St Andrews Organ Week 2025
Please note that all active participatory places on this course are currently full. Observers are still very welcome to apply.
Course dates
- Start date
- Sunday 27 July 2025
- End date
- Friday 1 August 2025
Introduction from course director
"Each year, on the beautiful East coast of Scotland, St Andrews Organ Week welcomes organists from all over the world to discover new horizons and develop new skills. Whatever your age, experience or motivation, whether you play in church or simply for your own fulfilment, you are welcome to join us. An intensive week of learning and music-making awaits all with a passion for the organ!
In 2025, we re-visit a theme curtailed by the pandemic in 2020; the confluence of people, inspirations and ideas which shaped the organ cultures of the United Kingdom and the United States of America. We are thrilled to partner with the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, represented by Kathleen Scheide and Edward Landin Senn, as well as to welcome two of America’s finest organist-pedagogues, Damin Spritzer and Douglas Reed who will spotlight his close association with William Albright, one of the most significant 20th century composers for the organ in the U.S.A. Hilary Norris will share her passion for the English music of the Virginalists and of the Georgian era and Michael Koenig will shine a new light on the English secular organ tradition and its international off-shoots in the 19th century.
We invite you to beautiful St Andrews to explore two musical worlds and look forward to welcoming you."
Artistic Director
About this course
St Andrews Organ Week is an intensive summer course for young and amateur organists of all ages and abilities.
If you are keen to develop your skills and broaden your perspectives on the organ world, we would be thrilled to welcome you here.
Whether you are a church musician from whichever denomination, a retired amateur or are learning at school, St Andrews Organ Week is an ideal opportunity to work with
inspiring teachers and to meet friends, both old and new!
During St Andrews Organ Week you will enjoy:
- Daily one-to-one or group lessons (Monday to Friday inclusive)
- Optional skills workshops, including improvisation, liturgical playing skills and basso continuo
- An outstanding, international faculty
- Interesting and historic organs
- Lectures and presentations illuminating a hugely diverse range of topics
- Memorable and unusual concerts
Accommodation
St Andrews Organ Week participants and observers enjoy bed and breakfast accommodation at Agnes Blackadder Hall, a modern residence commended by the Scottish Tourist Board. It is situated 15 minutes’ walk from the town centre.
Each room contains a double bed, en-suite bathroom with shower, wash- hand basin and toilet, television, telephone and tea and coffee-making facilities. Evening meals will be served in St Regulus Hall.
Catering
Special catering requirements can be accommodated with advance notification.
Please advise us of any such requirements on your application form.
Getting to St Andrews
Detailed information on travelling to St Andrews can be found on the Getting to St Andrews webpage.
Organs
St Andrews Organ Week will feature the following organs, among others, either in teaching or in concert.
University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music CentreT.C. Lewis, 1868
A splendid, unaltered example of the work of one of England’s leading 19th century builders, originally built for domestic use.
Dundee, Caird HallHarrison & Harrison, 1923
One of the finest concert hall organs of the era, the organ at the Caird Hall will be heard in a concert by Damin Spritzer.
St Salvator’s Chapel, University of St AndrewsGregor Hradetzky, 1974
An early example in the UK of Central European modernism.
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, St AndrewsHill, Norman and Beard, 1923
An excellent pneumatic organ from the early days of the Hill, Norman and Beard amalgamation which has recently undergone a sensitive restoration by Paul Miller.
VirginalsAlan Gotto, 2007
A beautiful virginals by this Norfolk craftsman, inspired by the instrument in the Victoria and Albert Museum owned by Queen Elizabeth I and possibly made by the Venetian craftsman Giovanni Baffo. Kindly lent to St Andrews Organ Week by John Erskine.
Costs
Participants
- With accommodation and meals
- £830
- In full-time education with accommodation and meals
- £450
- Without accommodation and meals
- £465
- In full-time education without accommodation and meals
- £270
Observers
- With accommodation and meals
- £445
- In full-time education with accommodation and meals
- £290
- Without accommodation and meals
- £290
- In full-time education without accommodation and meals
- £205
Costs include
- Single dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation for five nights (arriving Sunday 27 July afternoon and departing Sunday 1 August afternoon). Please enquire if you would like to book double accommodation.
