Society of Women Organists (SWO)

Regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, background or experience, you can be a member of SWO and join our project. #womenorganists #femalemusicians societyofwomenorganists.co.uk/join

Joséphine Boulay was born 22 May 1869 and studied with Franck and Massenet becoming a professor at the National Institution for the Blind i/c organ and composition classes. This is a performance of her Andante from Trois Pièces pour Orgue (1898). youtube.com/watch?v=FwtH95…

𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙒𝙊𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 21 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2026 There is still time for SWO members to book for a concert at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester featuring SWO Patron Anna Lapwood. After the concert, she will meet us backstage. More info in the second image.

SWO member, Andrea Hartenfeller comes under the most recent spotlight. She is a German musician, serving on the board of Arbeitskreis Frau und Musik (Archive of Women in Music). tinyurl.com/bdzm9r6m

Emma Gibbins will give a recital on Tue 12 May in the Moot Hall, Colchester CO1 1PJ at 13:00. Retiring Collection in aid of The Friends of the Moot Hall Organ.

Seven members of the SWO gathered for 'brunch' before visiting Durham Cathedral where DoM, Daniel Cook, gave a very warm welcome, introduction to and demonstration of the Willis/Harrison organ. He then invited us all to explore its versatility and power! npor.org.uk/survey/N04168

Several cathedrals are presently advertising vacancies for organ scholars including Wakefield and Carlisle, both with application closing dates getting very close. The Wakefield details are at tinyurl.com/yky5v5yk The Carlisle details are at tinyurl.com/266fkv99

𝙎𝙒𝙊𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 21 𝙈𝙖𝙮 2026 at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. Meet at 5pm for pre-concert drinks at The Stalls Bar (by the piano). Please e-mail Susan Gadd at susangadd@hotmail.com to book your place. Tickets are selling out fast.

On Thursday 23rd at 1pm the recitalist at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6RA, will be Alison Howell. The programme will include music by Mary Beth Bennett and Brenda Portman.

There are just five day left to apply for a rare opportunity to join St Catherine’s School in Guildford as Music Teacher, Head of Organ Studies and School Organist. The appointment will start in September 2026 and further details are at: tes.com/jobs/vacancy/h…

On Thurs 16 April at 19:00 Alexandra Dijkhuis will talk "The Story of the Sacred Heart Organ, Smuggled Out of Paris in 1903. Sacred Heart High School, 212 Hammersmith Rd, London W6 7DG. sacredheartconnect.com/events/view/th…

Emma Louise Ashford was born 27th March 1850 in Newark Delaware and became an organist, composer and editor for Lorenz with its magazines The Choir Leader and The Organist. She studied organ in Connecticut and also had tuition in the UK.

This composite image by Marsha Burke shows something of the day members had at the Glasgow SWOcial on 7th March. The next SWOcial will be in Durham on 2nd May and members wishing to go should notify Susan Gadd (susangadd@hotmail.com)

Just a few images from last weekend's SWO organ playing marathon to mark International Women's Day on the PipeUpForPipeOrgans instrument at London Bridge Station. Pictures Hannah Gill. #pipeupforpipeorgans

Saturday is the day for the SWOs' annual marathon playing session on the open access organ at London Bridge Station from 12.00-18.00.

This Sunday is Woman Composer Sunday. If you'd like to hear a service with a predominance of music by women, this week's BBC Choral Evensong from Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge offered just that. If you're in the UK you can catch it at bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0….

In recent years the SWO has marked International Women's Day by having a marathon playing session on the open access organ at London Bridge Station and it will happen again next Saturday, 7th March from 12.00-18.00. Here is a taste of last year's event youtu.be/juuVjyXUYcQ.

'SWOcials' are an important part of the fabric of the Society of Women Organists. In this latest Spotlight feature, Susan Gadd explains the background and career that brought her to this important work. tinyurl.com/2sczzfpj

7 Mar 09:00–13:00 Magdalene College Chapel, Cambridge CB3 0AG will be the venue for music by women composers. Beginning in Magdalene, the event will move to other college chapels culminating in a 13:00 recital in Trinity Chapel Cambridge CB2 1TQ.

On 21 Feb Elli-Mae McGlone will lead a free workshop at St Peter's Church, Wolverhampton WV1 1TY. She will guide participants in their own music-making. Free tickets can be booked at bit.ly/WolvesOrgan2026. 10:30am: 7-14 years; 11:30am(18+); 1:30pm: 11-18 years.

The Women Composers Repertoire List for the Feast Days from Lent to Corpus Christi has recently been updated. It and several other helpful listings of music by women composers are found at societyofwomenorganists.co.uk/women-composers The direct link to the Lent list is tinyurl.com/46ph836s