The Register is a UK-based independent directory (established in 2003 and transferred to EAU in 2007) of examining and membership organizations for musicians, many of them small and long-standing, which exist outside state control and funding. Contact details and a brief description are provided for each entry.

This Register is based on that of the former Association of British Music Colleges and on those independent institutions listed in the book "Academical Dress of Music Colleges and Societies of Musicians in the United Kingdom" by Nicholas Groves and John Kersey, published by the Burgon Society. If you have updates, additions or corrections to this information, which is provided in good faith, please make contact. The Register is maintained on a voluntary basis by the CER for the purposes of providing information to the public and in particular to those who may be interested in membership or examinations offered by the organizations concerned.

Institutions in this Register are independent in the sense that they are not under the direct control and funding of government; state institutions, which are commonly included in standard directories, are omitted here, as are institutions which do not offer their own awards. Some of the institutions listed are proprietary; others are registered charities, societies or bodies under a Royal Charter. The division is into two main sections; examining institutions, which award their own diplomas after examination or assessment, and membership institutions, which may award postnominal letters but do not formally examine or assess applicants for them. In some cases the division is not clear-cut, for example in institutions where the grade of membership is available without examination, but higher awards are examined.

Several related overseas institutions are included at the end of the Register.

Except where otherwise stated, the contact person given is the Head of the institution concerned.

Examining Institutions

Bandsman's College of Music
Date of foundation: 1931
Address and other details not available. May not be active.
The national college of the Brass Band movement, it has offered diplomas in brass band performance and conducting.

British College of Accordionists
Date of foundation: 1936
Contact: Raymond Bodell, Executive Director
Address: 112, Countesthorpe Road, South Wigston, Leicester LE18 4PG
Website: www.britishcollegeofaccordionists.co.uk
Offers diplomas in accordion performance and teaching, as well as graded examinations in the instrument.

Central Academy of Music
Date of foundation: 1984
Contact: Dr Donald Heath, Principal and Director of Examinations
Address: Empire House, 175 Piccadilly, London W1J 9TB
Website: www.centralacademy.org.uk
An active examining body, offering graded examinations in Piano and Electronic Keyboard and diplomas in these and other disciplines via examination centres throughout Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Curwen College of Music
Date of foundation: 1863 as the Tonic Sol-Fa College of Music (Curwen Memorial College). Re-constituted under present name in 1972.
Contact: Dr Terry Worroll, Warden
Address: 259, Monega Road, Manor Park, London E12 6TU
Website: http://mysite.freeserve.com/curwen (defunct)
Offers diploma examinations in most practical disciplines, theory, and composition.

Curwen Institute
Date of foundation: 1863 as the Tonic Sol-Fa College of Music (Curwen Memorial College). The Institute was formed by members of the College in 1973.
Contact: The Secretary
Address: 17, Primrose Avenue, Chadwell Heath, Romford, Essex RM6 4QB
Concentrates on the applicability of the Curwen method of tonic sol-fa to primary education. Formerly offered a diploma in tonic sol-fa.

Faculty of Church Music (part of the Central School of Religion)
Date of foundation: 1956. Incorporated into the CSR in around 1968.
Contact: Revd. Geoffrey Gleed, Registrar
Address: 27, Sutton Park, Blunsdon, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 4BB
Offers experience-based diplomas in Church Music.

Guild of Church Musicians
Date of foundation: 1888 as the Church Choir Guild; renamed as the Incorporated Guild of Church Musicians in 1905.
Contact: John Ewington, OBE
Address: St Katharine Cree, 86, Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3DH
Telephone number: 01883 743 168
Website: www.churchmusicians.org
Offers several external diplomas in church music.

ICMA (Independent Contemporary Music Awards)
Date of foundation: 1984
Contact: Margaret Woolway, Registrar
Address: PO Box 335, Oxon. OX18 1WX
Telephone number: 07000 780728/voicemail 08704 599698
Website: www.icma-exams.co.uk
One of the first to offer examinations in popular music, ICMA offers a wide range of graded exams and external diplomas in both theory and practical studies.

Leicester School of Music
Date of foundation: 1964
Founded by Francis Wright, this school has offered its own graded examinations in many musical disciplines, in co-operation with the British School of Accordionists.

London Society for Musicological Research
Date of foundation: 2002
This society is not active at present, but has in the past awarded diplomas for independent research in music.

Metropolitan College of Music
Date of foundation: 1996, re-constituted 2002
Contact: Dr Michael Walsh, Registrar
Website: http://www.mcom.org.uk
Elects musicians to Fellowship on the basis of distinguished career achievements.

National College of Brass
Date of foundation: 1988
Contact: Mrs Lana Clough, General Secretary
Address: 15, Brushes Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire SK15 3EF
Website: www.nationalcollegeofbrass.co.uk (appears defunct)
Offers external diploma examinations in brass.

National College of Music
Date of foundation: 1894
Contact: Eric Hayward, General Secretary
Address: 4, Duffield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9RY
Telephone number: 01245 354596
Website: www.nat-col-music.org.uk
Offers graded examinations and external diplomas in all major areas through a number of local examination centres.