- Five individual or group organ lessons.
- Admission to all lectures, presentations and workshops.
- Transport, and admission, to all concerts.
Without accommodation and meals
Dinner for non-residents can be booked separately by contacting the Laidlaw Music Centre in advance.
Testimonials from 2024 participants
"It’s such a privilege to have lessons with such eminent organists who each impart their individual, unique words of wisdom and advice."
"I felt everything had been made ready for me to be able to revisit each piece at home with a view to achieving positive progress."
"Thanks to all involved for a wonderful, inspiring week of organ music."
Course tutors
Damin Spritzer
Tutor
Damin Spritzer is Professor of Organ at the University of Oklahoma and a recording artist whose CDs spotlighting lesser-known 19th and early 20th century music from England, the U.S.A. and France have garnered international acclaim. Teaching in the UK for the first time.
Douglas Reed
Tutor
Douglas Reed is Professor Emeritus of Music and formerly University Organist at the University of Evansville, Indiana. Long in demand as a nurturing and inspiring teacher, Reed will share his personal experiences of working with, recording and editing the works of the iconic American composer William Albright.
Kathleen Scheide
Tutor
Kathleen Scheide, organist, harpsichordist, composer, and recording artist from Philadelphia, has performed worldwide. A New England Conservatory alum and early keyboard society founder, she now performs and teaches in the UK for the first time.
Michael Koenig
Tutor
Michael Koenig, Bett Scholar at Oxford, studied under Michael Radulescu and worked as an ORF producer. His DPhil explores 19th century English ‘town hall’ organs and their impact. A Worshipful Company of Musicians silver medallist, he has led organ education in Africa.
Hilary Norris
Tutor
Hilary Norris, organist and harpsichordist, is Director of Music at Leominster Priory. A former pupil of Jacques van Oortmerssen in Amsterdam, she is an experienced organ teacher and shares her passion for 16th-18th century English keyboard music.
Andrew Forbes
Assistant Course Director
Andrew Forbes is Director of Music at Glasgow Cathedral, a former winner of the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition and a finalist at St Albans. He teaches at Glasgow University and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Steven McIntyre
Tutor
Steven McIntyre, Organist at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow, is a Limpus Prize-winning Fellow of the RCO and a Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medallist. He is studying historic organs by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
Chris Bragg
Course Director
Chris Bragg studied organ performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Conservatory of Amsterdam. He has performed on historic organs throughout Europe and is founder and project leader of Sowne of Organe.
Edward Landin Senn
Guest performer
Edward Landin Senn is Assistant Director of Music at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. A former student at the Eastman School of Music and Westminster Choir College, he has performed throughout the U.S.A. and Europe and has commissioned new music from composers including Carson Cooman, Pamela Decker and Craig Phillips.
General conditions
1a) These general conditions, together with the Registration Form, comprise the contract between the client and the University of St Andrews.
b) A deposit of £100 is required to secure your place. Places are limited and are allocated strictly in order of receipt of deposit.
c) The balance must be paid by Wednesday 28 May, 2025. Failure to pay by this date will result in the forfeiture of the deposit paid and the booking will lapse.
2. Cancellation
The University of St Andrews Music Centre Office must be notified in writing of all cancellations. In addition to the deposit, non refundable charges:
Prior to 27 March:
- 25% of the total cost
Prior to 28 May:
- 50% of the total cost
Thereafter:
- the full fee is non-refundable
3. Liability
The University maintains a public liability policy covering legal liability for bodily injury and property damage arising out of the University’s business. Any loss, damage to property or injury not resulting from negligence will not be covered by the University.
4. General
a) The University of St Andrews reserves the right to cancel the course up to four weeks in advance if numbers enrolled have not reached the minimum required.
b) The University of St Andrews reserves the right to cancel, or amend the delivery of, the course for reasons outwith its control, including but not limited to Force Majeur, Royal Demise or restrictions imposed due to the prevailing public health situation.
c) The University of St Andrews reserves the right to replace the advertised staff or amend the programme where it is found to be unavoidable.
5. Insurance
Participants are strongly advised to take out travel insurance or adequate cover for the duration of their course and journey. The University does not provide insurance to cover cancellation costs, loss of baggage, injury, money etc.
