Society of Women Organists (SWO)

Regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, background or experience, you can be a member of SWO and join our project. #womenorganists #femalemusicians societyofwomenorganists.co.uk/join

Yesterday, members of the SWO gathered in Oxford for the summer "SWOcial". Visits and organ explorations at Exeter College, Christ Church Cathedral and Magdalen College (picture of the 2023 Eule organ by Susan Gadd) were enjoyed by everyone.

Tiffany Vong will play the recital on Thursday 24th July at Kelvingrove Art Gallery. Admission is free and it starts at 1pm. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8AG.

On Saturday 19 July at 16:00 Molly Hord of Pembroke College Cambridge gives a free recital at Hampstead Parish Church, Church Row, London NW3 6UU.

Hedwige Chrétien was born in Compiègne in July 1859 and studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Franck. She composed for many formats including for organ/harmonium. This Berceuse for piano might also demonstrate the gentler sounds of an organ. youtube.com/watch?v=SZpTpA…

Elisabeth Lutyens was born 9 July 1906 in London and was drawn to composition as well as playing the organ. She studied in Paris and with Harold Darke. Benjamin Chewter plays her Trois Pièces Brèves on the organ of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. youtube.com/watch?v=iJCz9R…

SWO member, Carol Williams has asked us to mention her upcoming concert at Beverley Minster. With a programme in the tradition of town hall and civic concerts of an earlier period and a booking link of "worship the organ", there's everything to like! beverleyminster.org.uk/worship/the-or…

5th July at 19:30 Cathy Lamb gives a recital at St Leonard’s Church, Coach House Mews, Admaston, Rugeley WS15 3NL. Tickets are £15 inc. light refreshments and a glass of wine. Email [email protected] or phone 01889 500668 for tickets.

The latest competition is announced. Winning this could fund an organ tour, pay for more lessons, or expand the music library!

The most recent SWO spotlight highlights Abigail Balfour-Rowley, who has worked for three of the UK's well known organ building companies. societyofwomenorganists.co.uk/post/spotlight…

SWO is proud to announce that Anna Lapwood MBE is the newest Patron of the Society. She joins existing Patrons Tom Bell, Harry Wakefield Bramma, Katherine Dienes Williams, Sarah MacDonald, Cecilia McDowall and William McVicker. Find out more at societyofwomenorganists.co.uk/patrons

At 12:30 on Monday 30th June Amelia Parking will play a recital at Coventry Cathedral. Entry is free with a retiring collection. The Cathedral is at Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5AB.

SWO has three aims: • to support all women organists • to encourage girls and women to study the organ • to foster the promotion of women's activities in the organ world Membership is open to all and is free!

The next 'SWOcial' will be on 26th July in Oxford visiting Exeter and Magdalen Colleges and Christ Church Cathedral. This is a member only event and numbers are limited. Email [email protected] to make your booking. If not a member, now is an excellent time to join!

As part of Play the Organ Year 2025 SWO is inviting members to introduce just one girl or woman to the organ. For more details about SWO’s pluSWOne campaign, visit: bit.ly/3WxmqeX #playtheorgan

At 19:30 on Saturday 14 June Katherine Dienes-Williams will give a recital on the Willis Organ at St Mary’s Church, London Road, Ewell, KT17 2AY. Suggested donation of £10 with students and children free. Organ details at stmarysewell.com/mus/the-father…

Melanie Plumley will give the lunchtime recital at 13:00 on Wednesday 11th June in St Ann's in Manchester M2 7LF. It will include music by Rheinberger, Handel, Walford Davies, Wesley (arr Pearce), Vaughan Williams, Jirak, and Andriessen.

We don't usually feature commercial CDs here, but 'JOIE' is a disk of particular interest to those promoting the cause of women organists and composers. It features music by the women students of Marcel Dupré played by Damin Spritzer on the Fisk organ of the Uni.of Oklahoma.

On Monday 9th June at midday, Tiffany Vong gives a recital at Ayr Town Hall, 21-29 New Bridge St, Ayr KA7 1JX. Tickets £6.

Janet Graham was born 4 June 1948 in Co. Durham. She studied at the RAM and with Elisabeth Lutyens and was selected for the 1978 BBC Young Composers' Forum. An organist herself, compositions include organ works. Her 'Toccata' from 3 Pieces for Organ is at: youtube.com/watch?v=EYo6bN…

Vivienne Olive born 31May 1950 is an English organist and other musician who studied at Trinity College of Music, London and York. In 1995 she the board member of the Internationaler Arbeitskreis Frau und Musik. She's also directed festivals in Australia and Brixworth in the UK.