Scholarships

One of the great things about music at St James' are some of the great people we have helped develop their talent and who have achieved here are St James' and beyond.

In 2009 The St James' Foundation began awarding Organ Scholarships. They were originally named The Robert Blunden Organ Scholarship, after a parishioner of St James' Church.

They were renamed The St James' Foundation Organ Scholarship in 2018 and included in the Margaret Norman Music Scholarships in 2019.

David Blunden received his first piano and organ lessons in Sydney. A fellowship enabled him organ studies with David Rumsey at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a Diploma in 1997 and later as organ scholar at St James’ Church, King Street. His interest lead him to Switzerland to study at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, organ with Jean-Claude Zehnder, and harpsichord with Andrea Marcon and improvisation with Rudolf Lutz. In 2001 he was awarded first prize at the International Organ Competition in Innsbruck. As a continuo player David works with various baroque orchestras and ensembles throughout Europe and Australia. His special interest in opera led him to be musical assistant at the Basel Theatre. He continues work with the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and as organist at the Holy Spirit Church in Basel.

 Born in Germany, Sarah Kim is an Australian organist of Korean origin, who is now based in Paris. She began her musical studies (piano and violin) at an early age in Cologne and had her first organ lessons with Miriam Gaydon at the age of eleven in Sydney. After finishing high school, she studied organ with Philip Swanton at the Sydney Conservatorium Music, where she graduated from a Bachelor of Music Performance course with First Class Honours and the Sydney University Medal in 2005.
During her student days at the Conservatorium, Sarah held several organ scholar positions at the University of Sydney, St Paul’s College and St James’ Anglican Church. She performed with numerous ensembles including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Sydney Chamber Choir. As a soloist she performed in major concert venues including the Sydney, Perth and Melbourne Town Halls and the Sydney Opera House.

On completion of her studies, Sarah was awarded a University of Sydney overseas travelling scholarship and became the first Australian organist ever to be accepted into the ‘Cycle de Perfectionnement’ and Master course at the Paris Conservatoire, where she studied under the tutelage of Oliver Latry and Michel Bouvard.

She subsequently pursued further specialised studies with Wolfgang Zerer, Andrea Marcon, Lorenzo Ghielmi and Jörg-Andreas Bötticher at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, where she gained her Masters degree in early music.
Prize-winner of the Sydney, Newcastle and Paris International Organ Competitions, Sarah has given masterclasses at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Oundle International Summer Academy in the UK.
She has performed at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Abbey, Mont St Michel, the Royal Chapel in Versailles, Stavanger Concert Hall, the Musikverein in Vienna and in the Berlin Philharmonie. Sarah has featured as soloist with the Swedish Baroque Orchestra, the Oxford Band of Instruments and the Bordeaux Orchestra and has given duo concerts throughout Italy and Paris with her mentor, Jean Guillou.
She also plays regularly with the Parisian ensemble ‘le Balcon’ and the l’Orchestre National de France. Sarah is currently organist at l’Oratoire du Louvre in Paris.

Andrej studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and won first place in the open organ section of the Sydney Organ Competition. During this time he was organ scholar at St James’ Church, King Street, where he was subsequently appointed Organist. Relocating to the United Kingdom in 2010, Andrej spent a year as organ scholar at both Salisbury Cathedral and later Westminister Abbey. Whilst at the Abbey, Andrej became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists. On return to Australia, he was appointed Organist at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane in 2013. In early 2016, he was appointed Organist at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

Marko gained his AMusA diploma in 2008 and was awarded the coveted LMusA diploma (with Distinction) in 2010. He later completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying under Philip Swanton. Between 2013 and 2016 he was Organ Scholar at St James’, King Street. Marko has given solo recitals around Australia, performing for the Conservatorium's Centenary Concert at Sydney Opera House featuring Leonard Bernstein’s monumental Mass. In 2016 he accompanied St James’ Choir on their European Tour, performing at various cathedrals in the UK and France. Marko won a scholarship to study organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London, which he took up in September 2016.
Marko Sever is currently living and working in the UK, where he is Organ Scholar of St Albans Cathedral. Prior to this, Marko spent two years as Organ Scholar of the London Oratory, and All Saints Margaret Street, while studying at the Royal Academy of Music with Gerard Brooks and David Titterington. In 2018, he graduated from the Academy with prizes in organ playing and academic work, shortly afterwards, gaining his FRCO (Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists) with prizes. Marko fondly looks back at his formative years at St James’ King Street, and hopes to return to Australia in the near future to make his contribution to music scene.

