Westminster School - School Organist + Teacher of Organ

Summary

We are currently seeking to fill the position of School Organist + Teacher of Organ .

Detail

Required for: January 2026

Locations: Deans Yard - Westminster School + Vincent Square - Westminster Under School

Contract: part-time, permanent (School Organist) + self employed (VMT)

It is expected that the successful applicant will interview for and be appointed to both roles. 

The deadline for applications is midday on Friday 7th November 2025. 

Interviews will take place in the week beginning Mon 17 November, and will involve playing the Westminster Abbey Organ on the evening of Thursday 20 November. Applicants will teach an organ lesson, accompany a choir rehearsal, play the organ in Westminster Abbey, and attend an interview

School Organist 

The School Organist is responsible for organ playing across the two Westminster Schools – Westminster School (WGS) and Westminster Under School (WUS). They will play the organ at all school functions and services predominantly in Westminster Abbey (WGS) and St Stephen’s Rochester Row (WUS), accompanying rehearsals where necessary. 

The pay for this role is £50.41 per hour for the 2025/26 academic year and is employed directly by the School. 

Organ Teacher (self-employed visiting music teacher or VMT)

Visiting Music Teachers are self-employed and it is their responsibility to invoice and receive directly from parents. For 2025-26, VMT rates are around £60p/h on average.  

It is expected that the successful applicant will interview for and be appointed to both roles. 

School Organist

• Accompanying WGS services in Westminster Abbey on Monday and Friday mornings  (60 mins rehearsal + service: 8.30-9.30am) 
• Playing at WGS Latin Prayers on Wednesday mornings (60 mins rehearsal + service: 8.30-9.30am) 
• Organising the organ rota for Wednesday AM Latin Prayers (two services run concurrently) 
• Accompanying the WUS weekly service at St Stephen’s, Rochester Row on Thursday mornings (up to 90 mins rehearsal + service: c. 8.15-9.30am) 
• Playing for WGS evensongs in the School Chapel and in local churches (approximately 6-8 per academic year), typically on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons, as agreed in advance with the Director of Music (120 mins rehearsal + service: 4.30-6.30pm) 
• Organising trips and masterclasses for the schools’ organ students e.g. St Paul’s Cathedral with James Orford (2025), Westminster Cathedral with Simon Johnson and Peter Stevens (2024), The Guards’ Chapel’s Harrison and Harrison with Peter Holder and Martin Ford (2024).  
• Writing references in support of student applications for organ courses (e.g. Creative Oundle) or organ awards (e.g. Oxford and Cambridge Organ Award Trials)  

In addition to the hours stated above, the School Organist will be remunerated for four hours of administration and preparation time per week. 

For extra remuneration, the post holder is required to attend additional rehearsals, concerts and auditions as agreed with the Directors of Music in advance. For example: 

• Playing for the annual WGS Carol Service and the Leavers’ Service (Westminster Abbey), the Elizabethan Carol Service and the WUS Carol Service (St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey), and the Commemoration of Benefactors (biennial) and other large-scale services and concerts 

The successful candidate may additionally wish to accompany the WGS and WUS choirs on tours both in the UK and abroad. 

Organ Teacher

The postholder will provide pupils with the opportunity to play the organ at a suitable stage within their development as keyboard players, and take a leading role in encouraging meaningful progress throughout a pupil’s time at both schools. Where appropriate, Westminster School pupils (13-18) should be encouraged to play the Harrison & Harrison organ in the school’s Abbey services, and the organs in both the School Hall and School Chapel for Latin Prayers and Evensong. Westminster Under School pupils (currently 7-13) should be encouraged to play the organ at St Stephen’s, Rochester Row, during weekly services. 

More able organ students should be trained as recitalists, repetiteurs, improvisers and choral directors, in order to prepare them for future studies should they wish to continue their organ playing in higher education. 

The School Organist/Organ Teacher is responsible to the Directors of Music at Westminster School and Westminster Under School. 

Presently, the organ is taught in both schools by both the current postholder and one other organ teacher. The School Organist co-ordinates the allocation of organ pupils to both him/herself and the second teacher. 

If you would like any more information regarding music at Westminster please contact the Director of Music of Westminster School, Tim Garrard. Email: tim.garrard@westminster.org.uk Tel: 020 7963 1017 

Documents

• School Organist + Organ Teacher - person specification PDF Document