As his year as Organ Scholar at Chichester Cathedral draws to a close, Ben Tanner is preparing for one final milestone, a lunchtime concert on Tuesday 7th July, bringing together music that has shaped his year in the Cathedral’s musical life.
Ben joined Chichester Cathedral in September 2025 before taking up his Organ Scholarship at New College, Oxford in autumn 2026. Over the past year he has become a familiar part of the Cathedral’s daily rhythm, accompanying services and rehearsals, supporting choristers, managing the choir library and developing as both performer and musician under the guidance of Charles Harrison, Organist and Master of the Choristers, and Tim Ravalde, Assistant Organist.
Looking back on the year, Ben says one of his main hopes had been to gain more experience as an accompanist.
“I wanted more accompanying experience and that has definitely been achieved,” he reflects. “There has been so much work with the choir and a huge amount of repertoire to learn.”
Among the highlights, Advent and Christmas stand out most strongly.
“For the major Advent and Christmas services, which attract hundreds of people, many of whom only come once a year, my role was to help set the atmosphere as people took their seats,” he says. “I chose a programme of reflective music for the Advent Procession, and upbeat music for services on the days leading up to and including Christmas. It was a challenge to time everything and start playing at the right moment to fit everything in before the beginning of the service, whilst also needing to respond flexibly to anything unexpected before the service. However, with Tim’s guidance, I was able to do this and register my music to be clearly heard in the nave.”
Ben also played for several of the Cathedral’s smaller carol services and says the experience of contributing to such important moments in the liturgical year was unforgettable.
Over the course of the year, he has noticed a gradual but significant shift in his confidence and approach to performance.
“At first there was definitely pressure because everything was new,” he says. “Gradually it became more natural and less daunting. Through frequent exposure to the pressure that comes with accompanying, and with the regular feedback and advice that I received from Tim and Charles, my playing became more relaxed and natural.”
He also developed practical strategies for preparing and learning large quantities of new music.
“I have learned how to judge the amount of work each new piece needs and how to budget my time properly. During the first half of Lent term I was simply learning huge amounts of accompaniment repertoire. By the second half I could focus more on nuance, how the organ sounds in different parts of the Cathedral, balance and ensemble playing.”
Benedict Tanner
Alongside performance, the Organ Scholarship has introduced Ben to the practical realities of cathedral music making.
“One thing that really surprised me was the sheer scale of the library work,” he says. “With eight sung services a week and music constantly changing, there is a huge amount to organise and prepare. I quickly developed systems to make the process efficient and reliable.”
The role has also given him opportunities beyond the Cathedral’s regular programme of services. During the year he has worked with the choir of Arundel Cathedral, accompanied services at Boxgrove Priory and been introduced to recital opportunities in different settings and for different audiences, including St John’s Chapel Leytonstone, St Peter’s St Albans, Romsey Abbey and the prestigious Festival of Flowers at Chichester Cathedral.
Teaching and mentoring younger musicians has also become an important part of the experience.
“I realised that helping choristers is not always about teaching directly,” Ben says. “Sometimes it is about listening, encouraging or helping them find strategies for practising. Seeing them develop has been really rewarding.”
The year has also deepened his understanding of the Cathedral organ itself.
“When I first arrived it took time to adjust, but now the organ feels completely natural, almost like part of me,” he says. “Registration was probably one of my weaker areas at first, but working with Tim and Charles has really helped me understand how to manage the instrument more effectively in different contexts.”
In the autumn, Ben will begin a music degree at New College, Oxford, combining academic study with his role as one of the college’s Organ Scholars.
“Having this year beforehand has made a huge difference,” he says. “I have gained confidence and learned so much repertoire, which will definitely help when balancing services alongside academic work.”
His final recital at Chichester Cathedral reflects the breadth of music he has encountered during the year. The programme spans four centuries, from Byrd’s A Fancy and Bach’s famous Prelude in E flat major (St Anne) through to twentieth century repertoire.
“There are some large, energetic works alongside lighter pieces in between,” Ben explains. “I also want to introduce the music and explain why I have chosen each piece, because the programme reflects the journey I have been on this year.”
Looking back, Ben is clear about the impact the scholarship year has had.
“It has been fantastic to spend a whole year focused entirely on music,” he says. “I feel much more confident now. A lot of things that once required conscious effort have become second nature.”
He is also keen to acknowledge the support he has received throughout the year.
“Tim and Charles have both been incredibly supportive and generous with their time,” he says. “The Cathedral community has also been wonderful, it is such a welcoming place and you really get to know everyone.”
And what will he miss most?
“The building itself, obviously, but especially the people,” he says. “Chichester has a very close knit community and I have really felt part of it.”
Thank You
The Organ Scholar post has been funded by The Headley Trust, to whom Chichester Cathedral is most grateful.
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