Benefits - Birmingham Organists' Association

You don't have to be an organist to join Birmingham Organists' Association!
We welcome all with an interest in the organ & its music, whether listeners or performers

What do we do?

• "Organ crawls" to hear & play organs in the locality and visits to noteworthy instruments beyond our area
  
• Visits to the workshops of organ builders
  

• Educational events and illustrated talks, often with guest speakers, sometimes supported by the IAO
  

• Recitals, sometimes given by one of our own members, sometimes with invited guest artists
  

• Raise money to support young, local organists (including Conservatoire students) via our Leonard Gibbons Fund
  

• An annual choral service in the church of one of our members
  

• Social events, including beer & skittles, cheese & wine, musical quizzes, and formal dinners with guest speakers
  

Are there other benefits?

• BOA is affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists, which through its network of affiliated associations throughout the British Isles & beyond numbers almost 6000 associate members. IAO organises regional and national events to which BOA members are invited at concessionary rates.
  

• The quarterly magazine Organists' Review - widely regarded as the leading journal in its field - is available to BOA members at a concessionary rate.
  

• Passworded access to an on-line copy of the BOA Members' Handbook, which lists contact details for local organists including their availability to play for Sunday services, weddings, funerals, etc.
  
• Free access to BOA's quarterly e-newsletter keeping you up-to-date with news of forthcoming events and reviews of recent events
  

When do we meet?

• Meetings are normally held monthly (apart from Christmas and summer holiday periods)
  

• Most are evening meetings, usually starting at 7.30pm, often (but not always) on Mondays or Wednesdays
  

• Some events are held during daytime on Saturdays, including visits and our AGM
  

Where do we meet?

• Events are most often held at churches or other venues (including cathedrals, concert halls, schools, etc) throughout Birmingham and the surrounding area
  

• Venues are chosen with regard to easy access by public transport and, wherever possible, with good car parking facilities
  

• Occasional visits are organised to venues further afield; in recent years, these have included Cardiff, Liverpool, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Worcester, and even a weekend in Paris