The Royal College of Organists is delighted to announce Play the Organ Year 2025.

The Royal College of Organists is delighted to announce Play the Organ Year 2025.

Play the Organ Year is designed to inspire a year-long effort by the whole organ-playing community, not just to increase the number of people learning to play the organ, but also the number enjoying live and recorded organ music.

We firmly believe that the best way to achieve both these objectives is to get as many people as possible not just hearing and seeing the instrument, but playing it!

The organ is a magnificent instrument unlike any other – powerful, versatile, visceral and enormous fun to play. At the heart of Play the Organ Year will be an attempt to open this experience to as many people as possible - to encourage them to take a step towards the organ, to lay hands on it wherever possible, and to discover for the first time the unique and thrilling experience of playing this remarkable instrument.

How to take part

Whether you’re a complete musical beginner or perhaps just new to the organ, Play the Organ Year offers something for everyone, including:

• First Encounter performances: Special organ recitals introducing audiences to the instrument’s power and versatility, with many featuring interactive Play the Organ sessions.
• Play the Organ sessions: hands-on sessions where attendees can try their hand at the organ, supported by step-by-step guides and resources.
• Digital Engagement: Online resource so even those unable to attend live events can join in! If you have a digital keyboard at home (ideally with one or more 'organ' settings) why not download our First Encounter worksheets for those with no keyboard experience or with some keyboard experience - although you'll need to get to a real organ to try the pedal exercises! We'll shortly be putting films of these sessions on our YouTube channel and other new films for aspiring organists. And look out for (and use) the hashtag #'playtheorgan for all your online Play the Organ Year fun!

Everything begins with a launch event at the spectacular Central Hall Westminster in London at 3pm on Sunday 19 January hosted by our member Gerard Brooks. Free tickets can be reserved for this event at ptoylaunch.eventbrite.co.uk From there, regional ambassadors and organists around the world will hold events throughout the year.

There are also plenty of resources, information sheets, session plans, templates, and other resources to help organists and venues plan and deliver their own Play the Organ Year activity. Click here to visit our Organiser Resources page, where you can download all these resources individual or as a complete pack.

And whether you're looking for an event to attend, or want to post details of your event, start at our Play the Organ Year listings page