 1932–1933 * Paul Ambrose, President 1939–1940 *

Charles Peaker Charles Peaker (6 December 1899 – 11 August 1978), born in England, was a Canadian organist, choirmaster and academic. Life Peaker was born in Derby in England; aged 13 he moved to Saskatoon, Canada. From the age of 19 he studied in Toronto unde ...

, President 1941–1943 * Eric Rollinson, President 1943–1945 *

Graham George Graham Elias George (11 April 1912 – 9 December 1993) was a Canadian composer, music theorist, organist, choir conductor, and music educator of English birth. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre, his compositional output consists larg ...

, President 1972–1974 *

Gerald Bales Gerald Albert Bales, (May 12, 1919 – July 4, 2002) was a Canadian organist and composer.

, President 1980–1982 * H. Hugh Bancroft * Eric Robertson

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control 1909 establishments in Ontario Music-related professional associations Professional associations based in Canada Pipe organ organizations Music organizations based in Canada