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The Scottish Federation |
page content last updated 12th
April 2009 |
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The Scottish
Federation of Organists |
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THE SCOTTISH CHURCHES ORGANIST TRAINING SCHEME (SCOTS) ;
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We are a federation of
Scottish societies of organists. Secretaries of the eight affiliated local
societies are given here. Presently (March 2009) 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 Please scroll down this
page for more information on all these bodies. |
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Publications Committee Presently the
Publications Committee has two main tasks. We publish the SFO News
twice a year in January and July 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 The Publications Committee also keeps our website up-to-date and running smoothly. It includes, amongst much more, Daily News & Notices, updated at least every week. |
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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 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. |
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Scottish Churches
Organist Training Scheme SCOTS was born in 1997 when
discussions were held in Dunblane between the SFO and the 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 |
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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 31st December 2008 and it is
encouraging that more churches continue to take cognisance of the
recommendations. Individual enquiries are
also taken and help and assistance given where possible. Enquiries about contractual matters and tax
matters should be addressed direct to the Treasurer’s Department of the
Church of Scotland at the C of S Offices, Dialogue is presently
taking place between the committee and |
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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 More information is available from The Director, fax: 01355 303 181 Email: fraser@duneden67.freeserve.co.uk |
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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 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 e) a
guarantee against loss to the member society of the SFO hosting the annual
conference to assist in defraying the expenses of an organ recital at the
conference. This recital to be
designated as an Alfred Hollins Memorial Recital. 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, |
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