The Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO), founded in 1909, is a national association of organists and church musicians in Canada, with 32 centres from Victoria, British Columbia to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The National Office is in Toronto.
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. [1]
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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. [2] [3]
Publications
From October, 1968, to June, 2009, The American Organist, published monthly by the American Guild of Organists (AGO), was the official journal of the RCCO as well as the AGO. Beginning in September, 2009, the RCCO will publish its own bimonthly journal, "celebrating excellence in Canadian organbuilding, performance, composition, and education", wrote Bruce Cross on behalf of the RCCO in the final joint edition of The American Organist.[4]
Organ Canada/Orgue Canada is a national newsletter published quarterly by the College for its members. It began in 1987, following the earlier RCCO Newsletter started in 1968 and later called the RCCO Quarterly.
The College offers subscriptions to a selection of other choral and organ publications to members 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, President 1922–1923, 1933–1935
- Sir Ernest MacMillan, President 1927–1928
- Gerald Bales, President 1980–1982
- H. Hugh Bancroft
- Rachel Laurin
References
- ^ "The Royal Canadian College of Organists/Le Collège Royal Canadien des Organistes", Canada Revenue Agency, http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/sec/SrchInput03Render-e?bn=136969730RR0001, retrieved 2008-04-16
- ^ Kemp, Walter H.; Moore, Christopher, "Royal Canadian College of Organists/Collège royal canadien des organistes", Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003049, retrieved 2008-04-15
- ^ "The Royal Canadian College of Organists", Ontario's Historical Plaques, http://www.ontarioplaques.com/Plaques_ABC/Plaque_Brantford20.html, retrieved 2008-04-16
- ^ Cross, Bruce. "RCCO Publications: A Brief History", The American Organist, June 2009, vol. 43 (no. 6), p. 11.
External links
- Royal Canadian College of Organists – official website
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