Organ Scholarships

Organ Scholarship Board of Management Logo

The Dioceses of Down and Dromore and Connor will celebrate their Organ Scholars at the Annual Awards Service of Choral Evensong on Sunday 20 September at 3.30pm. The service will take place in St Columba’s Church, Knock and the Rector, the Revd Canon John Auchmuty will lead the service.  

The occasion is an opportunity to mark the achievements of those leaving the scheme after three years of study and to welcome new and returning scholars to the scheme.

We will also honour Dr Joe McKee OBE who is stepping down from his role as a tutor having served the Scholarship Scheme for many decades.

The guest preacher will be the Reverend Canon Simon Doogan, Rector of Ballyholme Parish and preliminary music, provided by our scholars, will commence at 3.00pm.

You are warmly invited to come along.

Organ Scholar Grace Steed plays the organ at a previous award service
Organ Scholarship Scheme

The Down, Dromore and Connor Organ Scholarship Scheme helps provide and equip organists for public worship. It was established in 1990 when an anonymous benefactor, recognising the importance of the ministry of music in parish life and worship, provided a very generous endowment to train organists in these dioceses. A trust was set up and administered by Church of Ireland Trustees Board of Management.

The aims of any Organ Scholarship scheme are to provide training in organ playing, choir accompaniment, choral direction and vocal techniques and secondly experience a wide variety of liturgical music.

The study of music fosters concentration, discipline and confidence. Music-making promotes good mental health, feelings of self-esteem and the knowledge that we are contributing something of beauty and value to society.

Among the benefits of the scheme are free fortnightly lessons for the three-year duration of the scheme along with the development of practical skills including hymn playing, choral training and performance of organ repertoire.

Organ Scholarships

If you would like further information about the scholarship scheme and future events, please email the Honorary Secretary at: downdromoreconnororganinfo@gmail.com

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