The William and Irene Miller Organ Scholarship 2020-2021

Overview

The Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral wish to appoint an Organ Scholar for the academic year from September 2020.The scholarship presents an exciting opportunity for post-graduate candidates, or exceptional final year undergraduate students, who wish to pursue a career as a church musician. The Organ Scholar will be part of a team of five musicians at St Paul’s and will be expected to play a full part in the musical life of the Cathedral.

The period of the appointment is from the beginning of September 2020 until the end of August 2021.

Introduction

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 major 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.

Main Responsibilities

DUTIES

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 6pm 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 once a term (3 times in the year) 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 assisting 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, assisting with the administration for visiting choirs, and attendance at the weekly music department meeting.
• act as Assistant Choir Librarian (approx 3 hours a week).

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Additional work opportunities, which are separately remunerated, are as follows:

• teaching theory and giving organ lessons to some of the pupils in the Cathedral School;
• playing in short organ and choral recitals for the Corporate Events department which take place in the evenings;
• playing at special services from time to time (set fees apply depending on the type of service); and
• accompanying the St Paul’s Cathedral Chorus in rehearsals (in rotation with the Sub-Organist).

In previous years, this additional work has generated remuneration in the region of £8,000.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Organ Scholar is responsible for:

• their own musical development;
• taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by this placement;
• taking a share in the administration of the music department; and
• familiarity and compliance with all Cathedral policies but in particular the Cathedral’s Safeguarding Policy and the Cathedral’s Health & Safety Policy.

The Ideal Candidate

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 2020. 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; and
• is able to work as part of a close-knit team in the Music Department, and also engage with the wider cathedral community.

The successful candidate will be in sympathy with, and in their work support, the Christian aims and mission of St Paul’s Cathedral.

About us

Our Mission

St Paul’s Cathedral seeks to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ.

Our Vision

• St Paul’s is seen primarily as a living Christian Church
• We will be a centre for welcome, worship and learning, and though our care and imagination, will inspire successive generations to engage with the richness of the Christian faith and its heritage.
• Working with the Bishop and Diocese of London and the wider Church, we will be a spiritual focus for people across London, the nation and a broader international audience.
• Our work will promote dignity and justice for everyone.

Our Values

Welcome – we all offer a warm inclusive welcome to everyone: our colleagues, volunteers and each and every visitor

Responsible – we are all responsible for each other and for part of the whole of the Cathedral’s work, not the whole of a part

Effective – we are professional and do what we say we are going to do

Nourish – we have a learning culture, not a blame culture