An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant organist at a cathedral, church or institution where regular choral services are held. The idea of an organ scholarship is to provide the holder with playing, directing and administrative experience. It is an important part of music-making in Christian worship and is strongly associated with, but is not limited to, Anglican church music in the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA.
Organ scholars may sometimes be found at a cathedral or a collegiate church. Many colleges at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Trinity College Dublin, as well as other universities, offer organ scholarships to undergraduates. At some institutions (for example, Christ Church, Oxford, New College, Oxford, Trinity College Dublin or King's College, Cambridge), the organ scholar(s) work under the direction of a full-time professional director of music. At other institutions, the organ scholar is in charge of running the choir.
One of the first organ scholarships in the University of Cambridge was set up by Queens' College, Cambridge. An early scholar there was the composer Charles Villiers Stanford, who took up his position there in 1870.
Many organ scholars have gone on to notable careers in music and in other fields. Two notable ex-organ scholars who went on to achieve fame in other fields are Edward Heath, who read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford and later served as British Prime Minister 1970–1974; and Dudley Moore, who read music at Magdalen College, Oxford and went on to a career in acting.
Notable organ scholars at universities and colleges
Name Institution DatesLater appointmentsRef1892–1895Organist of St Asaph Cathedral, Ely Cathedral and New College, Oxford; professor of music at the University of Oxford and director of the Royal College of Music2016−2020Organist of Truro Cathedral, 2023−present1972–1975Organist of Bristol Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral; director of chapel music and organist of Winchester College1961Music Director of Welsh National Opera and Scottish Opera 1919-1921Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford1985–1988Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral 1993-1996Assistant Director of Music Winchester Cathedral, organist of Chichester Cathedral, director of music at Winchester College1961–1964Organist of Lagos Cathedral1972–19751997–20001949–1952Organist of Southwell Minster and Lincoln College, Oxford1955–1958 (Corpus Christi) ? (Lincoln)Organist of Blackburn Cathedral1980–1983Director of The English Concert1963–1967Organist of Wakefield Cathedral 1883-1886Organist of Worcester Cathedral1978–1981Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral1982–1985Organist of St Davids Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral1922Organist of Truro Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral1955–1960Organist of Southwark Cathedral and director of the Royal School of Church Music1883–1885Composer, organist of Bristol Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral1981–1984Organist of Truro Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral1983–1986Organist of Sheffield Cathedral, director of music at All Saints, Margaret Street.1910–1912Composer and music critic1979–1982Gardiner Professor of Music, Glasgow University1982–1985Sub-organist of Winchester Cathedral, organist of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, St George's Chapel, Windsor. Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge, and now at All Saints, Margaret Street1987–1991Director of Music at Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington and organist and master of choristers at Croydon MinsterBenjamin ChewterEmmanuel College, Cambridge2003-2006Assistant Director of Music at Chester Cathedral, subsequently Organist of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London1968–1971Assistant Organist of Chichester Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford1967–1971Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, director of music at King's College, Cambridge1907–1909Organist of Manchester CathedralGary ColeEmmanuel College, Cambridge1979-1981Founder of Regent Records, UK. Recipient of the Medal of the Royal College of Organists (2025) in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral and organ recordingOrganist of Southwark CathedralOrganist of St. Paul's Cathedral (London, Ontario)1938–40, 1946–1947Broadcaster and musicologist1967–1970Organist of Norwich Cathedral1931–1934Ibbs and Tillett, Christopher Fifield1990–1993Assistant director of music at Blackburn Cathedral, director of music at Rugby School Thailand1971–1974Organist of St Albans Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford1963–1966Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra1948–1952Organist of Salisbury Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral1925–1928Professor of organ at the Royal College of Music, organist of the London Oratory and designer and curator of the organ of the Royal Festival HallThe R. C. M. Magazine, p. 271996–1999Sub-Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford1982–1985Music Director of Academy of Ancient Music1983–1986Music Director of Opera North1984Sub-organist Christ Church, Oxford, Sub-organist Winchester Cathedral, organist of Guildford Cathedral1996–19991905 and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge1982–1985Organist of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, artist-in-residence at Washington National Cathedral1959–1962Organist of Chester Cathedral1926BBC Controller of Music1991–1994Organist of Eton CollegeChristopher GowerMagdalen College, Oxford1958 - 1961Assistant Exeter Cathedral, Organist and Master of the Choristers Portsmouth Cathedral Master of Music at Peterborough Cathedral 1998-2001Organist & Director of Music at St Marylebone Parish Church, assistant organist of New College, Oxford, Director of Music, Trinity College, Cambridge Organist and Master of the Choristers, Truro Cathedral (2008−2022); Director of Music, St