2013 - Birmingham Organists' Association

Dinner with Lichfield & District OA
Over fifty people enjoyed the excellent cuisine of this newly refurbished restaurant, conveniently situated between Lichfield & Sutton Coldfield. Our guest and after-dinner speaker was DR ROY MASSEY, MBE, a former President of BOA, and formerly Organist of Hereford Cathedral.

Henry Smart bicentenary
Devised & introduced by MICHAEL JONES, this was an evening devoted to organ music (played by Michael, CHRIS CIPKIN and PAUL CARR) and hymn-tumes (sung by members) of Henry Smart.

Annual Service
This year's service, directed by MICK PERRIER, included the anthem Cantique de Jean Racine by Fauré and some inspirational improvisation by JOHN PRYER.

LGF fund-raiser & "hands-on"
Resident organist TIM BATTY demonstrated the organ, after which there was an opportunity for members to "have a go".  Donations supported our  Leonard Gibbons Fund.

Social Evening & Quiz
A convivial evening in our own room at this iconic Black Country pub, with your Webmaster appearing in a new role as Quizmaster, and sandwiches provided by pub "Gaffa" Tim Newey.

LGF fund-raiser & "hands-on"
Resident organist & BOA president PAUL CARR demonstrated the organ, after which there was an opportunity for members to "have a go".  Donations supported our Leonard Gibbons Fund.

AGM and recital
The association's AGM was held in a pub this year (what a good idea!), but the real highlight of the day came with the recital, in the adjacent church of St Paul, by TIM HARPER, Assistant DoM of Birmingham Cathedral.  His interesting programme included the rarely heard Sonata for Organ (1958) by Peter Tranchell.

Organ crawl to Oxford
Unusually so far for 2013, the weather was kind for our visit to Oxford.  Where else could you find, within easy walking distance of each other, such first-class examples of a North Europe baroque organ (Frobenius at Queen's Coll), a Walker (at Exeter Coll) with a heavy French accent (especially the reeds!) and a brand-new four-decker in the English tradition (Tickell at Keble Coll)?

Dr Anthony Hammond on Pierre Cochereau
A joint meeting with Lichfield & District OA and RSCM in which Anthony gave an illustrated talk on the life and music of the legendary French organist & improviser, including a performance of an Organ Symphony improvised by Cochereau in San Francisco  in 1972 that Anthony has reconstructed from a recording.

LGF fund-raiser & "hands-on"
Resident organist & BOA member JOHN SIRESHUK demonstrated the remarkably effective (and brand new) Viscount digital organ, after which there was an opportunity for members to "have a go".  Donations supported our Leonard Gibbons Fund.