An organ scholarship at Christ's College can be a wonderful opportunity for organists who want to continue playing to a high standard and receive coaching and conducting training from experts. The commitment at Christ's is easily combined with non-musical study and also allows for involvement in many other University activities such as sport or theatre, and provides the opportunity to work with a choir of a high standard in a role of responsibility.
The current organ scholars are Lizzy Regan and Stephen Watson.
To get in touch with the organ scholars, please contact the choir administrator at choir.admin@christs.cam.ac.uk. The organ scholars can be available for weddings and other events and are happy to answer queries from potential applicants.
Lizzy began her organ studies with Roxanne Gull (herself a former Organ Scholar at Christ's) in 2018. She was encouraged to attend the Jennifer Bate Organ Academy and Oundle for Organists, enabling her to engage in masterclasses with Anne Paige, Anne Marsden Thomas, Ann Elise Smoot, Ronny Krippner, and David Briggs.
From 2021-2024, she served as an organ scholar at St Anne's Parish Church in Leicester, and gave organ recitals at Leicester Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, and Temple Church in London. She has also won the Charles Blackham Cup for Organ Solo at Leicester MusicFest on two occasions.
Lizzy is a keen pianist, singer, and composer. Outside of music, she has interests in film, dance and gaming, and has represented Leicestershire in discus.
Photo: Natasha Betbeder
Stephen Watson
Stephen is a second-year PhD student working on legal and political philosophy. He began learning piano at the age of four and commenced studying music at the University of Canterbury at the age of fifteen in Prof. Michael Endres’ class. He completed a Bachelor of Music degree at the age of eighteen, graduating the following year with first class Honours. He also holds Masters’ degrees in piano performance from the University of Canterbury and from the Hochschule für Musik Detmold, studying with Dr. Jian Liu and Prof. Alfredo Perl respectively.
His musical studies were generously supported by the Deutsche Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and through one of New Zealand’s most prestigious scholarships: the William Georgetti Scholarship, awarded by a panel which includes New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Governor-General, and Chief Justice (or their nominees). He is a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music.
While Stephen’s primary training is on the piano, he has over 20 years’ experience as a church organist and has a special interest in 19th century English organ music. Stephen taught conducting at the University of Canterbury and served as the organist and director of music at All Saints’ Woollahra, Sydney, which houses one of Australia's finest historic organs. Outside of his musical activities, Stephen is admitted as a lawyer in both Australia and New Zealand and enjoys listening to opera, learning languages and ocean swimming.