Guildford Cathedral Organ Scholarship
The Organ Scholarship at Guildford Cathedral provides a perfect opportunity for a gap-year or postgraduate organist to develop his/her musical skills in the unique environment of one of Britain's youngest and most dynamic Cathedrals.
The Organ Scholar at Guildford is a very important member of a busy and friendly music department. You will have many opportunities to accompany choral services, and share in Cathedral music-making of a high standard. In addition, there are opportunities for individual work with probationer choristers, a Yr 2 choir at Braganza School, administrative experience and organ lessons. This post will both immerse you in Cathedral life and allow you to develop your musical portfolio. It is an ideal opportunity for a talented, energetic and capable musician.
Katherine Dienes-Williams, Organist and Master of the Choristers
To find out more about the scholarship, you can phone or email our current Organ Scholar, Simon Earl on 07907 379268 or send him an email.
Organ Scholar elect for 2010-11 is Ghislaine Reece-Trapp who is currently Junior Organ Scholar of Wells Cathedral. Ghislaine is Organ Scholar elect of Christ Church Oxford for 2011. We look forward to welcoming her to the Team in September.
Simon Earl, Organ Scholar 09-10
The Organ Scholarship at Guildford Cathedral is like no other gap-year. You certainly will never find yourself sitting around with nothing to do. As well as accompanying both the girls' and boys' choirs regularly, you will be immersed in every aspect of the day-to-day running of the Cathedral.
The Organ Scholar is a full member of the Cathedral's busy Music Department. As 'number three', you will have to train the probationer choristers in singing and theory, accompany Tuesday evensongs, stepping in to play whenever one of the other organists is away. Moreover you will have many chances to take boys' and girls' rehearsals and conduct for services. You will also gain experience of working with school children, helping out in the Music Department of Lanesborough, Guildford Cathedral's Choir School, taking rehearsals and accompanying ABRSM exams. In addition the Organ Scholar runs the very lively Year 2 Choir at Braganza, Lanesborough's Pre-Prep Department.
Another aspect of the Organ Scholar's job is to act as Choir Librarian, for which an extra fee is paid. This involves preparing the music for the next week and repairing damaged music. This part of the job can be quite daunting - making sure all choir-members have music for three services on a Sunday - but it is also a great challenge and really helps to develop organisational skills.
Aside from the Cathedral itself, perhaps the best thing about Guildford is its location. London is only a thirty-five minute train ride away, and it only takes a short drive to get to the beautiful North Downs. Surrey is also lucky enough to have a thriving arts scene, with famous choral societies, the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and two theatres.
Although the Scholarship at Guildford involves a lot of hard work, you get to work in a supportive, light-hearted environment with friendly colleagues, expert musicians and a professional choir.