 A pianist since the early age of 5, and an organist from 12, Callum Knox is one of the fine young organists of Sydney. He won a scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium’s Rising Stars program in 2019, and has also been offered a scholarship for tertiary study at the Sydney Conservatorium. He began as Organ Scholar at St James’ King St at the beginning of 2020, and has also formerly occupied the position of Junior Organ Scholar at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Callum graduated from St Andrew’s Cathedral School in 2019, where he earned full marks for his performances in organ for HSC Music Extension, as well as a nomination for Encore, the HSC’s concert showcasing the top performers in NSW.
Callum has also performed highly regarded organs around Australia and beyond, such as in the Sydney Town Hall on multiple occasions, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne, St. Paul’s Cathedral London, St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle, and St Eustache in Paris. Callum is also a trained vocalist, as well as an avid long-distance runner and surfer, and hopes that the organ will continue to be vital for worship and entertainment long into the future.

The St James' Foundation Limited awarded the first Choral Scholarship in 2000 to Brooke Shelley.

Prior to tertiary study, Brooke studied Piano with Sharlie Pettit and Neta Maughan, Harpsichord with Paul Dyer, and composition with Trevor Pearce, Richard Vella, and Gillian Whitehead. Brooke began composition training at a young age after twice winning the SSO Schools Composers Competition. Around the same time, she developed an interest in Early Music, particularly medieval and renaissance vocal music, vocal ensemble tuning, and performance practice.

Whilst studying Composition for a Bachelor of Music (Hons) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Brooke joined the Choir of St James’, which fostered her interest in Early Music performance practice, and gave her the opportunity to composer choral music for the liturgy. She continues to write music for choirs to this day.

In 2000, Brooke was awarded the inaugural St James’ Music Foundation Scholarship, which, along with a scholarship from the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, allowed her to undertake a Master of Music in Advanced Musical Studies degree, majoring in Historical Musicology at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Brooke always had an interest in popular music, particularly Scandinavian metal music. Being exposed to sacred renaissance music at St James’ King Street, and listening to the improvisations of Organist David Drury, led Brooke to form the band, Resonaxis. Resonaxis was perhaps the only band in the world that included a classical organist, and which performed music written by Brooke influenced by Scandinavian metal, renaissance and sacred choral music. Brooke’s music has led her to be interviewed on a number of ABC Radio National programs (Andrew Olle and The Rhythm Divine), and reviews of her music have appeared in European progressive music magazines and ezines.

Her singing teachers have been Jane Edwards, Martin Elliott, and Nancy Long, all of whom have taught her to work as best she can with her self-described ‘limited’ vocal instrument. Brooke sings with the Choir of St James’ King Street and Sydney Antiphony, and has sung with the Australian Brandenburg Choir, as well as numerous London church choirs. She has provided vocals for Nick Littlemore on a number of projects including The Two Leaves, appearing on the albums Elton John vs Pnau, and White Shadows. Brooke’s last popular music project The Choir Lab (supported by The St James’ Music Foundation), was inspired by working with Littlemore and by hearing members of the Choir of St James’ ‘muck around’ in the choir room, singing in genres from rock to Broadway.

In 2015 The St James Foundation Limited founded the Margaret Norman Choir Scholarships, named after a benefactor of the Foundation.  Three scholarships were awarded that year; to Josi Ann Ellem, Ria Andriani and Patrick Baker.

2016 saw two scholarships given; to Lauren White and Elise Morton.

Lauren White continued her scholarship in 2017, with Cronan Yu receiving the second scholarship, following Elise Morton’s departure to France.

