Organ Scholar

Introduction

Southwark Cathedral is looking to appoint a talented and enthusiastic musician at the start of their musical career for this year-long scholarship, which provides a wonderful opportunity to gain experience in all aspects of a busy Cathedral music department. Learning opportunities will include playing recitals, accompanying the Cathedral Choir, training the choristers, and occasionally directing services. They will gain experience in choral accompaniment, conducting, rehearsing, and performing solo repertoire on Southwark’s renowned T.C. Lewis organ, and will receive mentorship from the Director of Music and Cathedral Organist. They will also gain experience in the administration of a Cathedral’s music department, through attending occasional meetings, providing some administrative support, and ensuring the choir library is kept in order.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Playing, conducting or page-turning for sung services as agreed with the Cathedral Organist
• Taking a share of rehearsing the probationary choristers and teaching music theory
• Giving a termly organ recital in the Monday lunchtime series, and occasionally acting as host and guide to visiting recitalists, including page-turning
• Taking a share of the general administration required of a busy music department, and overseeing the choir library
• Additionally the Organ Scholar may be asked to play for special services, for which an extra fee is payable

Closing date: 11.59pm on Tuesday, June 16th 

Interviews are planned for Friday, June 26th

Introduction to the Cathedral 

Southwark Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship for over 1400 years. Now it stands on the vibrant and exciting regenerated south bank of the Thames surrounded by cultural venues such as Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market, the offices of major companies as well as schools and diverse residential communities. It is an inclusive Christian community that offers a welcome to all. 

The Cathedral’s mission, ministry and musical tradition are core to its life as a Cathedral and a parish church serving the community. It also relies on the valuable financial contribution made by its income generating activities such as its shop, café, conference rooms, corporate events and concerts. It is a very busy place, attracting 200,000 visitors a year to the Cathedral, its churchyard and medieval herb garden. The Cathedral relies on a small but dedicated team to be inclusive and welcoming to all.

Southwark Cathedral is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer. We believe in promoting and building a diverse and inclusive team, and workplace, culture and governance structures that are welcoming to and respectful of all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people whatever their ethnicity, background, age, disability, long term condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Southwark Cathedral is committed to a culture of safeguarding, especially for children, young people, and vulnerable adults. The Cathedral has adopted the Church of England policy statement ‘Promoting a Safer Church (2017)’; Safeguarding Learning and Development (2024) and the Safer Recruitment and People Management Guidance (2021). Every member of our team is recruited according to these policies and is required to complete safeguarding training.

This role requires an Enhanced DBS check with checks against the child-barring lists.