John's College, Cambridge (2023−)1973–1976Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, OxfordOrganist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, 2024−present1935–1939Organist of Westminster Abbey1947–1951Director of Music of St John's College, Cambridge1971–1974Rector Chori of Southwell Minster1992–1995Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral1935–1939Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1954-1957Founding Professor of Music at the Open University1959–1962Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey1967–1970Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales1966–1970Director of Music at New College, Oxford1976–1979Master of Music of Westminster Cathedral and at Winchester Cathedral, director of music at St John's College, Cambridge, director of the BBC Singers 1949-19521949–1953Organist of St Albans Cathedral 1972-1974Organist of St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham2000–2003Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church, New York (2016−2019); Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge (2019−present)1978–1981Director of Music of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace 1989-1992Organist of Coventry Cathedral, organist and director of music at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane1981-1984Director of Music at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, MinneapolisOrganist of Harvard University1996–1998Assistant Organist of Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington 1978-1981Organist of St. Mary's Church, Nottingham1893Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin1971–1974Sub-organist of Winchester Cathedral, organist of Durham CathedralAnna LapwoodMagdalen College, OxfordDirector of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge and Associate Artist at Royal Albert Hall1985–1988Director of Music, Trinity College, Cambridge1906–1909Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford1952–1955Organist of Hereford Cathedral and Durham CathedralDirector of Music at Sheffield Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral1980–1983Organist of Portsmouth Cathedral and Worcester Cathedral1981–1984Organist of Lichfield Cathedral and Winchester Cathedral and St John's College, Cambridge1948–1951 (Selwyn)1951–1953 (St John's)Organist of New College, Oxford and principal of the Royal Academy of Music1992–1995Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and of Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir1958–1962Organist of Trinity College, Cambridge1992-1995Organist of St Davids Cathedral1921Organist of Westminster Abbey1951–1955Dean, Faculty of Music, University of Western OntarioThe Canadian Encyclopedia/ The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada: Hugh McLean1971–1974Organist of Guildford Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral1955–1958Comedian1928–1931BBC Controller of Music1958–1963Organist of Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey1987–1990Organist of Truro Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral, director of music at St John's College, Cambridge1957–1960Organist of Norwich Cathedral1979–1982Master of Music of Westminster Cathedral, organist of Westminster Abbey1989–1992Composer, former organist of St George's Cathedral, Southwark, composer in residence for the Parliament Choir.1920Organist of King's College, Cambridge1929–1932Organist of St John's College, Cambridge1951–1954Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral1972–1975Assistant Organist of St Albans Cathedral1978–1981Director of Music, Gloucester Cathedral1949–1954Organist of Ripon Cathedral1955–1956Organist of the Chapel Royal 1926-1928Organist of Wells Cathedral1958–1961Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and Westminster Abbey1969–1972Organist of Lichfield Cathedral and St George's Chapel, Windsor 1955-1958Organist of Worcester Cathedral and St George's Chapel, Windsor, director of music of St John's College, Cambridge1935–1939Informator Choristarum of Magdalen College, Oxford1939Organist of Derby Cathedral1960–1963Organist of Norwich Cathedral1952–1956Organist of Gloucester Cathedral1974–1978Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, director of music at St Thomas Church, New York Organist of Salisbury Cathedral1898–19011984–1987 and Lincoln College, Oxford1961Anglican Bishop of SalisburyTrinity, Clare Hopkins1870Organist and director of music, Trinity College, Cambridge; professor of music, University of Cambridge1903Organist of Rochester Cathedral 1986-19891989–1992Organist of Blackburn CathedralWho's Who in Music (4th edition, 1962) p. 206Organist of Chichester Cathedral1972–1975Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral and Ely Cathedral1976–1979Birmingham City Organist2000–2003Assistant organist of Wells Cathedral; associate director of music at Christ Church, Greenwich, USA1993–1997Director of Music at St George's Chapel, Windsor1900–1903Organist of Carlisle Cathedral1974–1978Organist of St Albans Cathedral and Lincoln CathedralAssistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral1922–1925Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford1977–1980Director of Music of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge1956–1960Organist of Leicester Cathedral1990–1993Sub-Organist of Rochester Cathedral1941–1946Organist of Canterbury Cathedral1939–1940, 1945–1947Organist of Salisbury Cathedral, Worcester Cathedral and King's College, Cambridge, director of the Royal College of MusicWho's Who in Music (4th edition, 1962) p. 229.1997-2000Assistant Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, Director of Music, Jesus College, Cambridge, Informator Choristarum, Magdalen College, Oxford1968-1971Organist Emeritus, York Minster and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge1888–1889 (Selwyn) 1889–1894 (Gonville and Caius)Professor of Music, University of Cambridge1973–1976Organist of Southwark Cathedral 2022-2026Organist at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Hanover PA
References