2018 saw Aidan O’Donnell receiving a third scholarship for the year, with Elise and Cronan continuing to hold the remaining two scholarships.

In 2019 it was decided to include the Organ Scholar in the Margaret Norman Scholarship programme, having all music scholarships under the same programme. Cronan completed his scholarship in May and Harry Brookes-Owen took up the choral scholarship in August, with Aidan and Elise continuing to hold scholarships. Stacey Yang became the interim organ scholar over the summer period.

2020 saw a major movement in choral scholarships. Elise completed her scholarship in March and Harry completed his in April. New scholarships were given to Ines Paxton in November and to Cassandra Doyle in December. Aidan continued to hold his scholarship. Callum Knox took up the Organ Scholarship.

The 2021 choral scholars have continued to be Aidan, Ines and Cassandra, with Callum holding the Organ Scholarship.

Aidan, Ines and Cassandra continued with their choral scholarships in 2022, as did Callum with his Organ Scholarship.

In 2023 Aidan O'Donnell and Ines Paxton became regular full members of the choir and Cassie Doyle left the choir to concentrate on her final year at the Conservatorium. June 2023 saw three new choral scholarships awarded to Josephine Brereton (soprano), Lucy Blomfield (alto) and Aaron Erdstein (tenor).

Josi is a young upcoming soprano from Sydney, Australia studying a Masters of Opera at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Maree Ryan (AM). She graduated a Bachelor of Music Performance in voice from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2017. Her final recital mark was the highest recorded by the vocal department, equal to only one other student before her. The institution awarded her both the Geoffrey William Rothwell scholarship and Demant Dreikurs scholarship for excellence in Lieder. During her undergraduate studies Josi had the opportunity to perform as a featured soloist with the Conservatorium Early Music Ensemble and Choir in Handel’s “Israel In Egypt” (2016), as a featured soloist with the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and Choir in Mozart’s “Grosse Messe” (2017) and with the postgraduate Opera School as Papagena in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” (2017). Josi was also selected to study at the Conservatorium’s summer school program “Estivo” in Verona under scholarship in June 2017. As a choral scholar of St James King Street Josi developed a love for the church and sacred music. Highlights include singing as a chorister with Yvonne Kenny in 2015, singing as soloist with Teddy Tahu Rhodes in 2016 and touring to England, France and Turkey. During these tours she performed at venues such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Atheneum Club in a concert recorded by Abbey Road Studios. In Turkey she had the honour of singing with the choir for the Gallipoli Dawn Service 2017. In the future Josi hopes to continue her studies in Europe so that she may further explore opera, lieder and sacred music.
 

Ria Andriani discovered St James' Church during one bright Sunday morning. Being a keen chorister, she stayed. A few years later, she found herself one of the inaugural recipients of the Margaret Norman Scholarship in 2015. During her scholarship, Ria took part in the St James' Choir European tour, which remains one of the highlights of her musical career.
Ria holds Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts from UNSW. She has studied singing with Kathleen Connell, Nancy Long (former member of St James' Choir) and Koen Van Stade. She has also learned from Dame Emma Kirkby, Carolyn Sampson and Jessie Cash during her various journeys to Dartington International Summer School.
Ria is a former member of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and the Burgundian Consort. She currently sings with Sydney Chamber Choir under Richard Gill. In collaboration with other musicians, Ria also presents lunchtime solo recitals. She takes an active part in the St James' music ministry.
Ria is a fluent Braille music reader and transcriber. In her spare time, she enjoys having adventures with her guide dog Max.

Patrick Baker graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Classical Voice) from the ANU School of Music in 2012, where he studied under Christina Wilson and Alan Hicks. During the course of his studies he performed in a number of operas and participated in master classes and performances with guest artists such as the Tallis Scholars and the Song Company.
Patrick has sung in a number of choirs including Cantillation, Coro, and the Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Choir, and in 2018 he was a participant in SongCo Lab with the Song Company. He has been a member of Luminescence Chamber Singers since their inception, and has sung and toured with Gondwana Chorale. In 2015 he was awarded a choral scholarship with the Choir of St James’ in Sydney, becoming a full member in 2016 and joining them on their successful European tour of that year.
2017 saw Patrick complete his Master of Music Studies (Composition) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music studying under Carl Vine. As a composer, Patrick has had works performed and workshopped both nationally and internationally, including radio broadcasts.

