Organ Scholar fledges

As the first leaves fall and the final swallows and swifts gather to head south for the winter, it’s also the time for the annual migration of young organists.

In organ lofts around the country, music and organ shoes are being gathered and packed away as youngsters move from churches to universities and music colleges to perfect the art and skill of playing the organ.

Priory Organ Scholar, Alfred, successfully auditioned for the Organ Scholarship at Somerville College at Oxford University, last autumn and has spent the last year learning the intricacies of playing for worship under the expert tutelage of the Priory Director of Music, Piers Maxim.

But being a church musician is not just managing the organ’s four manuals (keyboards), one pedal board (a keyboard played with the feet), numerous stops, pistons and couplers, whilst following the conductor on a screen, and playing the right number of verses in each hymn, there’s conducting the choir, too.

At his final Priory service on Sunday, Alfred was presented with that critical piece of student equipment, the insulated coffee mug, by the Choir, and Snakes and Ladders from the congregation.

And as the last notes of Lefebure-Wely’s Sortie in G Minor faded into the vast space of the Priory, the congregation applauded.

Enjoy Oxford, Alfred, and keep in touch.

If you know a young organist who’d be interested in the Priory Organ Scholarships, do get in touch.