School pulls out all the stops to bring on young organists
THE organ is usually an instrument learnt once the musician is tall enough to reach the pedals.
But teachers at Salisbury Cathedral School may have to consider adjusting the bench to allow their new 11-year-old scholars to play.
The preparatory school is set to be the first in the UK to offer organ scholarships in a drive to boost the number of young people playing the instrument.
For centuries, organists were almost always male, but the music department is searching for one boy and one girl to ensure the number of female players continues to grow.
Scholars receive 20 per cent off school fees and organ lessons, and will have the chance to play the famous Father Willis organ in Salisbury Cathedral.
Clive Marriott, head teacher of Salisbury Cathedral School, said: “As a leading musical prep school, we have a duty to improve and increase our organ teaching to help ensure the future of this ‘King of Instruments’ and its central role in cultural and spiritual life. We are ideally placed to introduce scholarships for young organists and then help those pupils find senior schools which will continue to provide advanced pipe organ practice and performance opportunities.”
The college has been educating Salisbury’s choristers since its inception in 1091, but it was only 32 years ago that 17 girls joined the school to become the first girls’ cathedral choir in the UK.
Applicants should be in school years five and six and currently play the piano to grade five standard, or already be learning the organ.
The instrument sometimes requires alterations for children or shorter adults to play. Adjustable benches can be fitted and a box can be used to bring the pedals up towards the player’s feet.
Anna Lapwood, organist and director of music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, said: “The choral world has been male dominated for a long time. So I love the fact they have specified the scholarships are one for a girl and one for a boy.”