CE Chapel of The Queen’s College, Oxford [R] Wed, 4th March 2020

[Caussade]

When was it ever easy to find them? I was an Oxford college organ scholar from 1965-68. For my year of entry there were eleven scholarships going across different colleges which attracted a grand total of twelve candidates, one of whom did not turn up for the practical exam.

Believe me, it's harder than it was. Much harder. I've been involved these admissions processes most years since about 2005. In the 1980s, an offer of two E grades was customarily made to organ scholars. Not any more - so lots of talented players who are more ABB grade sort of types academically now go to conservatoires instead. One year of low applications in the 1960s doesn't change this general trend, in much the same way as a cold day in January doesn't have any statistical significance when it comes to general climatic trends.