The Scottish Federation of Organists
We are a federation of Scottish societies of organists. Membership of any of the local societies is open to anyone with an interest in the organ; each society fixes its own membership fee but most are around £12 per annum. If you live outwith convenient reach of a local society you may join the SFO direct on application to the Secretary (see Office Bearers page); the current fee for direct membership is £10 per annum and you will enjoy all benefits of membership.
Secretaries of the seven affiliated local societies are given on the Local Societies page. Presently (September 2011) we have around 650 members.
While many of our members are practising organists, we welcome as members all those who have an interest in the organ and its music, and in church music. All local societies are affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists and SFO office bearers maintain cordial relationships with the IAO, the Royal School of Church Music and the Royal College of Organists.
Our purposes are both social and professional. Local societies throughout Scotland organise regular programmes of social events and we assist our members professionally through the work of several groups and organisations. The principal bodies which give support and advice are the Publications Committee, the Organ Advice Committee, the Scottish Churches Organist Training Scheme, the Salaries Committee, the Scotland's Churches Scheme Organ Playing Fund and The Alfred Hollins Memorial Fund.
Publications Committee
Presently the Publications Committee has two main tasks.
We publish the SFO News twice a year in January and August and every member receives a copy. SFO News is also available online on this site. The idea behind SFO News is to keep members informed of what is happening in other parts of Scotland and to encourage local societies to communicate and co-operate. It also keeps members abreast with events in the other SFO central bodies.
The Publications Committee also keeps our website up-to-date and running smoothly. It includes, amongst much more, News & Notices, updated at least every week.
The Organ Advice Committee
The Committee came into existence some 25 years ago, partly from the knowledge that at that time churches were employing, with no advice, the services of some rather dubious organ builders when there were plenty of good builders available. Happily, there are still many organ builders available who operate to the finest standards.
Although the Committee does meet as such, we are more a body of Advisers who will act for anybody freely, apart from expenses. The Committee has always recruited members who have sufficient technical knowledge to advise about any sort of organ, pipe or digital, with confidence, and we pride ourselves on very many success stories. We are grateful that we work with the cooperation and encouragement of all good organ builders, particularly members of the Institute of British Organ Building.
Members can be contacted through this web site. Alternatively, members of the Church of Scotland usually enquire via 121 George Street, who will contact one of us. In the first instance the '121' will pay the expenses. Members of the Episcopal Church are asked to work through the Secretary who will organise the nearest Adviser to pay a visit, and members of the Roman Catholic Church will be asked to contact Dr Evelyn Stell who will similarly act as coordinator. Members of any other denomination or of a secular body are asked to contact our Secretary, Donald Maclagan. All contact details can be found on this site.
If required, all our Advisers can supply references.
Basic Information is available on our small leaflet which is available for download by clicking here. In addition, the pamphlet produced by the Church of Scotland in 1998 entitled Church Organs: Care, Conservation, Repair, Replacement is available for download by clicking here although please be aware that this publication has not been revised since August 2008. Certain information is therefore out of date.
Scottish Churches Organist Training Scheme
SCOTS was born in 1997 when discussions were held in Dunblane between the SFO and the Scottish Churches. Looking to the model of organist training then operated by the Royal School of Church Music, it was agreed that a scheme along similar lines would be developed for Scotland. As the basis of such a scheme, the SCOTS Syllabus has recently been revised and updated, is thoroughly ecumenical in content, and is now a more comprehensive document, detailing the various practical elements of the organists' craft. As organists (we call them candidates) tackle more complex music, they work through the three Stages as appropriate, receiving certificates on completion of each Stage. A key component of SCOTS is a local expert organist appointed by the SCOTS administrator to mentor the candidate. Not lessons as such, more a helping hand.
Knowledge of improvisation is increasingly desirable as a skill. This is given appropriate emphasis in the new Syllabus and at training days which are held in various parts of the country. SCOTS training days are very popular and are open to all organists.
Those seeking more information about SCOTS can find it on this web site and contact may be made with the Membership Secretary: Miss Susan Wilson - Email: sdwilson@hotmail.co.uk
Salaries Committee
The Salaries Committee exists to produce and keep up to date guidelines on Organists' Salaries. These guidelines are available on this web site. The present scales will have effect until 1st January 2013.
Individual enquiries of a general nature are also taken and help and assistance given where possible, however, individuals with enquiries about their personal contractual matters and tax matters should take advice from their own solicitor or accountant.
Scotland's Churches Scheme Organ Playing Fund
The Inches Carr Trust wishes to encourage the playing of organs and has provided capital funding to assist churches in having their organs played more than at present. Churches should be members of Scotland's Churches Scheme and grants may be available up to a maximum of £350 to assist with, for example, a guest organist's travelling/accommodation costs, the organist's fee, exceptional heating/lighting/organ tuning costs, advertising/printing costs.
More information is available from The Director, Scotland's Churches Scheme, Duneden, Holehouse Road, Eaglesham, G76 0JF fax: 01355 303 181 Email: fraser@duneden67.freeserve.co.uk
