Organ scholars often gain experience on a cathedral or collegiate chapel organ, such as this one at King's College Chapel, Cambridge

An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant organist at a cathedral, church or institution where regular choral services are held. The idea of an organ scholarship is to provide the holder with playing, directing and administrative experience. It is an important part of music-making in Christian worship and is strongly associated with, but is not limited to, Anglican church music in the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA.

Organ scholars may sometimes be found at a cathedral or a collegiate church. Many colleges at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and Trinity College Dublin, as well as other universities, offer organ scholarships to undergraduates. At some institutions (for example, Christ Church, Oxford, New College, Oxford, Trinity College Dublin or King's College, Cambridge), the organ scholar(s) work under the direction of a full-time professional director of music. At other institutions, the organ scholar is in charge of running the choir.

One of the first organ scholarships in the University of Cambridge was set up by Queens' College, Cambridge. An early scholar there was the composer Charles Villiers Stanford, who took up his position there in 1870.

Many organ scholars have gone on to notable careers in music and in other fields. Two notable ex-organ scholars who went on to achieve fame in other fields are Edward Heath, who read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford and later served as British Prime Minister 1970–1974; and Dudley Moore, who read music at Magdalen College, Oxford and went on to a career in acting.

Notable organ scholars at universities and colleges

NameInstitutionDatesLater appointmentsRef
Hugh Percy AllenChrist's College, Cambridge1892–1895Organist of St Asaph Cathedral, Ely Cathedral and New College, Oxford; professor of music at the University of Oxford and director of the Royal College of Music
James Anderson-BesantSt John's College, Cambridge2016−2020Organist of Truro Cathedral, 2023−present
Malcolm ArcherJesus College, Cambridge1972–1975Organist of Bristol Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral; director of chapel music and organist of Winchester College
Richard ArmstrongCorpus Christi College, Cambridge1961Music Director of Welsh National Opera and Scottish Opera
Thomas ArmstrongKeble College, Oxford1919-1921Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Martin BakerDowning College, Cambridge1985–1988Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral
Sarah BaldockPembroke College, Cambridge1993-1996Assistant Director of Music Winchester Cathedral, organist of Chichester Cathedral, director of music at Winchester College
Ayo BankoleClare College, Cambridge1961–1964Organist of Lagos Cathedral
Stephen BarlowTrinity College, Cambridge1972–1975
Benjamin BaylKing's College, Cambridge1997–2000
Kenneth BeardEmmanuel College, Cambridge1949–1952Organist of Southwell Minster
John BertalotCorpus Christi College, Cambridge and Lincoln College, Oxford1955–1958 (Corpus Christi) ? (Lincoln)Organist of Blackburn Cathedral
Harry BicketChrist Church, Oxford1980–1983Director of The English Concert
Jonathan BielbySt John's College, Cambridge1963–1967Organist of Wakefield Cathedral
Hugh BlairChrist's College, Cambridge1883-1886Organist of Worcester Cathedral
Mark BlatchlyChrist Church, Oxford1978–1981Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Geraint BowenJesus College, Cambridge1982–1985Organist of St Davids Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral
John Dykes BowerCorpus Christi College, Cambridge1922Organist of Truro Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral
Harry BrammaPembroke College, Oxford1955–1960Organist of Southwark Cathedral and director of the Royal School of Church Music
Herbert BrewerExeter College, Oxford1883–1885Composer, organist of Bristol Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral
David BriggsKing's College, Cambridge1981–1984Organist of Truro Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral
Paul BroughMagdalen College, Oxford1983–1986Organist of Sheffield Cathedral, director of music at All Saints, Margaret Street.
