The Director’s Challenge 2025 – He Did It!!!

Support the Challenge

A Reflection – Hugh Morris

“I was not sure what I would feel like after 25 hours sat at the organ bench. In the end, fuelled by regular cups of tea and coffee, quite a lot of biscuits, and the real, palpable sense of goodwill, the answer to that was ultimately ‘better than expected’. Even my neck and back lived to tell the tale.

“It was an experience lived in the moment – I found myself watching the little clock on the console and counting my way to the next ‘on the hour’ feature piece, and the next ‘on the half hour’ few minutes break. I cannot now recall what pieces I did or didn’t play, nor which of the dozens of hymns I played. But it has taught me that a big challenge, which at 5pm on Friday felt like quite a mountain to climb, can be conquered in small steps; so that 6pm on Saturday slowly but surely became a light at the end of a somewhat ceaseless tunnel of music.

“It also reminded me of how important people are to church music – especially in this case, the choirs who came in to give it a boost, and the guests who came to speak and play, on behalf of various organisations. But it also relied on the support of the staff team, both at Viscount, and also the wonderful RSCM colleagues with whom I work. I may have been the visible presence, but it would have been impossible without them.

“Would I do it again? Maybe. Any time soon? No! Was it worth it? Definitely. Not least because a significant underpinning of it was to raise funds to support our work with young people. They are the future, and helping them engage with, and then grow and develop through church music, are a big part of what kept me going. To all who supported it – thank you.”

Building for the future

Churches report difficulty in finding people to play the instruments that we have to support worship. This raises a stark possibility: that church music could become an elite activity, confined to cathedrals and a handful of major churches.

A large focus of our current work is in empowering music leadership and developing young people. Our recently launched Young Voices Toolkit, which provides the resources for the establishment and re-establishment of junior choirs and singing groups is one example. This re-engaging of young people in worship through singing helps the organ agenda too, through visibility and accessibility.

Play the Organ Year is designed to raise awareness and start to change that landscape. Hugh’s challenge is intended to encourage participation (Hands on with Handel) and raise funds to enable RSCM to make a difference. You can help by donating to fund our work.

Calling ALL Organists!

Hands on with Handel: Play your Part!
2pm GMT 22nd November

Hugh invites organists everywhere to join him in playing the Largo from Handel’s Xerxes – Ombra mai fui – at 2pm GMT on Saturday 22nd November (or for our international friends, 2pm local time). There are three arrangements below: easy, intermediate, and full.

Why not maximise the opportunity and have your own ‘open console’ session to introduce people to the organ and let them try it for themselves? Do start planning now how to mark this unique occasion!

“I am going to take part on the 22nd November in our village church with coffee and cake, a couple of organ pieces and a brief spoken introduction about the RSCM, finding organists and the contribution of organ music to the liturgy. I will then play the aria.” – Registered participant.