The Senior Organ Scholar takes a leading role in co-ordinating and arranging many aspects of the musical life of the College Chapel. S/he is responsible to and works closely with the Director of Music and Chaplain, and is assisted by the Junior Organ Scholar.

Within this framework, the Senior Organ Scholar's responsibilities include:

1. Helping to select and prepare a chapel music list for each term in conjunction with the Director of Music and Chaplain.
2. Taking a major role in the day-to-day musical direction of the Chapel Choir, including leading rehearsals and conducting the choir during services, in conjunction with the Director of Music and Junior Organ Scholar.
3. Playing the organ for Chapel services as required.
4. Assisting with organising singing lessons for members of the choir.
5. Ensuring the smooth running of the choir, including recruitment, adequate provision of music copies and good order in the music library. Choir members are encouraged to help in organisation and planning.
6. Assisting the Director of Music and Chaplain in organising concerts in which the choir perform, including the May Week concert.
7. Ensuring that the Junior Organ Scholar has familiarity with, and experience of, these duties.

The Senior Organ Scholar is ex-officio executive officer of the Bene’t Club, the College Music Society, and is expected to help the Society arrange concerts and recitals and stimulate the musical life of the College. Organ Scholars have a key role in College life and their work is much appreciated by members of the College community.

Benefits:

1. The Scholarship has a grant of £450p.a.
2. Organ lessons paid for by College (3 per term).
3. I7 New Court is reserved for the Senior Organ Scholar - a large room with piano.

The Junior Organ Scholar assists the Senior Organ Scholar and Director of Music in providing music for Chapel services.

Responsibilities include:

1. Accompanying the chapel choir in services, rehearsals, and concerts.The Junior Organ Scholar is also encouraged to undertake some conducting duties.
2. Giving general assistance to the Director of Music and the Senior Organ Scholar in his/her duties (including the Bene't Club), sharing responsibilities as appropriate, and generally under-studying the Senior Organ Scholar's role.
3. The Junior Organ Scholar is an ex-officio member of the Bene't Club committee.

Benefits:

1. The Scholarship has a grant of £450p.a.
2. Organ lessons paid for by the College (3 per term).
3. O2 New Court is reserved as the Junior Organ Scholar's room, with piano.

Organ Scholars work in partnership with one another and with other musicians to achieve the best results.

Choral Scholarships (Exhibitioners)

The Chapel is the focus for weekly musical life in College and regularly hosts recitals and larger concerts in addition to the normal Chapel services. During Full Term the choir sings at the Sunday morning Choral Eucharist, Sunday Choral Evensong and a Wednesday Choral Evensong. This allows undergraduates the time to pursue other musical activities, whether in College or beyond, while keeping on top of their degree.

The mixed-voice Chapel Choir numbers approximately 22 singers. The chapel music is run by the organ scholars in conjunction with the Director of Music and Chaplain. Choral Scholars’ suggestions for repertoire are always considered when choosing music. The current stipend for a Choral Scholar is £100 per annum, with regular singing lessons provided free of charge and occasional masterclasses with eminent singers and teachers. Choir members receive a free Formal Hall dinner after Sunday Choral Evensong. Choral Scholars are elected for their full three years of undergraduate study. The Choir is augmented by other auditioned members of the College and, occasionally, from members of other Colleges.

Three CDs, Ave Virgo, Pie Pelicane, and Ave Verum Corpus, have been recorded in the past few years, and the choir usually undertakes an annual foreign tour (recent tours have included the USA, Milan, Heidelberg, Venice, Prague and Ireland).

The details of weekly commitments in term are as follows:

Sunday
09.00 Rehearsal
10.00 Choral Eucharist
16.30 Rehearsal
18.00 Choral Evensong (followed by free Formal Hall)

Wednesday
17.10 Rehearsal followed by supper break
18.45 Choral Evensong

Friday
17.15 Rehearsal (75 minutes)

Applications for Organ Scholarships and Choral Awards

Applications are made online using the Cambridge Online Preliminary Application (COPA). The closing date for Organ Applications is 1st September and for Choral Applications 12th September.  An organ applicant has an academic interview at the same time as an organ trial, and, if accepted, has no more interviews. A Choral applicant who is successful must still have academic interviews in December. An unsuccessful organ or choral applicant will not be disadvantaged in his or her chance of an academic place.

Auditions for Instrumental Awards are held in the late summer of the same year in which you hope to come up, that is, after you hear the results of your summer examinations. Applications, only from those who have been made a conditional or unconditional offer, must be in by the end of February. You will then be informed of the audition programme. You will only be called for audition if you have a firm offer of a place in that year.

The timetable is therefore as follows:

• October: Submit application to Cambridge via UCAS. Overseas students must complete the  Cambridge Online Preliminary Application (COPA).
• January: Results of your interview.
• February:  If you receive an offer of a place at Cambridge and are interested in applying for an Instrumental Award, you must download the application form and information sheet. The completed form must be submitted to your College by or 27 February 2012 (for 2012 entry applicants).
• March: Acknowledgement of your application, with audition programme enclosed.
• August: Final confirmation following exam results. If successful, you will be called for audition in late September.
• October: You will receive the result of your audition. This will not affect your academic place in any way.

The Director of Music, Mr Nicholas Danks, is always happy to hear from potential candidates for Organ, Choral or Instrumental Awards. Candidates are welcome to arrange a visit to the College, to meet the Director of Music, have a look round and/or play the organ.  Nicholas Danks can be contacted via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via the Porters' Lodge on 01223 338000.