William Denis BrowneClare College, Cambridge1910–1912Composer and music critic
John ButtKing's College, Cambridge1979–1982Gardiner Professor of Music, Glasgow University
Timothy Byram-WigfieldChrist Church, Oxford1982–1985Sub-organist of Winchester Cathedral, organist of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, St George's Chapel, Windsor. Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge, and now at All Saints, Margaret Street
Andrew CantrillCollege of St. Hild and St. Bede, Durham1987–1991Director of Music at Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington and organist and master of choristers at Croydon Minster
Benjamin ChewterEmmanuel College, Cambridge2003-2006Assistant Director of Music at Chester Cathedral, subsequently Organist of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London
Nicholas CleoburyWorcester College, Oxford1968–1971Assistant Organist of Chichester Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Stephen CleoburySt John's College, Cambridge1967–1971Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, director of music at King's College, Cambridge
Norman CockerMerton College, Oxford1907–1909Organist of Manchester Cathedral
E. T. CookThe Queen's College, OxfordOrganist of Southwark Cathedral
John CookChrist's College, CambridgeOrganist of St. Paul's Cathedral (London, Ontario)
Deryck CookeSelwyn College, Cambridge1938–40, 1946–1947Broadcaster and musicologist
David CooperLincoln College, Oxford1967–1970Organist of Norwich Cathedral
Joseph CooperKeble College, Oxford1931–1934
Robert CostinPembroke College, Cambridge1990–1993Assistant director of music at Blackburn Cathedral, director of music at Rugby School Thailand
Stephen DarlingtonChrist Church, Oxford1971–1974Organist of St Albans Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Andrew DavisKing's College, Cambridge1963–1966Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra
Christopher DearnleyWorcester College, Oxford1948–1952Organist of Salisbury Cathedral and St Paul's Cathedral
Ralph DownesKeble College, Oxford1925–1928Professor of organ at the Royal College of Music, organist of the London Oratory and designer and curator of the organ of the Royal Festival Hall
Clive Driskill-SmithChrist Church, Oxford1996–1999Sub-Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Kingsley Charles DunhamHatfield College, Durham
Richard EgarrClare College, Cambridge1982–1985Music Director of Academy of Ancient Music
Richard FarnesKing's College, Cambridge1983–1986Music Director of Opera North
Stephen FarrClare College, Cambridge1984Sub-organist Christ Church, Oxford, Sub-organist Winchester Cathedral, organist of Guildford Cathedral
Iain FarringtonSt John's College, Cambridge1996–1999
Thomas FieldenJesus College, Oxford1905
Jeremy FilsellKeble College, Oxford and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge1982–1985Organist of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, artist-in-residence at Washington National Cathedral
Roger FisherChrist Church, Oxford1959–1962Organist of Chester Cathedral
William GlockGonville and Caius College, Cambridge1926BBC Controller of Music
David GoodeKing's College, Cambridge1991–1994Organist of Eton College
Magdalen College, Oxford1958 - 1961Assistant Exeter Cathedral, Organist and Master of the Choristers Portsmouth Cathedral Master of Music at Peterborough Cathedral
Steven GrahlMagdalen College, Oxford1998-2001Organist & Director of Music at St Marylebone Parish Church, assistant organist of New College, Oxford, Director of Music, Trinity College, Cambridge
Christopher GrayPembroke College, CambridgeOrganist and Master of the Choristers, Truro Cathedral (2008−2022); Director of Music, St John's College, Cambridge (2023−)
Francis GrierKing's College, Cambridge1973–1976Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Claudia GrinnellPeterhouse, CambridgeOrganist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, 2024−present
Douglas GuestKing's College, Cambridge1935–1939Organist of Westminster Abbey
George GuestSt John's College, Cambridge1947–1951Director of Music of St John's College, Cambridge
Paul HaleNew College, Oxford1971–1974Rector Chori of Southwell Minster
Charles HarrisonJesus College, Cambridge1992–1995Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral
Edward HeathBalliol College, Oxford1935–1939Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Gerald HendrieSelwyn College, Cambridge1954-1957Founding Professor of Music at the Open University
Christopher HerrickExeter College, Oxford1959–1962Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey
Richard HickoxQueens' College, Cambridge1967–1970Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Edward HigginbottomCorpus Christi College, Cambridge1966–1970Director of Music at New College, Oxford
David HillSt John's College, Cambridge1976–1979Master of Music of Westminster Cathedral and at Winchester Cathedral, director of music at St John's College, Cambridge, director of the BBC Singers
Martin HowClare College, Cambridge1949-1952
Peter HurfordJesus College, Cambridge1949–1953Organist of St Albans Cathedral
Marcus HuxleyWorcester College, Oxford1972-1974Organist of St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham
Daniel HydeKing's College, Cambridge2000–2003Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church, New York (2016−2019); Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge (2019−present)
Carl JacksonDowning College, Cambridge1978–1981Director of Music of the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace
Rupert JeffcoatSt Catharine's College, Cambridge1989-1992Organist of Coventry Cathedral, organist and director of music at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane
Raymond JohnstonPeterhouse, Cambridge1981-1984Director of Music at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Minneapolis
Edward Elwyn JonesEmmanuel College, CambridgeOrganist of Harvard University
Max KenworthyBrasenose College, Oxford1996–1998Assistant Organist of Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington
John KeysNew College, Oxford1978-1981Organist of St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
Charles Herbert KitsonSelwyn College, Cambridge1893Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
James LancelotKing's College, Cambridge1971–1974Sub-organist of Winchester Cathedral, organist of Durham Cathedral
Anna LapwoodMagdalen College, OxfordDirector of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge and Associate Artist at Royal Albert Hall
Stephen LaytonKing's College, Cambridge1985–1988Director of Music, Trinity College, Cambridge
Henry LeyKeble College, Oxford1906–1909Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Richard LloydJesus College, Cambridge1952–1955Organist of Hereford Cathedral and Durham Cathedral
Simon LoleKing's College LondonDirector of Music at Sheffield Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral
Adrian LucasSt John's College, Cambridge1980–1983Organist of Portsmouth Cathedral and Worcester Cathedral
Andrew LumsdenSt John's College, Cambridge1981–1984Organist of Lichfield Cathedral and Winchester Cathedral
David LumsdenSelwyn College and St John's College, Cambridge1948–1951 (Selwyn) 1951–1953 (St John's)Organist of New College, Oxford and principal of the Royal Academy of Music
Sarah MacDonaldRobinson College, Cambridge1992–1995Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and of Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir
Richard MarlowSelwyn College, Cambridge1958–1962Organist of Trinity College, Cambridge
Alexander MasonWorcester College, Oxford1992-1995Organist of St Davids Cathedral
William Neil McKieWorcester College, Oxford1921Organist of Westminster Abbey
Hugh John McLeanKing's College, Cambridge1951–1955Dean, Faculty of Music, University of Western Ontario
Andrew MillingtonDowning College, Cambridge1971–1974Organist of Guildford Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral
Dudley MooreMagdalen College, Oxford1955–1958Comedian
Herbert MurrillWorcester College, Oxford1928–1931BBC Controller of Music
Martin NearyGonville and Caius College, Cambridge1958–1963Organist of Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey
Andrew NethsinghaSt John's College, Cambridge1987–1990Organist of Truro Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral, director of music at St John's College, Cambridge
Michael NicholasJesus College, Oxford1957–1960Organist of Norwich Cathedral
James O'DonnellJesus College, Cambridge1979–1982Master of Music of Westminster Cathedral, organist of Westminster Abbey
Nicholas O'NeillMagdalen College, Oxford1989–1992Composer, former organist of St George's Cathedral, Southwark, composer in residence for the Parliament Choir.
