Ghislaine Reece-Trapp
Ghislaine Reece-Trapp began her musical education as a singer at her local church, where, at the age of twelve, she took up the organ with Robert Yeomans. After six months, she gained the Anne Guy Organ Scholarship to Clifton College to study with James Hills, where she also held the position of Head Chorister, before being offered the place of sole Specialist Organist at Wells Cathedral School to study with Matthew Owens. At the ages of thirteen and fourteen, Ghislaine won the ‘RCO National Performance Festival for Young Organists’ Competition’, resulting in organ recitals in both Hereford and Gloucester as part of the Three Choirs’ Festivals, and took up the position of Junior Organ Scholar at Wells Cathedral in 2008. During her Gap Year, Ghislaine worked as Organ Scholar at Guildford Cathedral. She has gained her ARCO diploma, and recently won the South of England Organ Competition at the youngest possible age of her category (18-23). Ghislaine is currently Senior Organ Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, where she is studying academic music.
Alexander Pott
Alexander Pott’s musical training started as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, where, already learning the piano, violin, and bassoon, he became fascinated by the organ. He began having organ lessons when he went to Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood as a Music Scholar, aged 13. Whilst still at school, he held organ scholarships first at St Mary’s Church, Harrow-on-the-Hill and then at St Mary’s Church, Primrose Hill. He became an ARCO as a sixth-former, winning the Doris Wookey Prize for paperwork. During his gap year, Alexander was appointed Organ Scholar of Chelmsford Cathedral, and studied with Margaret Phillips. As a solo recitalist he has performed at many venues including Coventry Cathedral, Chelmsford Cathedral, Clare College, Cambridge and Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair. He is now studying for a degree in music at Oxford University, where he studies the organ with Thomas Trotter and is Organ Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral.
Organ Scholarships
The Organ Scholar is normally required to read for the Honour School of Music. He/she assists the Organist with running the music in the Cathedral and attends most practices and services. The opportunity exists to give recitals in the Cathedral, and to conduct the choir in practices and services. The Organ Scholar is expected to play a prominent role in the musical life of the College and University.
Previous Organ Scholars
- Michael Heighway
- Ben Sheen
- Edward Tambling
- Henry Parkes
- Elizabeth Burgess
- Christian Wilson
- Neil Gaston-Nash