Sub Organist

The Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral wish to appoint a Sub Organist, following the appointment

of Timothy Wakerell as Assistant Organist at New College, Oxford. This full-time post

presents an exciting opportunity to an outstanding performer who wishes to pursue a career in

church music. The Sub Organist is part of a team of five in the Music Department of St Paul’s,

and plays a full part in the religious and musical activities of the Cathedral, also contributing to

its wider outreach and mission.

The post will be available from the beginning of October 2014.

GENERAL INFORMATION

History and Background

A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604 AD and the

current Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 by Sir Christopher Wren.

As the Cathedral of the capital city, St Paul’s is often the spiritual focus for the nation, holding

events of national importance as well as serving as a busy, working church.

This ancient heritage and purpose is enriched by the requirement in today’s society to engage

with various constituencies as the Cathedral fulfils its mission. These may be characterised as

(a) the Bishop and Diocese of London, (b) the City of London as one of the world’s business

and financial centres (c) the United Kingdom as the Cathedral fulfils a national and state role

and (d) the international context as it becomes an increasingly important icon of faith overseas.

For further information on St Paul’s Cathedral please visit www.stpauls.co.uk.

The Vision of the Cathedral Church of St Paul in London:

St Paul’s Cathedral seeks to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming

presence of God in Jesus Christ.

As a community of worshippers, staff and volunteers we work with care and imagination to be

a centre for welcome, worship and learning which inspires successive generations to engage

with the richness of the Christian faith and its heritage.

We aim to do this with confidence, compassion and creativity, promoting dignity and justice for

everyone.

We work with the Bishop and Diocese of London and the wider church, as a spiritual focus for

London, the nation and the world.

Our Values:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control;

To uphold integrity, honesty and openness in what we do;

To aim for the highest possible standards in everything we do, acknowledging that we

cannot do everything;

To make our operations as just and as sustainable as we can;

To foster and encourage diversity, being inclusive and challenging to ourselves as well as

others.

MUSIC AT ST PAUL’S

There has been a choir of Boy Choristers and Gentlemen at St Paul's Cathedral for over nine

centuries. The structure of the present choir, consisting of twenty two singing boys, seven

probationers and twelve Vicars Choral, was established in the last century when Sir John

Stainer was the Cathedral Organist. In addition to providing music for the daily liturgical life of

the Cathedral, the choir also enjoys a world-wide reputation through its many recordings,

broadcasts and tours. Recent high profile occasions for the choir and organists have included

the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen (2012), and the funeral of Baroness Thatcher

(2013). The choristers (together with non-chorister day children) attend the Cathedral School,

situated east of the Cathedral on New Change.

The current music staff at the Cathedral are as follows:

Andrew Carwood (Director of Music)

Simon Johnson (Organist & Assistant Director of Music)

Tim Wakerell (Sub-Organist, leaving in October 2014)

Richard Moore (Organ Scholar – leaving in August 2014, to be replaced by

Rachel Mahon, currently Organ Scholar at Truro Cathedral)

Angela Palotai (PA to the Director of Music)

The Precentor, Canon Michael Hampel, is the member of Chapter directly responsible for the

work of the Music Department.

The present pattern of regular choral worship at St Paul’s encompasses Mattins, Eucharist, and

Evensong on Sunday, together with Evensong on every weekday. The Christian year provides

the framework for additional liturgical activities in which the choir and the organists play an

essential part, together with a wide range of national and city services and events on a regular

and an occasional basis.

In addition to the music for services, the Music Department runs a year-long programme of

concerts and organ recitals. These include a series of celebrity organ recitals through the summer months, a regular weekend organ recital, informal lunchtime concerts (on weekdays)

given by unaccompanied choirs, a series of meditations in Holy Week and performances (with

orchestra) of Handel’s Messiah in Advent and a Bach Passion before Easter.

Outside of the regular pattern of worship and events, forthcoming projects include tours of the

United States of America in 2015 and 2018, and further recordings on the Hyperion label. An

organ outreach project is likely to be started later this year which will be the pilot scheme for

a more extensive outreach project in the future.

THE ORGANS

The Cathedral has five pipe-organs.

The Grand Organ is generally considered to be one of the finest instruments in the world. It

began life in 1694, when ‘Father’ Bernard Smith built an organ that occupied a screen in the

Quire. In 1872, ‘Father’ Henry Willis completed what was essentially a new instrument for the

Cathedral. The original Wren case was divided in half, modified, and placed against the pillars

supporting the Dome on either side of the Quire, where it remains today. Numerous

additions and alterations were made to this instrument throughout the first two-thirds of the

twentieth-century, particularly by Henry Willis III.

From 1972-77 N.P. Mander Ltd reconstructed the whole of the organ, preserving and

returning the character of Father Willis’ organ in the Chancel, whilst also making it more

versatile with the provision of a new North Choir division. The present incarnation of the

Dome and West divisions also dates from then and they provide muscular support in the

accompaniment of congregations, together with a number of powerful solo reed stops for

dramatic effects. With careful use, the Dome Organ can also supplement the resources of the

Chancel Organ in repertoire, assisting the instrument’s westward projection. In 2007-08 the

organ was completely restored by Mander Organs Ltd, consolidating the work of 1972-77, but also replacing the Dome reeds and providing a second, mobile console for use under the

Dome (identical to the static Quire console).

There are two other organs that are used regularly on the Cathedral floor. The ‘Willis on

Wheels’, a two-manual mobile organ built by Henry Willis in 1881, is a masterpiece of its time.

