Organ Scholars
Click here for a brochure giving more details of Organ Scholarships.
There are always two Organ Scholars at Queen’s. The value of an Organ Scholarship is £800 per annum, including funding for organ lessons. Organ Scholars at Queen’s study with, for example, Thomas Trotter and Stephen Farr, although the choice of teacher is at the Scholar’s discretion. Organ Scholars are guaranteed rooms on the main college site, with piano, for the duration of their course. The Organ Scholars play the organ at College services and assist with the training and directing of the choir. Organ awards are next offered for undergraduates coming into residence in 2013 and 2014.
Senior Organ Scholar —
Olivia Clarke
Olivia began her choral education at St Paul’s Church, Mill Hill, where she later became Organ Scholar. She attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls in Elstree, where she achieved A levels in Music, English Literature and German. In her gap year she studied on the Organ Foundation Course at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was taught by Susan Landale. Olivia sang with the Finchley Children’s Music Group from 1998 until 2008, when she began to accompany the choirs regularly. She also performed child roles with companies such as the Royal Opera, English National Opera, and Opera East. In her spare time Olivia deputises as a singer, accompanist and organist in London and teaches piano. A keen linguist, Olivia has a great interest in European literature and film, particularly German and Italian. After University Olivia hopes to pursue an operatic career as a Soprano and hopes to do a Postgraduate degree in singing.
Junior Organ Scholar –
Paul Manley
Paul Manley (b. 1991) is currently organ scholar at The Queen’s College, Oxford, where he is studying for a degree in music.
For his gap year (2010-11), Paul was organ scholar at Chichester Cathedral, where he learnt the organ with Sarah Baldock and took a share in accompanying the cathedral choir. In 2011, he gained Associateship of the Royal College of Organists, winning the Sawyer Prize and Durrant Prize for performing, and the Doris Wookey Prize for written work. Paul has also visited Saxony, Germany, where he gave a recital on a baroque organ from Bach’s time at Ponitz. In early 2012, he took part in Queen’s Choir’s recording of Bednall’s Christmas Canata, after its première at The Queen’s College in late 2011.
Paul currently learns the organ with Thomas Trotter. Future recitals include Cheltenham Ladies’ College (IAO annual conference), Keble College, Oxford, and Chichester Cathedral.
Some Recent Organ Scholars
Matthew Burgess (2008-11) is Organ Scholar at Westminster Cathedral.
Tom Wilkinson (2004-7) is University Organist and directs the Chapel Choir at the University of St Andrews.
Edward Whiting (1998-2001) was Director of Music at All Saints’, Northampton, and Head of Music at St Mary’s School, Calne, and is now Director of Music at Benenden School.
David Bednall (1997-2000) was Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral, and is a successful composer.