Church Organ Scholarships

The Role

The position of Organ Scholar involves assisting the Director of Music and Associate Organist in all musical aspects of the services and rehearsals. This includes opportunities to accompany the choir, play solo organ pieces (known as voluntaries), conducting the choir, singing with the choir, performing recitals, performing in concerts and contributing to the general running and organisation of the music department. The scholarship is designed to suit each candidate’s goals, with carefully crafted progression.

The music department currently consists of a Director of Music, Patryk Korczak, and the Associate Organist, Jonathan Gregory. Both are experienced cathedral musicians, and the current structure allows for observation, exploration and new challenges, dependent on the overall aims and goals.

Although not a requirement, it is hoped that the successful candidate would seek and aim for organ awards at Oxford University or Cambridge University. The musical structure at the church allows the successful candidate an opportunity to prepare for conservatoire study as well as prestigious cathedral scholarship preparation, the latter through the unique opportunity to support the department in the training of choristers and probationers.

Currently, the post holder must be a member of either the Queen Elizabeth or Queen Elizabeth Girls' Schools in Barnet.

Schedule

The typical schedule for an organ scholar would be a bi-weekly system. The first week, the organ scholar will attend a weekday rehearsal (typically the Friday evening rehearsal), and Choral Evensong with its preceding rehearsal. The organ scholar would not be required to attend the following week.

The St John the Baptist aspect of the organ scholarship coincides with school terms, and choir duties will not take place outside these, unless specifically discussed. These could be choir tours or an organ recital, for example. The organ scholar will also be required to attend one major festival service in each year of the scholarship.

Benefits

• Free organ bookings for practice.
• The opportunity to observe and accompany the choir at services and other musical events.
• Lessons on liturgical skills given by the Director of Music.
• Termly honorarium of £150.

Liturgical skills – These lessons will focus on the following areas:

• Hymn Playing,
• Keyboard skills for choir rehearsal and services,
• When ready, choral accompaniment, including psalm playing,
• Choral Conducting.

Personal Specification

The successful candidate will be a confident musician, a quick learner who shows initiative and is keen to learn and improve. It is expected that the successful candidate has strong keyboard skills, such as an Associated Board graded piano exam, or otherwise similar. It is expected that the successful applicant, if not already begun organ lessons, will do so on their appointment in support of this scholarship.