A warm welcome to our Association

Whether you love listening to this fabulous instrument or enjoy playing it, we welcome you to join us, the Suffolk Organists' Association. Each year we publish a Journal. We offer opportunities to visit churches throughout the county and further afield, recitals and lectures.

We offer bursaries and advice to those of any age who would like to advance their abilities with the instrument. Please note that those who wish to apply for funding for the next academic year will do so in good time during the summer.

Harrison Cole MA FRCO Resquiescat in Pace

All members of the Suffolk Organists' Association were saddened to hear of the untimely death of Harrison Cole. He was an outstandingly gifted musician and all those who listen to the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas Eve from King's College will acknowledge his exceptional talent. He was a very kind and modest young man and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all his very many friends.

Harrison at Eye Parish Church

I have received a message from his mother about the arrangements for the funeral. It will be held in King's College Chapel, Cambridge at 14.00 on Friday the 3rd of July 2026. She says: "Anyone who would like to attend is most welcome to join us on the day."

Your Association reached its 90th Anniversary on 10 February in 2025.

This is a milestone which would have thrilled the founder members. All members past and present can be most proud of this achievement. The Suffok Organists' Association is a co-member of Ipswich Arts Association (IAA). Here is an article about the arts in Ipswich but sadly no mention is made of the Suffolk Organists' Association. Although at least two organisations (Ipswich Choral Society and also Ipswich Arts Society) are considerably older than ours, we have been here much longer than many.

Programme of Events for 2026-2027

Please join us for as many of these events as you are able. We shall look forward to seeing you there.

New member, Jamie Robertson, who has access to the Haverhill organ which we have visited in the past [remember the power of the rank of Trumpets en chamade]. Jamie is giving a concert of film music in July which you can read about here.

Allen Organ (2 manuals) for sale

I have had a message from Graham Thorpe, Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral who has an Allen Protégé two manual instrument for sale as is described here. This would be a very useful home practice instrument where a church organ is unavailable, distant or just too cold to play in the winter!

I have been contacted by a lady in Beccles whose father played a Yamaha theatre organ with three manuals which she would be pleased if someone would like to take it away. Here is a photo.

A travelogue of a trip to the USA by our member Barry Palmer Easter 2024.

At the SOA Annual lunch 2024 at The Fox in Newbourne, I sat next to Barry Palmer and he had told me about an amazing trip that he had taken with his wife to America. I was fascinated by the extent of his travels and his experiences whilst he was there. I asked him if he would be willing to share it with other members of the Association and the result was that he sent me this email and I hope you will enjoy learning about his excursion to the USA as much as I did. Read about it in News of Members

Andrew Garfath-Cox Hon. Web Administrator and a Past President

NEWS..news...

MASTERCLASS... MASTERCLASS...

Journal 122 published

We are most grateful to James Crowe for his production of this Journal which should now be in your hands. It records the life of the Association in the year 2016 when Andrew Garfath-Cox handed the baton on to Ann Little on 21 May 2016. You will enjoy reading this most comprehensive and well researched volume!

Journal 126 published

We are most grateful to Nicholas Jardine, President of SOA for producing this Journal which records this rather problematic period where all the events of 2020/2021 in his year of office had to be cancelled but fortunately Nicholas revived many of his planned activities and organised still more in his second year of tenure. We are most grateful to him for this valuable record.

Journal 127 published

Another excellent resumé of his presidential year 2022-2023 events has been prepared by immediate Past-President William Baldry. We thank him and his contributors for news of the vibrant life of the Association.

Journal 128 published

Immediate Past President Alan Loader has created a most interesting and informative summary of the many excellent events he organised during 2023-2024. We thank him and his contributors very much for these valuable insights into the activities of our Association.

Journal 129 published

You will have received recently from Immediate Past President Robert Waller his informative summary of the many excellent events he organised during his term of office 2024-2025. We thank him and his contributors very much.