Author: admin

Worcester College is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Daniel Mathieson as Graduate Organ Assistant for the forthcoming academic year. An Old Member and former organ scholar of Worcester, Dan is currently Assistant Organist at Radley College.

This news comes after several recent announcements of new posts for four more former Worcester organ scholars. Cameron Luke has taken up the post of Director of Music at Grahamstown Cathedral, South Africa; Alex Mason has been appointed Director of Music at Lancing College; Nicholas Freestone (assistant Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral) is currently acting Director; and Alexander Palotai (currently at Salisbury) has recently been appointed Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral, and will take up the post in the autumn.

Daniel Mathieson said, ‘I am thrilled to be returning to Worcester to work with the Chapel team alongside a Master’s degree in Music.’  Director of Chapel Music, Thomas Allery, added, ‘The diversity of the opportunities available to organ scholars at Worcester means that students can develop a breadth of skills for a musical career.’

Worcester Chapel is always looking to hear from young organists who are interested in the unique opportunities and challenges of the organ scholarship, which involves working with both trebles and mixed adult voices as well as accompanying services and concerts; as well as from singers who are interested in choral scholarships.

A University-wide Open Day for potential Choral and Organ Scholars will be held on 11 May, with Evensong at Worcester at 6.15 pm.

At the beginning of June, Worcester will host its own special Open Day featuring workshops, visits to special places in the College, and Evensong.

Here at Worcester, we’re delighted to take note of a number of new appointments relating to our recent organ scholars.

Edward Turner (2010-2013) has recently become Assistant Director of Music at Derby Cathedral and Alexander Goodwin (2012-2015) is now Director of Music at St Saviour’s, Pimlico, London.

In September, Nicholas Freestone (2011-2014) takes up the post of Assistant Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral, Benjamin Cunningham (2013-2016) will become Assistant Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College, and Daniel Mathieson (2014-2017) will be Assistant Organist at Radley College.

Alexander Palotai (2015-2018) will follow Dan’s footsteps as postgraduate Organ Scholar at Salisbury Cathedral. All are part of a very large group of church musicians who have learned the professional skills required for their career in the unique combination of activities required to be Organ Scholar here in College.

Speaking about his experiences in College, Nick Freestone said, ‘The three years that I spent as Organ Scholar at Worcester College were richly fulfilling, and gave me a huge amount of experience for my future career. I particularly valued the opportunity to work closely with the boy trebles (including regular morning rehearsals at Christ Church Cathedral School). I also learned a huge amount from working with the choral scholars. In my time at Worcester, I was fortunate to be involved with a number of foreign tours, CD recordings and radio broadcasts. As I continued onto posts at Wells Cathedral and St Albans Cathedral, and most recently as Acting Sub Organist at St Paul’s Cathedral, I frequently looked back upon the experience that I gained at Worcester College. I’m now looking forward to the next stage of my career at Worcester’s namesake!’

Assistant Chaplain Dr Matthew Cheung Salisbury said, ‘We are incredibly proud of the professional achievements of our former students. After their hard work with us here at Worcester, these appointments demonstrate how the wide range of skills developed as an organ scholar here can lead to appointments in different musical contexts, be that in a Cathedral, London Church, or school.’

Director of Chapel Music, Thomas Allery added: ‘Opportunities in accompaniment and playing are offered alongside the chance to get hands on experience in working with a mixed voice choir, a boy trebles choir, as well as tuition in continuo accompaniment, singing and conducting and of course involvement in the many and varied projects that take place year to year. These go on to join generations of former organ scholars with high profile positions in the music industry.’

Details of how to apply for Worcester’s organ scholarship are here:
http://www.music.ox.ac.uk/apply/undergraduate/choral-and-organ-awards/organ-awards/