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Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver invites applications for an Organ Scholar for the 2025/2026 season.

The regular schedule for the Organ Scholar is:

  • Weekly on Thursdays: 7.30-9.30pm - Cathedral Choir rehearsal
  • Weekly on Sundays: 9.30am rehearsal for the 10.30am Choral Eucharist (ending 11.50am approximately)
  • Twice each month: 2.45pm rehearsal for 4pm Sundays@4

Additional rehearsals and services are scheduled according to the Church calendar - including for Advent and Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.

The Organ Scholar will have regular access to the Cathedral keyboard instruments (organ and piano) for private practice.

Duties and Activities

The Organ Scholarship is a flexible training position. In consultation with the Director of Music, Dr. Neil Cockburn, a graded plan of activities will be created according to the abilities of the appointee. At the outset, less advanced students may perform prelude or postlude music, or accompany some hymns each week, working towards accompanying choral anthems and playing entire services over the course of the scholarship. Advanced students may also be offered the chance to develop skills in choir training and choral direction.

Skills and experience:

  • Open to organ students of any post-secondary institution (preferred), or advanced organ students in the final years of high school
  • Strong sight-reading skills are essential; an emerging ability in improvisation is desirable
  • Previous experience of keyboard accompaniment (piano and/or organ) is an asset
  • Willingness to sing in the Cathedral Choir when not assigned keyboard duties is desirable

Remuneration:

Approximately 100 hours per term (Term 1 runs from September to December; Term 2 runs from January to April):

  • $18-$20 per hour (high school students), depending on experience
  • $21-$23 per hour (post-secondary students) depending on experience

Additional fees may be offered to an Organ Scholar who is able to perform duties in May and June, after the end of the post-secondary school year.

Applications

Applicants should send a resumé and cover letter by email with the names and contact information of two musical referees to:

Dr. Neil Cockburn, Director of Music, Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, BC
neil@thecathedral.ca

Candidates may include links to recordings of solo performances if they wish.

The initial review of applications will begin on August 20, 2025. Applications will remain open until the position is filled. Auditions and interviews will be scheduled in the final week of August, continuing into early September according to candidate availability.

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