A warm welcome to our Association

Whether you love listening to this fabulous instrument or enjoy playing it, we welcome you to join us, the Suffolk Organists' Association. Each year we publish a Journal. We offer opportunities to visit churches throughout the county and further afield, recitals and lectures.

We offer bursaries and advice to those of any age who would like to advance their abilities with the instrument. Please note that the deadline has been extended for this year from 30 April so we will welcome applications from you for funds that would aid you in advancing your expertise.



Our Association reached its 90th Anniversary on 10 February 2025 this year.

This is a milestone of which all members past and present can be most proud.

Programme of Events for 2025-2026

Please join us for as many of these evetns as you are able. We shall look forward to seeing you there.


Saturday 12 July 7pm St.Mary's Woodbridge Organ Recital

A recital by James Davy, Organist of Royal Hospital School, Holbrook and Director of Music at St. Mary's, Woodbridge.

As you can read here, a fine performance was given by James with an eclectic programme that would satisfy those who have varied tastes for organ music across the centuries. And well it did. James spoke about the music he had selected. 'Le Jardin Suspendu' and 'Litanies' completed by Jehan Alain (whose life was brought to a much too early close by his death in the Second World War) completed his excellent programme. But a surprise encore was Noel Rawsthorne 'Hornpipe Humoresque' which enticed people to join in!

A few pieces of light music usually heard played on a theatre organ included a piece by Michael Nicholas, a former organist of Norwich Cathedral and later at St. Mary Le Tower now known as Ipswich Minster, Penguin's Playground by Nigel Ogden of Blackpool Tower fame and a piece by Cécille Chaminade which burst forth with striking power.

A most appreciative and a fair sized audience included Freddie Richer, our young member who attends Kesgrave High School, who came along to hear his new organ tutor play. Two other organists were there who are presently non-members of SOA who were invited to join the Association.


Ipswich Minster Organ recitals Summer Series 2025

The Minster has a full programme of events during this summer but here are the organ recitals. The SOA is sponsoring Nicholas Freestone's programme. All recitals are held on a Tuesday lunchtime at 1.10pm and end before 2pm with a retiring collection.

  • 27 May 2025 Joshua Simões
  • 3 June 2025 James Davy
  • 29 July 2025 Mark Blatchly
  • 5 August 2025 Brass Quintet and William Baldry
  • 12 August 2025 Nicholas Freestone
  • 16 September 2025 Claudia Grinnell
  • 30 September Colin Walsh

A travelogue of a trip to the USA by our member Barry Palmer Easter 2024.

At the SOA Annual lunch at The Fox in Newbourne, I sat next to Barry Palmer and he had told me about an amazing trip that he had taken with his wife to America. I was fascinated by the extent of his travels and his experiences whilst he was there. I asked him if he would be willing to share it with other members of the Association and the result was that he sent me this email and I hope you will enjoy learning about his excursion to the USA as much as I did. Read about it in News of Members


Andrew Garfath-Cox Hon. Web Administrator and a Past President