Heritage organisations

Association of Independent Organ Advisers (AIOA)

The Association of Independent Organ Advisers, formed in 1996, is a specialist organisation of accredited professionals providing a comprehensive service where completely independent, detailed advice is needed concerning pipe organs. AIOA members have considerable expertise relating to issues which can arise when historic instruments are encountered, especially where matters of conservation and preservation are concerned. Members have been consulted by, among others, Church Buildings Council, Churches Conservation Trust, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Heritage Lottery Fund, National Trust, Arts Council and Historic England.

An AIOA adviser will, for example, and depending on the level of involvement required, prepare an initial report on the instrument which can include detailed consideration of its history, its potential significance and any conservation issues. From this, a brief against which suitable organ builders will be invited to tender can be drawn up.

Advice can be broadened out to include an evaluation of tenders received, contractual arrangements between the client and the chosen craftsman, and monitoring of work in progress. Finally, the adviser can certify the work done and provide guidance relating to care in the future.

Areas of interest

Training and Education:

• AIOA members have been invited to speak at seminars and conferences organised by bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, International Society of Organ Builders, the Institute of British Organ Building, Diocesan Organ Advisers’ Conference, British Institute of Organ Studies and Diocesan study days as well as international conference venues.

Publications:

• Articles and contributions by AIOA members have appeared regularly in journals as diverse as Ecclesiastical Heritage, Church Building and Heritage Review, Journal of the Institute of British Organbuilding, and the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.