There have been a number of people who have held the organ scholarship at St Mary’s Cathedral, Peter Barley writes. In recent years this has included Duncan Brickenden and Michael Young, who held the position for the past five years or so.
Michael has just recently left to pursue his music studies in Cork, whilst Duncan is studying voice (countertenor) as a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Irina Dernova has just recently taken up the position of organ scholar at St Mary’s Cathedral. In addition, she will continue in her role as organist at St Michael’s Church, Pery Square and as occasional organist deputizing in Adare church.
We congratulate her and wish her well in her new role.
So what does an organ scholar do? There are many organ scholarships available across the world. Indeed, the last twenty years or so have seen a significant growth in the number of organ scholarships available. The duties of organ scholar naturally vary from place to place. Here at St Mary’s, the organ scholar would have key elements in common with many others in that it is seen as a training role, with a particular focus on the art of organ accompaniment of the choir. Thus, the scholar will move progressively through the many and various canticles, chants, hymns, anthems and service settings that make up our weekly choral repertoire.
Our hope is that the “organ scholar experience” will broaden and widen the musical experience of those who fulfil that role at St Mary’s Cathedral.
In recent times a fruitful link has been developed with the Limerick School of Music, and in common with student-age members of the choir the organ scholar receives a bursary to help with the cost of music lessons. Thus the development of a sound technique is also integral to the organ scholar’s training.
Don’t miss out on two precious opportunities to hear Irina in a concert role, showing her skills in another area of music making – that of concert pianist. She will be playing in St Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesdays 2nd and 9th November at 1.15pm (admission free). She has chosen Chopin and Liszt for the first programme and then a programme of Russian romantic composers for the concert on 9th November. These are concerts not to be missed.