Choral Scholarships
The St Martin-in-the-Fields Choral Scholarships are among the most stimulating and educative choral programmes available in London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers who are wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for up to ten singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of training with others of a similar standard and interests and are an integral part of an exciting choral music programme.
Alongside singing services, concerts and events at St Martin’s, exploring a huge range of repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day, choral scholars will receive regular opportunities for learning, including a series of workshops with members of staff at St Martin’s and external professional musicians.
Click here to meet our Choral Scholars for 2025-26!
We are expecting the recruitment process for our next cohort of choral scholars to take place in spring 2026 for the academic year 2026-27. Please email choirs@smitf.org if you would like to be kept informed when applications open.
Click here to meet the 2024-25 Choral Scholars.
With thanks to The Arts Society, The Golsoncott Foundation, the Pilling Trust and donors to the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust for supporting the 2024-25 Choral Scholarship programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Organ Scholarship
The 2025-26 Organ Scholarship at St Martin-in-the-Fields will run in partnership with St George the Martyr, Borough. Working closely with the Organist and Assistant Director of Music, the Organ Scholar plays a key role in supporting our varied choral programme, accompanying our various choral ensembles at St Martin-in-the-Fields. The Organ Scholarship commitment is Monday, Wednesday and Sunday services and rehearsals at St Martin-in-the-Fields or St George the Martyr, Borough.
The scholarship is an exciting opportunity for an undergraduate or recent graduate to work in the professional music department of a busy and thriving London church, developing their skills in accompaniment on both organ and piano in a large variety of repertoire. In addition, they will be invited to take part in our Associate Choral Leader training programme, receiving further coaching and guidance in choral conducting and ensemble leadership.
Elliot Randall – Organ Scholar 2025-26
Elliot began playing the organ in 2019 and has since performed across South Cambridgeshire and London. Now an undergraduate at the Royal College of Music, they study with David Graham, Charlie Andrews, Martin Ford, and Guest Professor Martin Schmeding. They currently hold organ scholarships at St Martin-in-the-Fields and St Cuthbert’s, Earl’s Court, having previously served at St Mary Magdalene, Richmond, and as the inaugural Michael Swindlehurst Organ Scholar at St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden. Elliot’s early training with Oliver King led to two years at the RCM Junior Department, where they also studied clarinet with Jessie Grimes, winning the 2022 Sally Wainwright Woodwind Prize. They are the founder and director of The Figura Choir, which recently sang evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Organ Scholarship applications for 2025-26 have now closed. Please email choirs@smitf.org if you would like to be kept informed when applications open for 2026-27.
With thanks to Mary & Bryn Walters for supporting the organ scholarship.
Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarships
The Diocese of Manchester Choral Scholarships offer a programme of stimulating and educative choral training, working across churches in Manchester with the music team from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for up to ten singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of development alongside others of a similar standard and interests whilst building on a tradition of musical excellence in churches in the city centre and beyond.
The Choral Scholarship programme is part of a wider project called ‘Sing my Soul’, which aims to develop new music and faith initiatives in a number of churches in the Diocese of Manchester, supported by the Church of England Strategic Development Fund.
As well as their regular commitments, the Manchester Choral Scholars have sung for broadcasts of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3, taken part in Church of England online services for Christmas and the Platinum Jubilee, and participated in concerts in London and Manchester, including a collaboration with vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. They have taken part in workshops with choral leaders including Neil Ferris, Jamie Wright, Robert Hollingworth and Stuart Overington.
In 2024-25 the Choral Scholars will be based at St Paul’s Church, Withington, South Manchester, singing for services on Wednesday evenings, alongside some Saturday performances in St Stephen Audenshaw, Oldham Parish Church and other churches throughout Manchester.
Applications for 2025-26 are now closed. We are expecting the recruitment process for our next cohort of choral scholars to take place in spring 2026 for the academic year 2026-27. Please email choirs@smitf.org if you would like to be kept informed when applications open.
Our music programmes are supported by generous donors, funders and members of the Music Patrons Circle. We are grateful to the following and those who have chosen to give their support anonymously.
Funders
- The Arts Society
- The Foundation for St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
- Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust
- The Pilling Trust Fund
- The Williams Church Music Trust
Legacies
- Mary and Bryn Walters and family
Music Patrons Circle
- Bernard and Phyllis Fisher
- Lady Sarah Riddell
- & Other Patrons
