St Andrews Organ Week 2026Northern Breezes
Course dates
- Start date
- Sunday 26 July 2026
- End date
- Friday 31 July 2026
Introduction from course director
"It seems remarkable that the first summer gathering of organists in St Andrews took place fully 46 years ago. A gathering which, with the exception of the pandemic, has occurred every year since. St Andrews Organ Week is now an international affair; a unique environment in which organists of all ages and abilities can learn from a faculty of outstanding teachers representing a breadth of vision, knowledge and experience.
In 2026, we are thrilled to welcome Bine Bryndorf, one of the outstanding, and most passionate, European organists and teachers of our time. ‘Northern Breezes’ will place the music of J.S. Bach in the context of influences from the Hanseatic North, and in particular that of Dieterich Buxtehude, as well as charting the music of the Nordic countries in the centuries since. A fantastic opportunity, once again, to explore repertoire familiar and unknown, to broaden horizons and to hone skills useful for week-to-week church situations.
As ever, it will be intense, enriching, encouraging and exciting and we can’t wait to welcome you here"
Artistic Director
St Andrews Organ Week
No matter your age or experience, St Andrews Organ Week welcomes you to participate in and experience:
- Daily individual or group lessons
- Skills Workshops
- Presentations on areas of organ-related culture and research
- Concerts
We regularly welcome participants who are Parish organists, retired amateurs rediscovering their love of the instrument, people taking up the organ from scratch late in life, school-age organists exploring whether to study the organ at University of Conservatoire, organ students at international conservatoires… and everything in between.
If you’re passionate about the organ, we want to help fuel your passion.
Testimonials from 2025 participants
"I love the support, kindness and enthusiasm I have experienced on this course"
"The tutors were excellent and gave in-depth feedback"
"Excellent teaching - thorough, helpful and gently challenging"
"Lectures were hugely beneficial and enjoyable"
"This course really does offer unique opportunities to listen and learn and to hear experts in various fields share the fruits of their enthusiasm"
Course tutors
Bine Bryndorf
Tutor
Bine Bryndorf is Organist and custodian of the famous Raphaelis organ at Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark, having served nearly 25 years as Professor of Organ at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. She remains Professor of Organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Her acclaimed discography includes the complete organ works of Dieterich Buxtehude and Carl Nielsen.
Nabil Hanna
Tutor
Nabil Hanna was a First Prize winner at the 2023 Bach International Music Competition for Young Musicians. Of Israeli/Bulgarian descent, Nabil is a graduate of the Royal Danish Academy of Music where he is currently completing his Master's degree in organ performance.
Camille Bloche
Tutor
Camille Bloche is a graduate of the Sorbonne University in Paris, the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen and the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg. She has won numerous international prizes, runs the organ school at Alvsborg Church in Gothenburg, and is an Assistant Project Leader for the Goteborg International Organ Academy.
Simon Harden
Tutor
Simon Harden is a Lecturer in Organ Performance at the TU Dublin Conservatoire and is Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral in Waterford. A former pupil of Wolfgang Zerer in Hamburg and Eric Lebrun in Paris, Simon won prizes at the International organ competitions in Alkmaar and Lausanne.
Henry Fairs
Tutor
Henry Fairs is Professor if organ at the Universitat der Kunste Berlin and Honorary Professor of Organ at the University of St Andrews. Following prizes at the competitions of Paris, Chartres abd Odense, he taught for many years at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and latterly at the Musikhochschule Leipzig.
Chris Bragg
Artistic Director
Chris Bragg is Head of Programming at the University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music Centre. He studied organ at the former RSAMD in Glasgow and at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he undertook a Masters’ degree as a student of Pieter van Dijk. He has performed in six European countries and in the USA and is the founder of Sowne of Organe which advocates for Scotland’s, oft- endangered, historic organs.
Andrew Forbes
Assistant Course Director
Andrew Forbes is Director of Music at Glasgow Cathedral, a former winner of the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition and a finalist at St Albans. He teaches at Glasgow University and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Steven McIntyre
Tutor
Steven McIntyre, Organist at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow, is a Limpus Prize-winning Fellow of the RCO and a Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medallist. He is studying historic organs by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
Organs
Organs featured during St Andrews Organ Week 2026, whether for teaching or in concert will include:
University of St Andrews Laidlaw Music CentreT.C. Lewis, 1868
A splendid, unaltered example of the work of one of England’s leading 19th century builders, originally built for domestic use.
St Salvator’s Chapel, University of St AndrewsGregor Hradetzky, 1974
An early example in the UK of Central European modernism.
St Salvador's Episcopal Church, DundeeWordsworth and Maskell, 1882
The only Scottish organ built by the Leeds partnership of Josiah Wordsworth and Samuel Maskell, housed behind Frederick H. Sutton’s splendid façade.
Accommodation
St Andrews Organ Week participants and observers enjoy bed and breakfast accommodation at Agnes Blackadder Hall, a modern residence commended by the Scottish Tourist Board. It is situated 15 minutes’ walk from the town centre.
Each room contains a double bed, en-suite bathroom with shower, wash- hand basin and toilet, television, telephone and tea and coffee-making facilities. Evening meals will be served in St Regulus Hall.
Catering
Special catering requirements can be accommodated with advance notification.
Please advise us of any such requirements on your application form.
Getting to St Andrews
Detailed information on travelling to St Andrews can be found on the Getting to St Andrews webpage.
Costs
Participants
- With accommodation and meals
- £895
- In full-time education with accommodation and meals
- £495
- Without accommodation and meals
- £500
- In full-time education without accommodation and meals
- £300
Observers
- With accommodation and meals
- £490
- In full-time education with accommodation and meals
- £320
- Without accommodation and meals
- £320
- In full-time education without accommodation and meals
- £230
Costs include
- Single dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation for five nights (arriving Sunday 26 July afternoon and departing Friday 31 July afternoon). Please enquire if you would like to book double accommodation.
- Five individual or group organ lessons.
- Admission to all lectures, presentations and workshops.
- Transport, and admission, to all concerts.
Without accommodation and meals
Dinner for non-residents can be booked separately by contacting the Laidlaw Music Centre in advance.
General conditions
1a) These general conditions, together with the Registration Form, comprise the contract between the client and the University of St Andrews.
b) A deposit of £100 is required to secure your place. Places are limited and are allocated strictly in order of receipt of deposit.
c) The balance must be paid by Wednesday 28 May, 2025. Failure to pay by this date will result in the forfeiture of the deposit paid and the booking will lapse.
2. Cancellation
The University of St Andrews Music Centre Office must be notified in writing of all cancellations. In addition to the deposit, non refundable charges:
Prior to 27 March:
- 25% of the total cost
Prior to 28 May:
- 50% of the total cost
Thereafter:
- the full fee is non-refundable
3. Liability
The University maintains a public liability policy covering legal liability for bodily injury and property damage arising out of the University’s business. Any loss, damage to property or injury not resulting from negligence will not be covered by the University.
4. General
a) The University of St Andrews reserves the right to cancel the course up to four weeks in advance if numbers enrolled have not reached the minimum required.
b) The University of St Andrews reserves the right to cancel, or amend the delivery of, the course for reasons outwith its control, including but not limited to Force Majeur, Royal Demise or restrictions imposed due to the prevailing public health situation.
c) The University of St Andrews reserves the right to replace the advertised staff or amend the programme where it is found to be unavoidable.
5. Insurance
Participants are strongly advised to take out travel insurance or adequate cover for the duration of their course and journey. The University does not provide insurance to cover cancellation costs, loss of baggage, injury, money etc.