Padraig Staunton, who is in the Upper Sixth at Ampleforth has been awarded an organ scholarship to Corpus Christi College, Oxford for 2009 where he will study Classics.

Padraig started to play the organ when he entered the College in 2004 with Mr William Dore, the Assistant Director of Music at the College and Abbey Organist. His audition involved preparing a piece on the organ, and undertaking other keyboard skills tests such as sight-reading, hymn accompaniment, score reading and improvisation. He has prepared carefully for this over two years, and this has included taking part on the Oundle International Organ Course last July.

Apart from playing the organ for services in the College Chapel next year, Padraig will be expected to recruit and train the Chapel Choir, work in close union with the College Chaplain to choose music for the Anglican liturgy, organise music for other for special college services, and events such as concerts, tours and recordings.

Padraig said, “I am absolutely thrilled by the news of this award. It is an ambition I have long held and have spent the last two years’ preparing for. I am really looking forward to the challenge.” Teachers at the College are equally pleased William Dore (a former Oxford College organist himself) says that to be a successful organ scholar, one has to work very hard to engender music making not only in the chapel to a high standard, but in the College. He further added that it is a very stimulating and rewarding position which is awarded to students of high academic ability, coupled with good musicianship and organisational skills.