Organ Scholarships
Organ Scholars at Somerville are provided with generous funding for organ and conducting lessons as well as a small financial award, and play a major role in the organisation of the choir. The primary function of the Organ Scholar is to play the organ and accompany the choir in rehearsals and performances, however, depending on each Organ Scholar's personal priorities, there are opportunities to sing with the choir, direct the choir and experience orchestral conducting.
We’re currently accepting applications to take up the Organ Scholarship in October 2022, so envisage applications for the auditions in September 2021. Full details regarding the application process can be found via this link
If you are interested in applying for an Organ Scholarship at Somerville, please contact the Director of Chapel Music, Will Dawes, who is very happy to meet with interested parties at any convenient time.
We’re currently accepting applications to take up the Organ Scholarship in October 2022, so envisage applications for the auditions in September 2021. Full details regarding the application process can be found via this link
If you are interested in applying for an Organ Scholarship at Somerville, please contact the Director of Chapel Music, Will Dawes, who is very happy to meet with interested parties at any convenient time.
Current Organ Scholars
Joseph Lord (Physics, 2017-2021)
Joseph has been an organ scholar at Somerville College since October 2017, where he has played and accompanied during weekly choral contemplation. More recently he has begun conducting the choir on occasion and hopes to further this interest this year by taking on the challenge of running the choir at Mansfield College in addition to his duties at Somerville.
A highlight of his time at Somerville has been helping to raise the funds for the 2018 tour to India by organising a 24 hour music marathon.
Prior to joining Somerville, he was the organ scholar at St George’s, Jesmond, where he had studied since 2012 and accompanied the parish eucharist. He has studied the organ with Frederick Peacock at St George’s, Jesmond, Michael Haynes at Hexham Abbey and Stephen Farr in Oxford. Outside of his musical life, Joseph reads Physics and enjoys balancing his scientific and musical studies.
Joseph has been an organ scholar at Somerville College since October 2017, where he has played and accompanied during weekly choral contemplation. More recently he has begun conducting the choir on occasion and hopes to further this interest this year by taking on the challenge of running the choir at Mansfield College in addition to his duties at Somerville.
A highlight of his time at Somerville has been helping to raise the funds for the 2018 tour to India by organising a 24 hour music marathon.
Prior to joining Somerville, he was the organ scholar at St George’s, Jesmond, where he had studied since 2012 and accompanied the parish eucharist. He has studied the organ with Frederick Peacock at St George’s, Jesmond, Michael Haynes at Hexham Abbey and Stephen Farr in Oxford. Outside of his musical life, Joseph reads Physics and enjoys balancing his scientific and musical studies.
Melissa Chang (Music, 2018-2021)
Melissa is going into her third and final year of studying Music at Somerville College.
Born and raised in Macau SAR, she began her musical studies at 5 years old on the piano. On receiving her secondary education in England from 2013, she took up the organ as Music Scholar and Head of Music at Downe House School. She received organ lessons with Stasio Sliwka, Christopher Brayne, Richard Moore and Claudia Grinnell, and visited Winchester College for masterclasses with Malcolm Archer. She currently studies with Stephen Farr.
Over summer of 2018, Melissa was music intern and visiting organist at the Episcopal Parish of St John’s of Lattingtown, in Long Island, New York, accompanying the St John’s choir on the organ for choral evensong and weekly Eucharist. Alongside her musical interests, Melissa plays netball, basketball and enjoys visiting contemporary art museums.
Melissa is going into her third and final year of studying Music at Somerville College.
Born and raised in Macau SAR, she began her musical studies at 5 years old on the piano. On receiving her secondary education in England from 2013, she took up the organ as Music Scholar and Head of Music at Downe House School. She received organ lessons with Stasio Sliwka, Christopher Brayne, Richard Moore and Claudia Grinnell, and visited Winchester College for masterclasses with Malcolm Archer. She currently studies with Stephen Farr.
Over summer of 2018, Melissa was music intern and visiting organist at the Episcopal Parish of St John’s of Lattingtown, in Long Island, New York, accompanying the St John’s choir on the organ for choral evensong and weekly Eucharist. Alongside her musical interests, Melissa plays netball, basketball and enjoys visiting contemporary art museums.
Luca Morgante (Music, 2020-2023)
Born in Toronto, Canada, Luca began singing at the age of 6 with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, leading to an understudy role in a Puccini opera production. At the age of 14, he was accepted to the Young Artists Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, studying vocal performance.
As a pianist and singer, Luca has won numerous regional competitions, awarded scholarships to study abroad in Boston (Tanglewood Institute), New York (NYU), Bath (RSCM), and Cambridge (Eton Choral Course), eventually completing the diploma program in piano performance becoming an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto at age 16.
During this time, Luca attended the Anglican choir school of Royal St. George’s College, becoming both the choral and organ scholar to the College-Cathedral of St. Alban the Martyr.
