A real playing role
You will be the main organist for our choral music — accompanying psalms, canticles, hymns and anthems, and supporting rehearsal.
Organ Scholar
We are recruiting an Organ Scholar — in practice, the principal choral accompanist for our parish choir. You will play for our weekly choral services (usually Choral Evensong) and support rehearsals.
We are very happy to appoint someone of school age. We’re not looking for instant perfection: we want a reliable young musician with good foundations, who will grow quickly with regular services, repertoire, and support.
Stipend
£2,000 p.a. (paid monthly)
Start
Sep/Oct (overlap ideal)
Rehearsal
Friday 19:30–21:00
Main service
Sunday 18:30 (usually)
Why apply?
Evening pattern
Our main choral commitment is Sunday evening. Sunday mornings are usually free — often compatible with a morning post elsewhere.
Strong choir community
A supportive mixed-age choir with a particularly strong teenage cohort and a positive mentoring culture.
Development & mentoring
Regular feedback and support from the Director of Music, plus opportunities to build rehearsal skills and confidence under pressure.
Track record
Recent musicians have progressed to major scholarships and posts (including Oxbridge and cathedral pathways).
Clear expectations
We publish schedules in advance and communicate changes early — helpful when balancing studies, work and other commitments.
Times & commitment
Typical weekly pattern
- Friday 19:30–21:00 — choir rehearsal (you play and support learning).
- Most Sundays: rehearsal at 17:30 and choral service at 18:30 (usually Evensong).
- About one Sunday morning service (10am) per month — and on that day we do not sing in the evening.
Most weeks, Sunday mornings are free. (Major seasons will sometimes affect availability — Christmas, Holy Week/Easter, etc.)
About the role in practice
The post is titled “Organ Scholar”, but it is genuinely the main choral accompaniment role. Our parish organist covers the non-choral services; the scholar plays the challenging choral repertoire week by week.
A good fit for young musicians
Regular, meaningful playing (and a friendly choir) is often the fastest route to confident service-playing.
Where this can lead
Two recent examples from St Giles — both started here as choristers and developed through regular services and supportive mentoring.
Tom Blew — current Organ Scholar
- Started as Organ Scholar in April 2025 (aged 16), having previously been a chorister at St Giles.
- Has been offered the Organ Scholarship at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge for October 2026.
- Recently achieved ARCO, and has played with the National Youth Orchestra on the Royal Albert Hall organ.
Alfie Beston — previous Organ Scholar
- Joined St Giles as a chorister in 2022; became Organ Scholar in January 2024.
- Left in September 2025 to take up the Organ Scholarship at Truro Cathedral.
- Will be Organ Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford (from October).
Read Alfie’s Truro Cathedral profile: trurocathedral.org.uk
These outcomes are not “requirements” — they’re examples of what can happen when a young musician plays regularly, learns repertoire quickly, and grows in a supportive environment.
Stipend & start date
Stipend
£2,000 per annum (paid monthly).
Start
September/October (overlap from Easter is ideal, but not essential).
Compatibility
Sunday mornings usually free — often workable alongside a morning role elsewhere.
We can be flexible about an overlap/hand-over period where it helps the incoming scholar settle quickly and confidently.
How to apply
Please email ralph@stgilesfarnborough.org.uk with:
- A short CV (musical background, any posts, teachers).
- Your availability / likely start date.
- Two referees (e.g., teacher, director of music).
- (Optional) a short video link (hymn verse + a short piece) if convenient.
Church postcode: BR6 7DB
Audition / visit
- Hymn & psalm accompaniment (prepared + some sight work).
- Sight-reading (service-style).
- Rehearsal support (short practical exercise).
We’ll also make sure you have time to see the instrument, meet the team, and ask questions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a university student?
No. We welcome applications from gap-year organists, university students, and school-age organists for whom the pattern works well.
Can I hold a Sunday-morning post elsewhere?
Often yes: most weeks our choral commitment is in the evening. Major festivals will sometimes affect availability.
Is the role mainly accompaniment?
Yes — it’s the principal choral accompaniment role. There may be occasional opportunities to develop rehearsal skills beyond that, by agreement.