North and Midlands School of Music
Date of foundation: 1994. Predecessor: Lancashire School of Music (1986-93). Incorporates the London Academy of Music since 1999 and the Association of Church Musicians (1984-99).
Contact: Professor David Smalley, Principal
Address: “Counterpoint”, 10, Whernside Road, Scale Hall, Lancaster LA1 2TA
Telephone number: 01524 64904
Website: http://livcathorgan.homestead.com/nmsm_index.html
An active examining board that offers great flexibility and a wide range of diploma awards. Membership is available without assessment.

Norwich School of Church Music
Date of foundation: 1981
Contact: Nicholas Groves, Provost
Address: 43, Normandie Tower, Norwich NR1 1QR
Website: http://mysite.freeserve.com/NSCM (defunct)
Offers diplomas in Church Music by essay scheme or composition.

Royal College of Organists
Date of foundation: 1864 as the College of Organists; received Royal Charter in 1893.
Contact: Kim Gilbert, General Manager
Address: PO Box 56357, London SE16 7XL
Telephone number: 05600 767208
Website: www.rco.org.uk
Offers external diplomas in organ playing, organ teaching and choral directing.

Royal School of Church Music
Date of foundation: 1927 as the School of English Church Music. Received Royal Charter in 1945. Includes the College of St Nicolas.
Contact: Gordon Appleton, Warden
Address: Cleveland Lodge, Westhumble, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6BW
Telephone number: 01306 872800
Website: www.rscm.com
Offers awards for young choristers and supports the church choir movement. Its diplomas are honorary awards.

Victoria College of Music (incorporating the College of Violinists and the Victoria College of Arts)
Date of foundation: 1890
Contact: Robin Wood, Director of Examinations
Address: 52, Bedford Row, London WC1R 4LR
Telephone number: 020 7405 6483
Website: www.vcmexams.com
Offers external diplomas and graded examinations in music and speech.

Membership Institutions

Academy of St Cecilia
Date of foundation: 1999
Contact: Mark Johnson, Master
Website: www.academyofsaintcecilia.com
The Academy promotes the Early Music (pre-1825) period through regular concerts of a high standard. Members are elected Associates or Fellows.

Cambridge Society of Musicians
Date of foundation: 1991; Predecessor: Cambridge School of Music (1990-91). Included Phillips College (1995-suspended)
Membership was open to musicians and music educators. This society has not been active since 2004. 

Faculty of Liturgical Musicians
Date of foundation: 2001
Website: http://mysite.freeserve.com/facultylm (defunct)
A society for church musicians and supporters of church music. Ceased activity in 2007.

Guild of Musicians and Singers
Date of foundation: 1993
Contact: Dr David Bell, Master
Address: 8, Clave Street, London E1W 3XQ
Telephone number: 020 7488 3650
Website: www.musiciansandsingers.org.uk
An active society promoting its own concerts of a high standard in London and elsewhere. Members are elected Associate, Licentiate or Fellow.

Irish Guild of Organists and Choristers
Date of foundation: 2003
Contact: Revd. Fr. Peter Thompson, Warden
Website: http://www.geocities.com/irish_guild (defunct)
A guild of church musicians that aims to raise awareness of the history of church music and promote the highest standards in its practice. Appears no longer active as of 2007.

Overseas Institutions

This directory is in principle confined to the United Kingdom and Ireland, but the following overseas institutions are included given their close ties with the others.

Australian Guild of Church Musicians
Date of foundation: 2004
Contact: Mr Alexander Waddell, Director
Address: 9, Thorne Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, 2650
Website: http://agcm.tripod.com
An independent social and learned society for amateur and professional church musicians.

Australian Society of Musicology and Composition
Date of foundation: 2002
Contact: Mr Robert Nixon, JP, Director,
Address: 16, Baralga Street, Cranbrook, QLD 4814, Australia
Website: http://asmc.homestead.com
An independent examining body offering diploma examinations.

St Katherine's Institute of Theology and Religious Studies
Date of foundation: 2003
This institute was the distance learning theological college of the Religious Society of St Katherine, a small international ecumenical Christian body. From 2003-04 it held religious exemption from the Department of Education in Wyoming, USA, and granted academic and honorary degrees in theology and music. It was staffed by volunteers and no fees were charged for its awards. From 2004-05 the Institute was reconstituted in the UK in partnership with a Danish university, and awarded a very small number of diplomas in theology and church music. The Institute became indefinitely dormant in 2005.

Warning to the public

The following advisory warning is issued to the public:

"The Honourable Company of Organists", Canada
Website: www.thehco.ca
The actions of this institution, specifically in appointing to and then rescinding several fellowships in a short space of time without due process, cause us to regard it as a bogus institution without serious intent. The postnominals "FHCO" used by this institution for unexamined membership should not be confused with the postnominals "FRCO" used by the Royal College of Organists for its highest examined diploma in organ performance. Although this body claims to have been founded in 2003, as far as can be established its first appearance on the internet was not until late 2006.