About Us
The NDSO is for young and old alike
The Society seeks to encompass all who have an interest in the organ and its music.
Novice or professional, player or listener;
All are welcome to share our enthusiasm for, and interest in:
The King Of Instruments
and to join our activities. For membership details click - Join us
In the same way as anyone who plays football is a footballer, anyone who plays the organ is an organist. Perhaps surprisingly, only some 25% of our membership hold a permanent church appointment.
So we really are open to all
Newcastle is home to a number of fine and historic organs, the works of builders like "Father" Willis, Harrison & Harrison, James Jepson Binns and others are to be found in the City's churches, schools and concert hall. See the links page for information on some of these.
Whether you are ...
- A young or old or enthusiastic beginner
- A professional musician
- A retired person learning a new skill
- a 'reluctant' i.e. one who has been pressed into playing for church services simply because there is no one else
- One who has played the organ for years but has never heard of the Society
- An attendee at local organ recitals
- A piano player interested in trying the organ
We seek to provide information and events which will encourage and support you in your interest in the organ.
Our purpose is to promote the appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the organ and its music, both liturgical and secular, and to encourage the playing and use of the instrument in churches of all denominations and elsewhere.
Our aims are to foster the active enjoyment of the organ, to encourage the conservation of worthy older instruments, and the building of new ones, and to try and ensure the future of the art of organ music and its performance.
Our Mission is to spread abroad an enthusiasm for the organ, and to educate congregations and the general public in its appreciation, and to promote the development of organ playing skills.
We aim to provide ...
- Support for members
- Stand-in and emergency organists
- A programme of events
- Details of organ teachers and practice organs
- An introduction to the organ for keyboard players
Could the Society provide a short recital on your local organ and initiate the uninitiated in some of the basic features of the organ ?
- What are all those knobs and levers?
- What is behind those pipes?
- Can I, as a keyboard player play the organ?
We can briefly answer these questions, so if interested please contact our Secretary on this, or other organ matters - help is at hand
Meetings of the Society are usually held on the third Saturday of each month. Times vary according to the type of event and venue. Details are given in our monthly newsletter, along with training sessions, recitals etc. which are held from time to time in the area.