St Paul’s Cathedral wishes to appoint an Organ Scholar for the academic year commencing September 2024. This role offers an exciting opportunity to experience the musical and liturgical life of St Paul’s and professional music-making in London.

The scholarship presents an exciting opportunity for a post-graduate, or exceptional final year undergraduate student, who wishes to become an exceptional performer on the organ, both as soloist and accompanist. The role of Organ Scholar will work alongside leading musicians in the high profile Cathedral Music Department and will be expected to play a full part in the musical life of the Cathedral. The main duties are to accompany the Cathedral Choir at Evensong at least once a week, provide pre-service music before some services and assist in the training of probationary and other choristers

The role of Organ Scholar provides an opportunity to work alongside leading musicians in a high profile Cathedral Music Department.

The Organ Scholar

• is expected to continue the development of their musical expertise through practice, performance and observation;
• will receive advice and support in choir training and conducting, liturgical accompaniment, solo playing and improvisation;
• will have the opportunity to conduct in the Cathedral which includes working with the fully professional ensemble of Vicars Choral as well as the Choristers and the professional mixed voice Cathedral Consort;
• will become familiar with the musical and liturgical life of a great Cathedral, together with the daily routines of the musical function within that life and will have the opportunity to assist with the planning for liturgies and special services; and
• will develop team working and pastoral skills through interaction with colleagues within the Music Department and the Cathedral, and with Vicars Choral and Choristers.

The Organ Scholar will be expected to undertake the following duties:

• accompany the Cathedral Choir at Evensong at least once a week.
• play for some “non-choral” services - including the 5.30pm services on a Sunday.
• provide 25 minutes of music before Sunday Evensong, or before the morning services, as a prelude to the liturgies.
• provide voluntaries after some services as required.
• perform recitals in the Sunday organ recital series.
• play for visiting choirs on some weekdays and on some Sundays when the Cathedral Choir is on holiday (in rotation with the other organists).
• greet visiting organists and assist them when required.
• assist the other Cathedral organists at the console for services.
• assist in the training of probationary and other choristers.
• play for Cathedral School assemblies (once a week during term time).
• share in the administrative workload of the Music Department, including typesetting of manuscripts, copying of hymn tune booklets, assisting with the administration for visiting choirs, proofreading and attendance at the weekly music department meeting.
• act as Assistant Choir Librarian (approx. 3 hours a week).

The Cathedral Chapter are committed to finding an Organ Scholar who:

• wishes to become an exceptional performer on the organ, both as soloist and accompanist;
• has a lively interest in and proven experience of working within the English choral tradition;
• is enthusiastic about working with children;
• has an enthusiastic and positive demeanour;
• has an awareness of the rich liturgical and musical heritage of the Church of England;
• is a graduate or will be a graduate by September 2024. Exceptional final year undergraduate students may be considered;
• displays an enterprising and imaginative approach to personal musical development;
• is able to work calmly, particularly when performing at high profile, pressured occasions;
• is able to work as part of a close-knit team in the Music Department, and also engage with the wider cathedral community; and
• has experience and knowledge of safeguarding requirements and procedures.

St Paul’s Cathedral is a vibrant place of worship and mission, a national treasure and a London icon. It draws together in its ministry and daily life a very diverse range of activities and aspirations. It is the Cathedral of the Diocese of London and the seat of its Bishop, a vibrant church and a national and international spiritual focus, a space for worship and holiness, a place of learning, debate and challenge, a national treasure, an icon of resilience in the face of adversity, an architectural heritage centre, a partner in the City of London, a visitor attraction and a commercial enterprise. In addition to offering acts of worship throughout the day, St Paul’s is open for prayer seven days a week and for sight-seeing six days a week.

As a Christian church, St Paul’s seeks to preach and share the Gospel, yet is also ‘owned’ by many who would profess no Christian faith.