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

Organist

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...

s and church musicians in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, with 32 centres from Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...

 to Charlottetown

Charlottetown

Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...

, Prince Edward Island.
The National Office is in Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

.

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 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.

Publications

From October, 1968, to June, 2009, The American Organist, published monthly by the American Guild of Organists

American Guild of Organists

The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...

 (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".

The American Organist, no longer the official journal of the RCCO, was dropped as a membership benefit, but remains available to members by subscription, along with a selection of other choral and organ publications, at group rates.

Diplomas

The College grants several levels of accreditation, for which it holds examinations annually:

• Colleague (CRCCO)
• Associate (ARCCO)
• Fellow (FRCCO)
• Professional Diploma in Choir Training (Ch.RCCO)
• Service Playing 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
  Healey Willan
  Healey Willan, 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 piano...
  
  , President 1922–1923, 1933–1935
• Sir Ernest MacMillan
  Ernest MacMillan
  Sir Ernest Alexander Campbell MacMillan, CC was an internationally renowned Canadian orchestral conductor and composer, and Canada's only "Musical Knight". He is widely regarded as being Canada's pre-eminent musician, from the 1920s through the 1950s...
  
  , President 1927–1928
• W. H. Hewlett
  W. H. Hewlett
  William Henry Hewlett was a Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator of English birth.-Early life and education:...
  
  , President 1928–1929
• Alfred Whitehead
  Alfred Whitehead
  Alfred Ernest Whitehead was an English composer, organist, choirmaster, and music educator who was primarily active in Canada. He taught music at several Canadian institutions of higher learning during his career and held the post of organist/choirmaster at a number of prominent Canadian churches...
  
  , President 1930–1931, 1935–1937
• Herbert Sanders
  Herbert Sanders
  Herbert Sanders was a Canadian organist, pianist, conductor, composer, writer on music, and music educator of English birth. His compositional outpust includes numerous sacred songs, anthems, and works for organ. He won the American Guild of Organists's Clemson Gold Medal for composition twice...
  
  , President 1932–1933
• Paul Ambrose
  Paul Ambrose
  Paul Ambrose was a Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator who was primarily active in the United States. His compositional output includes more than 200 songs, choral pieces, and works for solo piano and organ. He is particularly remembered for his anthems which have been...
  
  , President 1939–1940
• Graham George
  Graham George
  Graham Elias George 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 largely of choral works written in the 20th-century Anglican style. He also wrote three ballets,...
  
  , President 1972–1974
• Gerald Bales
  Gerald Bales
  Gerald Albert Bales, CM was a Canadian organist and composer.Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bales studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music from 1936 to 1940 where he was a pupil of Herbert A. Fricker , Albert Procter , Leo Smith , and Healey Willan...
  
  , President 1980–1982
• H. Hugh Bancroft
  H. Hugh Bancroft
  Henry Hugh Bancroft was a British organist and composer who was organist of fivecathedrals.He was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire,and studied music with E.P. Guthrie and J.S...
  
  
• Eric Robertson
  Eric Robertson (composer)
  Eric Nathan Robertson is a Scottish composer, organist, pianist, and record producer who has been primarily active in Canada. A two time Gemini Award winner, he has composed more than 60 film scores and written music for a number of television series in Canada and the United States...
  
  

External links

• Royal Canadian College of Organists – official website