The Scottish Federation
of Organists

page content last updated 16th May 2007

The Scottish Federation of Organists

 

; HOME

 

; OFFICE BEARERS

 

; LOCAL SOCIETIES

 

; DAILY NEWS & NOTICES

 

; SFO NEWS ON LINE

 

; RECOMMENDED SALARY SCALES

 

; REDUNDANT ORGANS

 

; THE SCOTTISH CHURCHES ORGANIST TRAINING SCHEME (SCOTS)

 

; REVIEWS

 

; ORGAN ADVISERS

 

 

We are a federation of Scottish societies of organists. Secretaries of the eight affiliated local societies are given here.   Presently (May 2007) we have around 700 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 (click here), the Salaries Committee, the Scotland’s Churches Scheme Organ Playing Fund and The Alfred Hollins Memorial Fund.

 

Please scroll down this page for more information on all these bodies.

 

 

Publications Committee

 

Presently the Publications Committee has two main tasks.

 

We publish the SFO News three times a year and every member receives a copy.  SFO News is also available online here.  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, Daily News & Notices, updated virtually every day. 

 

 

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 page.  Alternatively, members of the Church of Scotland usually enquire via 121 George Street, who will contact one of us.  In the first instance the C of S will pay the expenses.  Members of the Episcopal Church are asked to work through Robert Lightband 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, Stewart Alston.  All contact details can be found on this site by clicking here for the list of the Organ Advisers.

 

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 2002.  Certain information is therefore out of date.  A complete revision is planned to take place shortly.

 

 

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 at here and contact may be made to the Membership Secretary:

 

Miss Susan Wilson   Email: susanwilson@scotsorgan.org.uk

 

 

Salaries Committee

 

The Salaries Committee exists to produce and keep up to date guidelines on Organists’ Salary Scales, Contracts of Employment for Organists, Organists’ Duties and advice on Income Tax matters.  These guidelines are available to members in the publication “Quartet”, as updated from time to time, and are also available here on the SFO Website by clicking here.  The present scales will have effect until January 2006 and it is encouraging that more churches continue to take cognisance of the recommendations.

 

Individual enquiries are also taken and help and assistance given on scales, fees and contractual matters.

Dialogue is presently taking place between the committee and 121 George Street regarding the updating of the style contract.

 

 

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

 

 

The Alfred Hollins Memorial Fund

 

The Alfred Hollins Memorial Fund was established in 1943 to perpetuate the memory of Dr. Alfred Hollins, the distinguished blind organist and composer who died in Edinburgh on 17 May 1942.  It was founded by members drawn from the Edinburgh and Glasgow Societies of Organists together with representatives from the Royal College of Organists and the Incorporated Association of Organists. It is now administered by the Scottish Federation of Organists but retains its own separate identity.

 

The Fund exists for the purpose of making awards as follows:

 

a) to a blind  student of the organ who intends to become a professional musician

b) a prize for the best original organ composition by a blind student of the organ

c) a grant towards the cost of publication of music in Braille as issued by the Royal Institute for the Blind

d) a grant to a blind organist to assist in the prosecution of his/her profession

 

The value of the award is determined by the resources of the Fund and may be varied from year to year.  Over the past 60 years the Fund has helped several blind organists in the furtherance of their musical careers.

 

Applications are invited in writing from individuals and from educational establishments on behalf of any blind students who would be eligible under the conditions listed above.  They should be sent to the Honorary Secretary: Mrs Bridget Black, 16 Elm Park, Inverness, IV2 4WN and should include full details of the applicant’s musical ability and career objectives.

 

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