MEET THE ORGAN SCHOLAR HELEN LUNN

I started playing the piano around ten years ago, and progressed through a few grades, playing at my school for services when the music teacher left. In 2018, I was asked by the vicar at Downholme village church if I would consider playing at their services once a month. The church is a beautiful small church, with a rather run-down one manual organ, and is surrounded by miles of picturesque hills and valleys. I played there for three years, a wonderful opportunity to improve my performance skills, and I was sad to leave there at the same time as I left the parish choir for university.

When I started second year, it was suggested that I should apply for the university’s organ scholarship. This appealed to me, as I had been playing the organ for a while by this point, with no formal guidance, so I felt that it would be useful to have someone give specific techniques and tips. I went for an audition on the university’s Willis organ, with Rebekah, during which I played one of Stanley’s Fugues, and a hymn. I was asked to do a bit of improvisation on the hymn - not a strong point of mine!