The Society of Women Organists is dedicated to celebrating female organists in all areas of music-making

Joined February 2019
585 Photos and videos
Regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, background or experience, you can be a member of SWO and join our project. #womenorganists #femalemusicians societyofwomenorganists.co.u…
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Shanna Hart is the SWO's Membership Officer and describes how that fits with her work in publishing and also being a recitalist and organist at St Botolph without Aldgate, London, and Assistant at Selwyn College, Cambridge. tinyurl.com/b3t66s4x
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On Sunday 7th Jun at 17:00 Marion Tunwell will give an organ recital at Ickenham URC with the title 'Memories and More', including songs by soprano Zena Wigram. The church is at Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, UB10 8BE. Free admission with donations to Christian Aid.
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The 2026 'Play Like a Girl' event on Saturday 5th September from 10.30am is open for booking. It will take place again at St Giles Cripplegate, London EC2Y 8DA. Open to girls and women aged 11-21. societyofwomenorganists.co.u…
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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=FwtH95hU…
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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/head-of…
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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.
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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)
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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
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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.
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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/m002rs….
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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.
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'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
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