Music Scholars

Our Music Scholars programme awards scholarships to support young musicians. It is an initiative cementing a commitment to excellence and inclusive music making, launched in 2021. The programme supports emerging talent, both singers and instrumentalists, in keeping with St James’s long music tradition, but reflects music culture in today’s church. Rooted in the choral tradition, we also embrace world music and jazz in our regular and special services and events.

The programme is inclusive, supporting musical talent beyond the parameters of traditional music. Yet, in keeping with our musical heritage, Scholars commit to enriching St James’s liturgical year and at all the major festivals, alongside the weekly commitment. An annual tour has become a tradition, with alumni from previous years joining current scholars.

The 2025/6 scholars are:

Angelina Lee – soprano
Lucy Roberts – alto
Hope Heaven – tenor
Duncan Tarboton – bass
Angelina Ding – organ scholar

The Scholarships

The Scholars scheme is essentially a “grassroots” programme that grew out of the efforts of the clergy, congregation and musicians at the church following the turmoil of the pandemic, conscious of how music is an important part of what brings communities together.

It relies entirely upon donations —donors from or with direct connections to the congregation were vital in establishing the programme —and the decision was to support Singing and Instrumental Scholars (not calling them ‘choral scholars’ as in other historically endowed foundations, to indicate that the classical repertoire is part of, but not all of, the Scholars’ musical life here).

St James’s Music Scholars programme is inclusive and seeks to support musical talent beyond the parameters of traditional church music. Nonetheless, in keeping with St James’s musical heritage, those awarded scholarships commit to enriching St James’s liturgical year and sing or play at all the major festivals, alongside the weekly commitment. An annual tour has become a tradition, with alumni from previous years joining current scholars in what has proved to be not only a musically excellent, but fun trip away.

There are four Singing Scholarships (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), one or two instrumental scholarships (we currently have a viola scholar) and one Organ and Piano Scholarship, all awarded to musicians at an early stage in their careers. Scholars work with the clergy and under St James’s Director of Music.

In 2025, we will be growing the programme in collaboration with our partner church St Pancras Euston.

If you love music and want to help us nurture young musicians to take their place in our long tradition of musical excellence, there are various ways you can help.

You can play a more in-depth role in supporting a particular scholarship, such as those listed below. Please contact our Fundraising Team to discuss how you could support a particular scholarship.

Or, you can make a donation. Whatever you can give helps St James’s nurture the inspiring musicians of tomorrow, not only in terms of the scholarships, but also to provide that important career opportunity of the annual summer tour.