Exeter & District Organists' Association
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Piers Howell
Welcome from our President
Welcome to the website of the Exeter & District Organists’ Association.
The Association provides a point of contact for anyone interested in the organ, organ music and playing the organ. Centred around Exeter, members come from all over Devon, and sometimes much further afield. The activities include organ visits, and social and educational events.
Although many of our members are church organists, some are non-players who enjoy the visits and the social activity. Playing abilities range from “beginner” to cathedral organist standard. On organ visits, all members are given equal console time, and assistance with page-turning and registration is given wherever required.
I have been a member of the Association for over 40 years, and have enjoyed EDOA trips all over the UK and abroad.
Up-to-date information can be found in our excellent newsletter, The Cornopean.
With best wishes, Piers Howell
The Association provides a point of contact for anyone interested in the organ, organ music and playing the organ. Centred around Exeter, members come from all over Devon, and sometimes much further afield. The activities include organ visits, and social and educational events.
Although many of our members are church organists, some are non-players who enjoy the visits and the social activity. Playing abilities range from “beginner” to cathedral organist standard. On organ visits, all members are given equal console time, and assistance with page-turning and registration is given wherever required.
I have been a member of the Association for over 40 years, and have enjoyed EDOA trips all over the UK and abroad.
Up-to-date information can be found in our excellent newsletter, The Cornopean.
With best wishes, Piers Howell
Exeter & district organs
Devon is well supplied with fine organs in a variety of sizes and styles. The wonderful Father Willis instruments at Exeter Cathedral, St Peter’s Tiverton (see below), St Michael & All Angel’s Great Torrington and St Mary’s Totnes come to mind; in a contemporary classical style are the instruments by Goetze & Gwynn at St John the Baptist, Marldon and by William Drake at St John’s, Totnes.
From the 1920s is the Harrison & Harrison instrument in The Holy Cross, Crediton and, at a more intimate level, historic house organs at Exeter Cathedral, Killerton House, Powderham Castle, and Sidholme Music Room.
There are many other fine instruments, especially in Tavistock and the built up areas of Plymouth and Torbay.
The William Drake organ works are nearby at Buckfastleigh and Michael Farley’s organ works are at Budleigh Salterton.
Membership 2023
Membership entitles you to participate in our events; to receive a copy of the quarterly Cornopean Newsletter, to go on our mailing list when local deputy organists are required, and to receive Organists Review (published by the Incorporated Association of Organists) at a discount price. Annual membership costs £15 per year (students and children £7.50). Please click this link to download a Membership Application & Renewal Form.
PipeUp Devon
A recent development has been our support of PipeUp Devon.
This is a scheme to support young organists in Devon with subsidised organ tuition from experienced teachers.
PipeUp Devon is run on behalf of the Diocese of Exeter by a team of four local organists, headed by Andrew Millington (formerly Organist of Exeter Cathedral) and assisted by Ian Curror (formerly Organist, The Royal Hospital, Chelsea), Peter King (Organist Emeritus, Bath Abbey) and Mark Perry (formerly Head Master, St Peter’s School, Exeter).
The project is supported by grants from the Ouseley Church Music Trust, St Wilfrid’s Trust and the EDOA.
After an initial period further funding will be needed.
For more information please click here or contact the PipeUp Devon Administrator Mark Perry at pipeupdevon@exeter.anglican.org
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A pupil (then aged 10 from Exeter Cathedral School) playing at a PipeUp Devon event in Topsham Parish Church late 2018