As an Organ scholar, Luca studied under organists, Michael Bloss, Dr. Giles Bryant, and has toured and performed at numerous venues in North America and Europe including the Eastman School of Music, Salzburg Cathedral, Dresden Frauenkirche and numerous UK Cathedrals. Outside of his musical life, Luca enjoys travelling, cycling, reading, and all things vintage.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Luca began singing at the age of 6 with the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, leading to an understudy role in a Puccini opera production. At the age of 14, he was accepted to the Young Artists Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, studying vocal performance.
As a pianist and singer, Luca has won numerous regional competitions, awarded scholarships to study abroad in Boston (Tanglewood Institute), New York (NYU), Bath (RSCM), and Cambridge (Eton Choral Course), eventually completing the diploma program in piano performance becoming an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto at age 16.
During this time, Luca attended the Anglican choir school of Royal St. George’s College, becoming both the choral and organ scholar to the College-Cathedral of St. Alban the Martyr.
As an Organ scholar, Luca studied under organists, Michael Bloss, Dr. Giles Bryant, and has toured and performed at numerous venues in North America and Europe including the Eastman School of Music, Salzburg Cathedral, Dresden Frauenkirche and numerous UK Cathedrals. Outside of his musical life, Luca enjoys travelling, cycling, reading, and all things vintage.
Previous Organ Scholars
- Sam Bayliss, FRCO (2001-2004, College Organist 2004-2005)
- Imogen Parker (2003-2006)
- Yige Huang (2005-2007)
- Joe Burgess (2007-2010)
- Tristan Mitchard, ARCO (2008-2011)
- Douglas Knight, ARCO (2010-2013)
- Dr. Robert Pecksmith, FRCO (2011-2014)
- Nicholas Machin (2014-2017)
The Chapel Organ
Somerville College's chapel organ was built in 1937 by Harrison & Harrison (Durham). Although Albert Schweitzer, who acted as organ advisor to the college, had originally recommended a neo-baroque design in the style of the early Alsatian Orgelbewegung, the college's governing body voted in favour of a more traditional Romantic specification.
The organ's oak case was designed by the chapel’s architect Courtenay Theobald. Having been restored in summer 2012, the organ is in an excellent condition and is regularly used for services, choir concerts, recordings and solo recitals. It was recently featured in an article in the Organ Magazine.
Due to its English Romantic specification and tonal design the instrument lends itself particularly well to nineteenth-century repertoire. Somerville Chapel also houses a Steinway grand piano, a two-manual Goble harpsichord and a portable digital piano.
The organ's oak case was designed by the chapel’s architect Courtenay Theobald. Having been restored in summer 2012, the organ is in an excellent condition and is regularly used for services, choir concerts, recordings and solo recitals. It was recently featured in an article in the Organ Magazine.
Due to its English Romantic specification and tonal design the instrument lends itself particularly well to nineteenth-century repertoire. Somerville Chapel also houses a Steinway grand piano, a two-manual Goble harpsichord and a portable digital piano.
Specification
|
Pedal
Great Swell |
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 |
Sub Bass
Dulciana Flute Contra Dulciana Open Diapason Claribel Flute Rohr Flute Octave Super Octave Violin Diapason Lieblich Gedeckt Echo Salicional Vox Angelica Harmonic Flute Cornopean |
16
16 8 16 8 8 8 4 2 8 8 8 8 4 8 |
Couplers: Swell to Pedal, Swell to Great, Swell octave, Swell suboctave, Great to Pedal
Accessories: 3 pistons to each manual, Gt-Pd piston, Balanced Crescendo pedal
Accessories: 3 pistons to each manual, Gt-Pd piston, Balanced Crescendo pedal
Sample Recordings
Kenneth Leighton: Paean - Robert Pecksmith
John Williams: Imperial March (from Star Wars) - Robert Pecksmith
Alexandre Guilmant: Offertoire sur le noël Joseph est bien marié (op. 60/5) - Douglas Knight
Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in C (BWV 547) - Douglas Knight
Léon Boëllmann: Suite gothique (op. 25) - 1. Introduction choral - 2. Menuet gothique - Sam Bayliss
Léon Boëllmann: Suite gothique (op. 25) - 3. Prière à Notre Dame - Jonathan Stamp
Alexandre Guilmant: March on Händel's Lift up your heads - Christopher Enston
Thomas John Morgan: Fantasia on the Welsh Hymn Tune Twrgwyn - Christopher Enston
John Williams: Imperial March (from Star Wars) - Robert Pecksmith
Alexandre Guilmant: Offertoire sur le noël Joseph est bien marié (op. 60/5) - Douglas Knight
Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude in C (BWV 547) - Douglas Knight
Léon Boëllmann: Suite gothique (op. 25) - 1. Introduction choral - 2. Menuet gothique - Sam Bayliss
Léon Boëllmann: Suite gothique (op. 25) - 3. Prière à Notre Dame - Jonathan Stamp
Alexandre Guilmant: March on Händel's Lift up your heads - Christopher Enston
Thomas John Morgan: Fantasia on the Welsh Hymn Tune Twrgwyn - Christopher Enston
© 2012-2024 Stefan Schwarz
