The North Staffs Organ & Keyboard Club (formerly The North Staffs Electronic Organ & Keyboard Club) was formed in 1969 by a group of electronic organ enthusiasts, whose interest was, as is now, listening to and watching some of the top organists in the U.K. Concert nights are held on the first Thursday of each month, starting at 8pm, featuring a top professional organist. and a variety of makes of
organ, to cover a wide range of musical tastes from month to month. On the third Thursday of each month, we hold an 'Open Night', again starting at 8 pm, when our own members and guests entertain us, playing the Club's own organ, or bringing their own. The Club owns a Ringway RS600 as a good all round organ catering for all tastes.The club also owns a Yamaha Digital piano. We give full encouragement to beginners and experienced players alike, whether playing a simple piece of music, or a complicated arrangement. We also, from time to time, ask a local organ dealer to give a demonstration of the latest instruments, or a talk about an organ-related subject. The Open Nights provide a warm social evening, when fellow 'Organ Nuts' can get together to talk about their favourite subject, and make new friends. New members and guests are made very welcome, and quickly become 'one of the family'. We own a video projector, screen and cameras and are able to project a close up of concert organists hands in action. It is a far better alternative to the stage mirrors that many organists use. This was made possible due to a successful application to 'Awards For All' (lottery funding). This, along with our stage lighting and effects, has made an incredible improvement to our members' enjoyment, and visiting artistes have been very impressed by the professional way in which we stage our concert nights. We are also able to connect a laptop computer to the projector for presentations, advertising and are finding more and more ways to use our new equipment. In 2009 we celebrated our 40th Anniversary with a party which was free to all members in recognision of their loyalty and support. BRETT WALES entertained a packed room of 132 members with a concert/dancing who then enjoyed a buffet and birthday cake. Everybody enjoyed a great evening and are now looking forward to the 50th! We regularly raise money for local charities by organising 'Playathons' in supermarkets and shopping centres. Our members are very supportive of these events either by volunteering to play their keyboards or by collecting. As well as being a lot of fun, attracting new members and getting ourselves known in the area, we have so far raised well over £6,000 for Air Ambulance, Arch, DMH, Alzheimer's Society and Breast Cancer awareness. On November 23rd we performed a Playathon at Tesco Longton, where 25 members played and collected for 8 hours. We were delighted to raise £1,250 for Diabetes UK. The club usually meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at 8pm and the 3rd thursday of the month for Open Night. Subscription: £5.00 single, £9.00 dual
Members Concert admission: £3.00
Visitors Concert admission: £4.00
Open Night £1.00 Members & Guests