Boris OrdCorpus Christi College, Cambridge1920Organist of King's College, Cambridge
Robin OrrPembroke College, Cambridge1929–1932Organist of St John's College, Cambridge
Harrison OxleyChrist Church, Oxford1951–1954Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Andrew ParnellChrist's College, Cambridge1972–1975Assistant Organist of St Albans Cathedral
Adrian PartingtonKing's College, Cambridge1978–1981Director of Music, Gloucester Cathedral
Ronald Edward PerrinChrist Church, Oxford1949–1954Organist of Ripon Cathedral
Richard PopplewellKing's College, Cambridge1955–1956Organist of the Chapel Royal
Denys PounceyQueens' College, Cambridge1926-1928Organist of Wells Cathedral
Simon PrestonKing's College, Cambridge1958–1961Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and Westminster Abbey
Jonathan Rees-WilliamsNew College, Oxford1969–1972Organist of Lichfield Cathedral and St George's Chapel, Windsor
Christopher RobinsonChrist Church, Oxford1955-1958Organist of Worcester Cathedral and St George's Chapel, Windsor, director of music of St John's College, Cambridge
Bernard RoseSt Catharine's College, Cambridge1935–1939Informator Choristarum of Magdalen College, Oxford
Wallace Michael RossBalliol College, Oxford1939Organist of Derby Cathedral
Brian RunnettSt John's College, Cambridge1960–1963Organist of Norwich Cathedral
John SandersGonville and Caius College, Cambridge1952–1956Organist of Gloucester Cathedral
John ScottSt John's College, Cambridge1974–1978Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, director of music at St Thomas Church, New York
Richard SealChrist's College, CambridgeOrganist of Salisbury Cathedral
Geoffrey ShawGonville and Caius College, Cambridge1898–1901
Edward ShearmurPembroke College, Cambridge1984–1987
David StancliffeTrinity College, Oxford and Lincoln College, Oxford1961Anglican Bishop of Salisbury
Charles Villiers StanfordQueens' College, Cambridge1870Organist and director of music, Trinity College, Cambridge; professor of music, University of Cambridge
Charles Hylton StewartPeterhouse, Cambridge1903Organist of Rochester Cathedral
Frederick StockenSt Catharine's College, Cambridge1986-1989
Richard TannerExeter College, Oxford1989–1992Organist of Blackburn Cathedral
Alan ThurlowUniversity of SheffieldOrganist of Chichester Cathedral
Paul TrepteNew College, Oxford1972–1975Organist of St Edmundsbury Cathedral and Ely Cathedral
Thomas TrotterKing's College, Cambridge1976–1979Birmingham City Organist
Jonathan VaughnSt John's College, Cambridge2000–2003Assistant organist of Wells Cathedral; associate director of music at Christ Church, Greenwich, USA
James VivianKing's College, Cambridge1993–1997Director of Music at St George's Chapel, Windsor
Frederick William WadelySelwyn College, Cambridge1900–1903Organist of Carlisle Cathedral
Colin WalshChrist Church, Oxford1974–1978Organist of St Albans Cathedral and Lincoln Cathedral
Mark WardellRoyal Holloway College, LondonAssistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral
Sydney WatsonKeble College, Oxford1922–1925Organist of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Geoffrey WebberNew College, Oxford1977–1980Director of Music of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Peter WhiteSt John's College, Cambridge1956–1960Organist of Leicester Cathedral
William WhiteheadUniversity College, Oxford1990–1993Sub-Organist of Rochester Cathedral
Allan WicksChrist Church, Oxford1941–1946Organist of Canterbury Cathedral
David WillcocksKing's College, Cambridge1939–1940, 1945–1947Organist of Salisbury Cathedral, Worcester Cathedral and King's College, Cambridge, director of the Royal College of Music
Mark WilliamsTrinity College, Cambridge1997-2000Assistant Organist of St Paul's Cathedral, Director of Music, Jesus College, Cambridge, Informator Choristarum, Magdalen College, Oxford
John Scott WhiteleyRoyal Holloway College, London1968-1971Organist Emeritus, York Minster
Charles WoodSelwyn College and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge1888–1889 (Selwyn) 1889–1894 (Gonville and Caius)Professor of Music, University of Cambridge
Peter WrightEmmanuel College, Cambridge1973–1976Organist of Southwark Cathedral