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Organ studies

A pathway of pedals, pipes and … practice

Take your passion for the organ to a truly professional level. Refine your playing skills and deepen your understanding of organ composition, practice and performance on what Mozart called the ‘king of instruments’.

Over the past two decades, Sydney Conservatorium of Music has become one of Australia’s leading centre of organ teaching and performance research, with a reputation for teaching excellence and student achievements resonating well beyond the nation’s borders.

Our students gain a thorough grounding in performance techniques and expand their awareness of historical context through systematic exposure to all the major schools of organ composition – from the early baroque to the present day.

  • Tuition takes place in Verbrugghen Hall, one of Australia’s most beautiful performance spaces, on the well-maintained 37-stop, 3 manual and pedal Pogson organ. 
  • A dedicated organ studio with a state-of-the-art Noorlander Hauptwerk organ further enhances your learning experience, as well as providing for practice needs.
  • Thanks to long-standing collaborations with a number of major city churches, you can gain important hands-on experience as an organ scholar – ensuring you complete your studies well equipped for the demands of life as either a professional organist or church musician.

Study under the leadership of our principal organ teacher, Philip Swanton.

Whether you decide to conduct further research, specialise or diversify, Organ Studies leads to various careers, including:

  • organ scholar
  • organist
  • organ tutor, teacher
  • recitalist
  • organ consultant
  • church or cathedral director of music.

What are my study options for the organ?