St Albans Cathedral is delighted to celebrate the success of Conor McGlone, the Cathedral’s Organ Scholar, who has been awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO).

The Fellowship is the highest professional qualification offered by the Royal College of Organists and is widely recognised as a benchmark of excellence in organ playing and musicianship.

At a ceremony held on Saturday 7 March at Southwark Cathedral, Conor was also awarded the Turpin/Durrant Prize and the Lawrence Phelps Prize, recognising outstanding achievement in the Fellowship examinations.

Conor, who is also studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said:

“I have always aspired to be a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and it has been my ambition to sit the exams during my scholarship at St Albans Cathedral.

The examination process is rigorous, including everything from a recital and keyboard tests to fugue writing and analysis of choral music. I am delighted to have received the Turpin/Durrant prize for my performance and to have been awarded the Lawrence Phelps prize for my essays on the history of the organ and organ music.

It was lovely to see so many friends and colleagues in the profession at the ceremony on Saturday, and to hear the fabulous playing of Katelyn Emerson, the celebrity recitalist. The FRCO is a coveted qualification and I look forward to the opportunities it will offer me in my career.”

William Fox, Director of Music at St Albans Cathedral, said:

“We are hugely proud of Conor for his success at the Royal College of Organists examinations over the last year. These are gold-standard qualifications in the world of organ playing in the UK. Well done, Conor!”

The Royal College of Organists examinations are among the most demanding in the field, requiring candidates to demonstrate advanced performance, technical skill, and deep musical understanding across a wide range of disciplines.

The Cathedral community warmly congratulates Conor on this outstanding achievement.

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