 

Elise is a third-year student at the University of Sydney pursuing a degree in International and Global Studies and as part of this, she is currently undertaking a year of study in Lyon, France. Elise’s musical background stems from learning to play the harp at a young age which led her to become the youngest person to have received the highest mark in an AMEB exam at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. Despite her love of harp, Elise soon realised that her primary interest was in composing music and she pursued this throughout high school, graduating with full marks in extension music composition and a nomination for the prestigious ‘Encore’ showcase. Elise continues compose and to occasionally work with her harp; often accompanying herself while singing at various corporate, personal, and charitable events. A realisation towards the end of her secondary studies that she could sing brought Elise to eventually audition for the Choir of St James, and she became Choral Scholar in November 2016. In the future, Elise hopes to continue making music alongside her main pursuits in government and humanitarian work.

Lauren started her musical training at age 8 with the piano followed by the flute. As a high school student she switched to double bass and began classical voice training. She was also involved in choirs and instrumental ensembles at Fort Street High School and the NSW Arts Unit, which lead to performances in Europe and the United States. Lauren discovered jazz and improvised music in high school and is now studying jazz bass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She completed her AMusA in classical voice with the Australian Music Examinations Board in 2016 and is currently a choral scholar with the Choir of St James’, allowing her to pursue both her passions of classical music and jazz. Lauren is an experienced performer as both a singer and a bassist. She performed for the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival in 2017 and has performed in prestigious venues such as the Sydney Opera House and the Iridium Jazz Club (NYC), as well as at the Merimbula and Manly Jazz Festivals, and Sydney’s most prominent jazz venues. In 2015 Lauren was awarded the Jann Rutherford Mentorship Award, which allowed her to study with Zoe Hauptmann.

I am currently a fourth-year Bachelor of Laws/Arts student at the University of Notre Dame, Australia. Aside from my studies, I am a freelance sports journalist based in Sydney where I have worked as an editor and writer for some of the biggest sports publications in the world. In addition, I have qualifications from the Australian Music Examinations Board in piano performance and currently hold the position of choral scholar with the acclaimed Choir of St James, King Street, Sydney.

Bass-baritone Aidan O’Donnell is a passionate and animated performer whose love for storytelling is conveyed through his singing. Currently in his fourth year of studies for classical voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of David Greco, Aidan has participated and performed in a range of performances and positions including his current position as a choral scholar at St James King Street. As well as choral singing, Aidan has been a part of many performance productions, masterclasses and competitions featuring as a soloist. Most notably, he attended and participated in the Melbourne international festival for lieder and art song in 2019 conducted by Professor Graham Johnson. Aidan played the role of ‘The Judge’ in the Musgrove Opera show ‘Pinocchio’ in 2018 and on tour in 2019. Aidan was awarded as a finalist in the Demant Dreikurs Song Competition in 2020 and was honoured to feature as part of the young stars of Australian Opera in the 2020 Carols in the Domain. Most recently, Aidan performed in the second Musgrove Opera production, ‘Hansel and Gretel’, as the father.

Harry’s interest in singing began at the age of five when he performed his first solo with a choir at an event at his primary school. From there, he moved to Hereford Cathedral School to become a chorister in 2009. Spending four years singing eight services a week at the highest level taught him a great deal about choral music from an early age. During those years as a chorister, he toured South Africa, sang for members of royalty and took part in several broadcasts of services. His time as a chorister gave him an invaluable insight into the discipline and commitment required to be a successful singer and helped shaped his personality. When his voice changed, he was keen to continue singing. Harry was fortunate to be able to pursue his interest in sacred and secular choral music through membership of several choirs: Holy Trinity Choir, Hereford, Hereford Chamber Choir, Hereford Voluntary Choir, Hereford Choral Society and Hereford Cathedral School Chamber Choir. Initially singing as a tenor and then as a bass in these choirs, he was able to develop key life skills from these choir’s such as punctuality and being responsible for your own part as it is very easy to let other members do the work for you. In September 2018, Harry took up the position of Countertenor choral scholar at Hereford Cathedral and in September 2019, he became the bass choral scholar at St James Parish Church, Sydney. Harry has also been offered a choral scholarship place at Portsmouth Cathedral in September 2020.
Outside of the music world, Harry is a keen sportsman, playing at county standards in both
rugby and cricket. This involves travelling all over the UK to play fixtures. Harry recently currently completed his A level exams at Hereford Sixth Form College.

