New Organ Scholar

The FSMM committee recently voted to make Joseph Hirst the official Organ Scholar. Joseph has just turned 15 and is a member of our choir and a very talented musician.

Much like an internship, an organ scholarship is designed to provide young organists with practical experience in playing, directing, and administration. Many of the skills gained are not covered in music college or university courses, so this experience is crucial to the development of future church musicians. The positions vary from institution to institution, and at St Matthew’s, it is expected that the organ scholar will do some service playing and assist with the music library, and in turn be supported and nurtured by the church’s organists.

Joseph had a love of music from a very early age and began to play the piano at the age of 5, followed by the clarinet at 8. He joined St Matthew’s as a chorister in 2016 and began organ lessons early in 2017. Joseph now sings on the back row alongside his dad Keith.

Joseph plays a big role in the extra-curricular life of his school, Malcolm Arnold Academy, where he is involved in various bands, ensembles and choirs. He has also been fortunate enough to play with musicians from the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain several times as part of their Inspire programme. In March 2018 Joseph had a master class with internationally renowned organist, David Briggs – Joseph says this experience was awesome!

Joseph now studies piano and clarinet at Birmingham Junior Conservatoire every Saturday which he is really enjoying.

Outside of music Joseph enjoys playing online games with his friends and composing his own music in genres other than classical and choral with music software and technology.

We wish Joseph well and will follow his career with interest.