Windsor castle role for Purcell School organ scholar (From Watford Observer)

Purcell School student appointed organ scholar at Windsor Castle

6:20pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

A student from The Purcell School of Music in Bushey has been appointed organ scholar at the College and Chapel of St George in Windsor Castle.

Glen Dempsey, 17, will commence his year-long role in 2013.

This highly sought-after position provides an organ student with a high standard of training in a collegiate environment to develop their particular skills in service playing and accompanying, solo repertoire and choir training.

Mr Dempsey will be living on site at Windsor Castle for the year, working with a team of three organists. He will have regular opportunities to play for services and to be fully involved in the life of the music department of St George’s Chapel, under the direction of Timothy Byram-Wigfield the Director of Music.

Born in Bury St Edmunds in 1994, Mr Dempsey started playing the piano when he was four years old. In 2011, he joined the Purcell School in Aldenham Road on a full scholarship from the Government’s Music and Dance Scheme.

He currently studies the organ with Stephen Disley, piano with Alla Kravchenko and singing with Tom Marandola.

In the future, Mr Dempsey hopes to attend King’s College, Cambridge, as organ scholar and aspires to become a professional conductor.

The Purcell School celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and is Britain’s oldest specialist school for talented young musicians.