GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL ORGAN SCHOLARSHIP
The Dean Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral annually seek to appoint an organ scholar for each academic year. He/She will play a key role in the Cathedral Music Department, working closely with Adrian Partington (Director of Music), Jonathan Hope (Assistant Director of Music), Nia Llewelyn Jones (Singing Development Leader) and Helen Sims (Music Department Manager). The organ scholarship is open to recent graduates or to gap-year applicants of exceptional ability.
Duties
The organ scholar plays for Evensong every Tuesday, and in addition plays the organ or directs the choirs as necessary when the DoM or the ADoM is away. He/She will also play for many of the special services which take place in the Cathedral, for which additional fees are paid (see remuneration details below).
The organ scholar is fully involved with the training of both boy and girl choristers and the teaching of theory and general musicianship. They will also be expected to help with the general administration of the music department, attending a weekly meeting and assisting other members of the department in the music office.
Gloucester Cathedral Choir
Today’s choir is the successor to the boys and monks of the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter, who sang for daily worship nine centuries ago. The choir of today stems from that established by Henry VIII in 1539, consisting of 20 boy choristers and 20 girl choristers, 9 lay clerks and 3 choral scholars.
The choir plays a major part in the internationally renowned Three Choirs Festival, the world’s oldest Music Festival, which dates back to 1715. This is held annually in Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford in rotation. The Festival in 2019 will be held in Gloucester. See www.3choirs.org for more details.
In addition to the main work of the daily Cathedral services, the choir receives many invitations for outside engagements.
Gloucester Cathedral Boy Choristers (age 6-14years)
The boy choristers attend the King’s School and sing the majority of the services alongside the adult members of the choir. See weekly schedule of rehearsals and services.
Gloucester Cathedral Girl Choristers (7-13 years)
The Organ Scholar is accompanist to the Cathedral Girl Choristers. Rehearsals are Thursdays and Saturdays and the girls sing Evensong on Mondays. The girl choristers were established in April 2016 and commenced their role in September 2016.
Gloucester Cathedral Youth Choir (12-18 years)
Gloucester Cathedral Youth choir was founded in 1999 and consists of girls and boys from across Gloucestershire. Directed by the Assistant Director of Music the choir rehearses on Monday evenings and sings Evensong every Thursday. The Youth Choir also join with the Cathedral Choir for services on the major festivals of the Church Year.
As well as singing for weekly Cathedral services, the Youth choir undertakes tours, and has performed on broadcasts for both BBC Radio and Television. They have also taken part in performances by English Touring Opera, Gloucester Choral Society and Three Choirs Festivals. They have an active programme of trips and social events. The Organ Scholar accompanies the Youth Choir.
Gloucester Cathedral Junior Choir (5-12 years)
The Organ Scholar is accompanist to the Cathedral’s flourishing Junior Choir, which is conducted by the Singing Development Leader. The Junior Choir rehearses at 9:30am on Saturday mornings (term-time only).
Junior Voices Project (JVP)
The cathedral’s Junior Voices Project involves visiting three local schools per term, to encourage singing. The Singing Development Leader arranges and leads this initiative, and the Organ Scholar is the accompanist for these visits. 4 visits are paid per term to each school and culminate in a concert in the cathedral.
Weekly Routine of Services and Rehearsals
Cathedral Choir (CC)
Probationers attend all rehearsals and services unless otherwise stated.
Choristers wear school uniform for all choir events unless otherwise stated.
Rehearsals are in the Song School unless otherwise stated
Sunday
9.15am Boys' Rehearsal
9.30am Full Rehearsal
10.15am The Eucharist (ends c.11.30am)
2.00pm Boys' Rehearsal
2.20pm Full Rehearsal
3.00pm Evensong (Ends c. 3.50pm)
Monday
8.05am - 9.05am Boys' Rehearsal
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
8.05am - 9.05am Boys' Rehearsal
4.00pm – 4.30pm Choral Scholars’ rehearsal
4.40pm Boys' Rehearsal
4.50pm Full Rehearsal
5.30pm Evensong (ends c. 6.10pm)
Saturday
2.15pm – 3.15pm Choral Scholars’ rehearsal
3.15pm Boys’ Rehearsal
3.45pm Full Rehearsal in the Quire
4.15pm Break
4.30pm Evensong (ends c. 5.15pm)
5.20pm Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars rehearsal (30 mins)
Cathedral Girl Choristers (CGC)
Monday
4.00pm - 4.30pm Theory tuition (Group A)
4.30pm – 5.15pm Rehearsal, Song School
5.30pm-6.10pm Evensong
Thursday
4.00pm - 4.30pm Theory tuition (Group B)
4.30pm-6.00pm Rehearsal, Song School
Saturday
11.15am- 1.00pm Rehearsal, Song School
Cathedral Youth Choir (YC)
Monday
4.40pm - 6.10pm Youth Choir Rehearsal in Chapter House
(please collect music from Song School quietly and do not go into the Song room)
Thursday
4.40pm Youth Choir Rehearsal in Song School
5.30pm Youth Choir Evensong (ends c. 6.10pm)
Cathedral Junior Choir (CJC)
Saturday (Term time only)
Rehearsal: 9.30am – 11.00am in the Ivor Gurney Hall
2nd Sunday of each month (except August)
9.45am -10.10am Rehearsal in Chapter House
10.15am Eucharist (ends 11.30am)
Plus Joint services on: Mothering Sunday + Easter Sunday + Christmas Family Services
The Organ
The four-manual organ is one of the finest and most versatile instruments in the country, located in arguably the most stunning acoustical and architectural environment of any English Cathedral. It was redesigned and extensively rebuilt by Hill, Norman & Beard in 1971 under the guidance of Cathedral Organist John Sanders and consultant Ralph Downes, and was overhauled by Nicholson and Co. of Malvern in 1999. In June 2010, following a generous donation, a solo reed was added to the organ, further increasing its versatility both as a solo and accompanimental instrument.
Amongst the many distinguished former Organists of Gloucester Cathedral are Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Herbert Brewer, Herbert Sumsion, John Sanders, David Briggs and Andrew Nethsingha.
The organ scholar is given a key to the Cathedral, and the organ is freely available for practice most evenings, subject to other events taking place in the building. There is a restriction on playing during the hours 10am-4pm in consideration of public and private tour of the Cathedral and the role of the Volunteer guides and Welcomers.
Accommodation and remuneration
The organ scholar currently receives a salary (c£3500pa), full details on request, payable in arrears in monthly instalments.
The organ scholar is provided with a shared flat (rent free) near the Cathedral. Council Tax and running costs are paid by the Dean and Chapter.
There is also the opportunity to earn a considerable amount from fees for the many special services that take place in the Cathedral (currently £108 per service), and past holders of the scholarship have been able to build up a considerable amount of freelance work in the area playing for concerts and services at other churches and accompanying local choirs and choral societies.
Organ lessons are offered, free of charge, with the Assistant Director of Music.
The organ scholar will have one day off each week (normally Wednesday). It is recognised that the successful candidate will wish to pursue freelance engagements outside his/her work at the Cathedral but Cathedral engagements and rehearsal take precedence.
APPLICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2018 ENTRY
Applicants should complete the Application form by noon on Monday 18th September 2017.
Auditions and Interviews for shortlisted candidates 10th October 2017
Invited candidates will be required to play two contrasting pieces one of which should be by J S Bach. Transposition and improvisation will also be required. Reasonable travel and Travelodge (Gloucester Quays) accommodation expenses will be considered for attendance at audition.
Please do not hesitate to email Helen Sims, Music Department Manager, for further information.
Adrian Partington
Director of Music
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