There is also a Continuo Organ built in 1997 by Kenneth Tickell.

In the crypt, an outstanding new two-manual organ by William Drake that takes its inspiration

from English instruments of the 18th century has recently been installed in St Faith’s Chapel

(also known as the OBE Chapel). There is also a two-manual practice organ by Robin Jennings

available for regular use by the organists in the Choir Practice Room.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Sub Organist will be responsible through the Director of Music and the Organist to the

Precentor, and through the Precentor to Chapter.

Musical duties include:

Playing the organ and accompanying the choir at nominated statutory services (at

present for 2 weekday evensongs and Sunday Mattins in an average week).

Providing pre-service music for large-scale services and events.

Directing the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Consort (the Vicars Choral together with

professional sopranos) on an occasional basis as nominated by the Director of Music.

Assisting with the training and development of the Choristers and Probationers.

Giving a celebrity organ recital once a year and making regular contributions to the Sunday series of recitals.

Performing at special services, baptisms and weddings as directed (for which additional

fees are paid).

Accompanying visiting choirs during specific choir holiday periods as directed.

Accompanying the St Paul’s Cathedral Chorus as directed.

Administrative duties presently include:

Co-ordinating the Sunday recital series, in consultation with the Organist.

Co-ordinating the musical arrangements for weddings.

Updating the online diary of the Vicars Choral.

Updating the Cathedral website with details of forthcoming musical events and, where appropriate, making suggestions for development of this area.

Assisting in the planning of special services and events as requested, attending meetings

where necessary.

Co-ordinating the biennial ‘New Music for St Paul’s’ composition competition in consultation with the Director of Music.

Attendance at weekly Music Department meetings.

Taking part in the routine administrative tasks of the Music Department, such as proof-reading and contributing to Service Schedules and special Orders of Service as

necessary.

Pastoral responsibilities include:

Assisting in the training and mentoring of the Organ Scholar.

Assisting in the overall care of the choristers and Vicars Choral.

Personal responsibilities include:

Displaying a consistently professional attitude to work and to the ethos of the

Cathedral, where necessary moderating contributions to social and other media.

Being supportive of all colleagues.

Taking a proactive attitude towards professional development through lessons, practice,

observation, teaching, performances within the Cathedral and elsewhere, and through

being liturgically aware and/or inquisitive.

Familiarity and compliance with all Cathedral policies but in particular the Cathedral’s

Health & Safety Policy and the Cathedral’s Safeguarding Policy.

THE PERSON

The Cathedral Chapter are committed to finding a Sub Organist who:

is an exceptional performer on the organ, both as soloist and accompanist,

has a lively interest in - though not necessarily extensive experience of - choral

direction,

is able to work well with children,

has a sympathy with the Christian values of the vision statement outlined earlier in this

document,

has an enthusiastic and positive demeanour,

has an awareness of the rich liturgical and musical heritage of the Church of England,

is ambitious to have an outstanding musical career.

is a graduate with high-level professional qualifications and proven experience,

displays an enterprising and imaginative approach to personal musical development,

is able to work calmly, particularly when performing at high profile, pressured

occasions,

is able to work as part of a close-knit team in the Music Department, and also engage

with the wider cathedral community.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The salary will be £24,000 per annum, payable monthly through the payroll. Additional fees are payable for weddings, baptisms, special services, concerts, chorus rehearsals,

broadcasts, recordings and other events. These ‘extras’ substantially supplement the

basic salary. All payments are subject to tax and NI.

The Sub Organist will be eligible to become a member of the St Paul’s Cathedral Group

Personal Pension Plan after a qualifying period.

Accommodation is not provided.

Wherever the schedule allows and permission has been sought from the Director of

Music, the undertaking of outside engagements is encouraged.

The appointment is subject to a probationary period of three months.

The Sub Organist is entitled to one day off per week.

The Sub Organist is entitled to twenty-five days of holiday per year (plus Bank

Holidays), to be arranged with the Director of Music.

The Sub Organist is entitled to an additional ten ‘working days’ when absence from the Cathedral is permitted to undertake outside musical engagements, subject to the prior

approval of the Director of Music.

The Sub Organist’s Head of Department is the Director of Music, although some work

will be directed and overseen by the Organist, who will be jointly responsible with the

Director of Music for yearly appraisals.

Any appointment will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure Barring Service.

The post carries Life Assurance cover.

The Chapter’s provisions for sick pay, holiday pay, discipline and grievance apply.

St Paul’s Cathedral is a non-smoking workplace.

METHOD OF APPLICATION

To apply for this post, please send your application to the address below. The application

should consist of –

(a) a completed application form (which can be downloaded from the Cathedral’s

website)

(b) a letter of application

(c) your CV

(d) three recent organ recital programmes

(e) names and contact details of three referees:

i) a member of the clergy,

ii) your current organ teacher,

iii) a professional musician for whom you have worked intensively in a church,

chapel, cathedral or cathedral-style environment.

and be sent to:

Angela Palotai

Music Department Administrator

St Paul’s Cathedral

The Chapter House

St Paul’s Churchyard

London EC4M 8AD

Enquiries: Miss Linda Nash, Human Resources Manager,

telephone 020 7246 8352

e-mail lnash@stpaulscathedral.org.uk

The closing date for receipt of applications is 25th June 2014

Short-listed candidates will be notified on Thursday 26th June 2014. Interviews/auditions will

take place on Tuesday 1st July 2014. Candidates can be accommodated overnight if required.