Organ Scholar 2024 -2026
Toby Best 

The Organ Scholarship scheme is part of The St Thomas’ Organ Rebuild and Musical Outreach Project. During 2022, the organ was dismantled, mended, cleaned and completely rebuilt by early 2023. With our rebuilt organ we are now able to encourage a new generation of young organists through our organ scholarship scheme. Our first organ scholar was Toby Best.

Toby had sung with St Thomas’ choir for several years and was also an accomplished pianist and trombone player when he applied for the organ scholarship while studying for A-levels. Toby remained as an organ scholar during his GAP year until he went travelling round the world! At the end of his term as organ scholar, Toby wrote:

I absolutely loved being the organ scholar at St Thomas’ church because it was so rewarding to play in the church and feel myself becoming more and more confident. I particularly enjoyed working with the choir who were all so supportive, and I felt like I had a great environment to make mistakes and learn. Playing at the carol service was my highlight as it was really nice to be able to 'pull out all the stops' and play for a really big congregation. Overall, I loved the experience and I am looking forward to playing at St Thomas' more in the future when I am home from university. 


Choral Scholar 2025 -2026

Annabel McLean

Annabel started singing with St Thomas’ church choir as a young treble, aged 8 years old. Annabel showed commitment and promise with her singing and, as a result, we created a choral scholarship for Annabel which allowed her to develop her skills more through lessons with Emily Foster as well as having the opportunity to sing occasional solos in services.

Annabel said, ‘I have really valued the time I have spent in the choir over the last decade as well as the choral scholarship this past year. I have especially found it beneficial in giving me the opportunity to meet people in the community and I have enjoyed being introduced to new pieces of music. I have found the lessons have made a noticeable difference and have really improved my singing through learning the correct techniques. I am also very thankful for all of the solo opportunities which have helped build my confidence and given me something to work towards.’

Annabel is now looking forward to continue her singing as she starts university this autumn but is also looking forward to continuing to sing with St Thomas’ church when she is back in Goring during vacations.