Choral and Organ Scholarships

At LMH there are four choral scholars and four deputies. They all receive three free singing lessons per term, with our singing teacher Jeremy Kenyon; opportunities for solos and paid extra services; the right to wear a scholar’s gown; and an annual stipend of £350 (senior scholars only). This is in addition to all the other perks of singing with LMH Chapel Choir - free meals on Fridays following SCR drinks, lots of fun choir socials, and singing a wide range of repertoire to a good standard in a relaxed environment.

Selection is by audition at the beginning of each Michaelmas term – usually sometime during Week 1, after you've already had a taste of Chapel Choir during Freshers' Week. Auditions comprise singing a piece of your choice with piano accompaniment, one or two pieces of sight-reading (also with piano accompaniment), and a brief chat; probably all lasting 15 minutes in total. Your own-choice piece can really just be anything which you're comfortable singing – a solo aria or classical song is great if there's one you know well, but if not something like a hymn tune or folksong is completely fine too. The audition panel is made up of the Director of Chapel Music and the Organ Scholars. We're all very friendly and auditions are very informal; it's just a chance for us to get to know you and your voice a bit better.

Please do contact the Director of Chapel Music if you have any questions, need advice, or just want to find out more. We’d be really glad to have you as part of the team of scholars at LMH.

Organ Scholars play a vital role in running LMH Chapel Choir, assisting the Director of Chapel Music in accompanying, conducting, and preparing the choir for weekly services and rehearsals as well as extra concerts, events, and tours. Organ Scholars are also at the heart of LMH’s extensive musical activities, where they can pursue their own projects and make use of facilities such as the college’s Harrison organ, two-manual harpsichord, and seven grand pianos (including one Steinway A). In short, Organ Scholarships are a brilliant opportunity to develop your all-round musical skills!

There are usually two Organ Scholars at LMH at any one time, both of whom receive three one-hour conducting lessons per term; four one-hour organ lessons per term; two one-hour singing lessons per term; opportunities for paid extra services; the right to wear a scholar’s gown; accommodation in specifically-designated rooms with pianos; priority in room balloting; and a stipend of £500 per year. This is in addition to all the other perks of membership of LMH Chapel Choir - free Formals, lots of fun choir socials, and performing a wide range of repertoire to a good standard in a relaxed environment. The Organ Scholars also run LMH Chamber Choir, with support from the Director of Chapel Music.

Organ Scholars are selected by auditions which are organised centrally by the Music Faculty – further information can be found on the University of Oxford website. In general we expect candidates for Organ Scholarships to have developed some skills in organ playing already, but the main things we’re looking for are enthusiasm, potential, and a willingness to learn – and we’re also very happy for potential applicants to visit LMH informally, to meet students, see the Chapel and organ, and get a feel for what we do.

Please do contact the Director of Chapel Music if you have any questions, need advice, or just want to find out more. We’d be really glad to have you as part of the team of scholars at LMH!