Ines’ first experiences of singing were as a cantor at her parish in North Sydney, and later in choirs at Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College. She is now in her final year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Since commencing at the Conservatorium, Ines has performed in various ensembles, including the Chamber Choir and the opera chorus, and as a soloist in a virtual performance of Mozart’s Requiem. In 2019, she travelled to Chengdu, China with the Modern Music Ensemble to perform as a soloist in the Sister Cities Youth Music Festival. She has also performed in two premieres with Musgrove Opera, singing the role of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel in 2021.

Cassandra is a young mezzo-soprano in her second year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, completing a BMus Performance (Classical Voice) studying under Dr. Rowena Cowley. In 2020, she was awarded the Patricia Bell Grant to undertake vocal studies at the Sydney Conservatorium.

Her roles covered include the Spirit in Holst’s ‘Savītrī’, a chorus member in Gluck’s ‘Orfeo Ed Euridice’ (The Cooperative), Phoebus in Purcell’s ‘Fairy Queen’ (The Concordia Ensemble), Leila in Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Iolanthe’ (Conservatorium High School), Prince Charming in ‘Cinderella’ (Open Academy) and a chorus member in the Conservatorium High schools productions of ‘A Bernstein Story’ and ‘Shrek’.

During her studies at the Conservatorium High School, she was a featured artist in the NSW Schools Spectacular and a concert soloist at the Sydney Opera House for the NSW Arts Unit Festival of Music. In 2019, Cassandra performed as a soloist with SUMS in Rossini’s ‘Petit Messe Solennelle’ mass.

Cassandra has toured extensively with Gondwana Choirs and Sydney Children’s Choir throughout Asia, the Baltics, and Iceland. She currently sings with St James Choir as a choral scholar, and has developed a love for sacred music.

Josephine Brereton is a young soprano living, studying and performing in Sydney. She currently studies Music Education and Classical Voice at the Sydney Conservatorium, and is completing her final year of her bachelors degree.
Since 2019, Josephine has begun to establish herself as both a solo and ensemble artist in various companies based in Sydney. After a brief collaboration with Concordia Ensemble as a soloist, chorister and choral director, she auditioned for Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and has since performed in 9 programs with them, including their nationally televised performances of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She began singing with Cantabile Choir since 2021 as a soprano, and has since performed a number of events with the group. She has sung with many highly regarded choirs in Sydney, including the Sydney Conservatorium Choir, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Cantillation, and most recently, the Choir of St James Church, King Street.
In late 2022 she joined Rockdale Opera Company for their Opera Gala and performance of Die Fledermaus in the role of Adele, performing the much loved Laughing Song. In early 2023, she made her debut as a choral soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Eriks Esenvalds Passion and Resurrection.
She is excited to begin this new chapter as the Soprano Scholar at St James and looks forward to fine tuning her choral skills

Lucy Blomfield is in her 4th year of composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, currently undertaking her honours degree. She is studying under Australian composer, Paul Stanhope, and has a particular interest in writing choral music. She has recently had works premiered by the University of Houston’s new music ensemble, Aura, and the Sydney Conservatorium’s Chamber Choir. Lucy is passionate about working with and performing with ensembles, and recently had her conducting debut with the Beecroft Orchestra.
Lucy has been involved in numerous choirs and ensembles throughout her life and currently sings with the St Paul’s College choir and is looking forward to singing with St James’ Church as a choral scholar.