RSCM 25-hour Organ Marathon & Mass Play Along at Viscount Classical Organ Ltd, Bicester on Friday 21st November 2025

RSCM 25-hour Organ Marathon & Mass Play Along

Add to my Calendar 21-11-2025 17:00 21-11-2025 19:00 36 RSCM 25-hour Organ Marathon & Mass Play Along 25-Hour Organ MarathonTHE RSCM DIRECTOR’S CHALLENGE 202521-22 November 2025 RSCM Director Hugh Morris Embarks on a 25-Hour Organ Marathon to raise funds for the RSCM Hugh Morris, Director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), is set to undertake a monumental organ playing challenge, '25 hours in 2025', on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd November 2025. This ‘organ marathon’ takes place in the studio of Viscount Organs in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and is a significant part of the Royal College of Organists’ Play the Organ Year, of which the RSCM is a partner organisation. The organ marathon will begin at 17:00 on Friday, 21st November 2025, and conclude at 18:00 on Saturday, 22nd November, St Cecilia’s Day. The core of the event will be a continuous performance of hymns, primarily chosen at random from Hymns Ancient & Modern ‘Refreshing Worship’. In addition, each hour on the hour, Hugh Morris will play one ‘real’ organ piece, and guest performers will join Hugh during the event, both to perform and to talk about playing the organ. During the course of the event, audience can donate to request a specific hymn, and local choirs will join Hugh to sing some of the hymns. The entire event will be streamed live on the RSCM YouTube channel. Alongside Hugh’s organ challenge, a special highlight will take place on Saturday 22nd November (St Cecilia’s Day) at 14:00 GMT, when organists worldwide are invited to join Hugh Morris in a 'mass play along' of the Largo from Handel’s Xerxes (Ombra mai fu). The aim of this initiative is to encourage churches to host 'open console' sessions, introducing more people to the organ, and to inspire people around the world, whether amateur or professional, beginner or advanced, to play the organ. The music for this segment is available in easy, intermediate, and full arrangements from the RSCM website, with additional free resources like session plans and practice tips. The RSCM invites individuals, churches, and organisations to support Hugh Morris’s challenge through sponsorship and donations. Organists are particularly encouraged to 'Join In' by participating in the mass play-along and by organising local 'open console' events to mark this unique occasion. Viscount Classical Organ Ltd, Bicester DD/MM/YYYY

Details

Viscount Classical Organ Ltd
Telford Road
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 4LD
England

Friday 21st November 2025
5:00 PM

Tickets

Prices: £0 (donations welcome)
Book Tickets

Programme

George Frideric Handel – Xerxes: 'Ombra mai fu'

Performers

Royal School of Church Music (musicians)

Programme Note

25-Hour Organ MarathonTHE RSCM DIRECTOR’S CHALLENGE 202521-22 November 2025

RSCM Director Hugh Morris Embarks on a 25-Hour Organ Marathon to raise funds for the RSCM

Hugh Morris, Director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), is set to undertake a monumental organ playing challenge, '25 hours in 2025', on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd November 2025. This ‘organ marathon’ takes place in the studio of Viscount Organs in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and is a significant part of the Royal College of Organists’ Play the Organ Year, of which the RSCM is a partner organisation.

The organ marathon will begin at 17:00 on Friday, 21st November 2025, and conclude at 18:00 on Saturday, 22nd November, St Cecilia’s Day. The core of the event will be a continuous performance of hymns, primarily chosen at random from Hymns Ancient & Modern ‘Refreshing Worship’. In addition, each hour on the hour, Hugh Morris will play one ‘real’ organ piece, and guest performers will join Hugh during the event, both to perform and to talk about playing the organ. During the course of the event, audience can donate to request a specific hymn, and local choirs will join Hugh to sing some of the hymns. The entire event will be streamed live on the RSCM YouTube channel.

Alongside Hugh’s organ challenge, a special highlight will take place on Saturday 22nd November (St Cecilia’s Day) at 14:00 GMT, when organists worldwide are invited to join Hugh Morris in a 'mass play along' of the Largo from Handel’s Xerxes (Ombra mai fu).

The aim of this initiative is to encourage churches to host 'open console' sessions, introducing more people to the organ, and to inspire people around the world, whether amateur or professional, beginner or advanced, to play the organ. The music for this segment is available in easy, intermediate, and full arrangements from the RSCM website, with additional free resources like session plans and practice tips.

The RSCM invites individuals, churches, and organisations to support Hugh Morris’s challenge through sponsorship and donations. Organists are particularly encouraged to 'Join In' by participating in the mass play-along and by organising local 'open console' events to mark this unique occasion.

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