Music

John Scott, Organist and Director of Music since 2004, has an international reputation as an organist and choir trainer. After his initial musical training as a Cathedral chorister in Wakefield, Yorkshire, Dr. Scott become Organ Scholar of St. John’s College, Cambridge. While still a student, he made his Royal Albert Hall debut as the youngest organ soloist to appear in the Proms.

Upon leaving Cambridge, Dr. Scott was jointly appointed Assistant Organist at London’s two Anglican Cathedrals, St. Paul’s and Southwark. He subsequently became Sub-Organist of St. Paul’s, and served as Director of Music there for fourteen years before joining Saint Thomas Church as Director of Music. In 1998, he was nominated International Performer of the Year by the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is a frequent jury member of the world’s most prestigious organ competitions. Before embarking for his new post in New York, he was awarded the title Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO), a personal honor from Queen Elizabeth II. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Nashotah House Seminary in 2008. 

More information about John may be found on his website.

Benjamin Sheen, Assistant Organist-Designate, is currently a second year Master's student at the Juilliard School, studying with Paul Jacobs. He started his musical education as a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, under the direction of John Scott, before taking up his place as a music scholar at Eton College. In 2011, he graduated from Oxford University with a First Class Honours degree (BA) in Music, where he was also the Organ Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral for three years. Hailed as a ‘brilliant organist’ by the New York Times (January 2012), Ben is increasingly gaining recognition as an international concert organist, having given recitals and concerto performances throughout the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, York Minster, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London and Westminster Abbey, as well as the USA, Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany. Notable recent engagements have included performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of London Sinfonia and the Duisburg Philharmonie in Germany. He is a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and a recipient of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Musicians' Silver Medal for 2011. In January 2012, Ben made his Juilliard concerto debut with a performance of Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Organ and Percussion Ensemble as part of the 2012 FOCUS! Festival. Upcoming performances include appearances at the 2013 Focus Festival at Juilliard, a live broadcast on American Public Media’s Pipedreams and solo recitals in Boston, Washington’s National Cathedral and further afield in London and Europe.

For more information on Ben’s upcoming engagements, please see his website.