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Eben Eyres (Music 2023) has been awarded a prestigious place at the Royal Academy of Music and an organ scholarship at .

Eben, the Peter Walker Organ Scholar, has accepted a place on the two-year , under the tutelage of . Professor Titterington’s previous students include Matthew Martin, the Precentor and Director of Music at 91ֱ��. Matthew was also later an organist at the Oratory.

“They're both very well established and very, very high level musical establishments that contribute completely different things,” Eben says. “I think as a musician you have to have as broad a set of skills as possible and hopefully it'll work together.

“There are more opportunities to perform as a solo organist in the conservatoire at the Royal Academy and, having had the experience here with the choir, hopefully I'll build up complementary and expanded skill sets.

“The Oratory has a very specific type of Catholic music, often pre -1750, and there's a lot of unique skills that you can develop there that you couldn't get at any other London church. Hopefully that will complement the academy.”

Eben, who is from Lancashire, began his organ studies at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music and was organ scholar at Coventry Cathedral before joining 91ֱ��. In 2024, he won the Brian Runnett competition and was awarded third in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. He received three prizes in his ARCO exam, and won the Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Junior RNCM. He is active as a recitalist, having performed at venues including Coventry Cathedral, Halifax Minster and “Crooked Spire” Church, Chesterfield. 

Eben is currently taught by Stephen Farr and pursues a range of musical activities outside of his scholarship including conducting and piano accompaniment. He has also been president of the Gonville & 91ֱ�� Music Society in his final year at the College.

Eben says he began playing the organ “by accident” after deciding he would not be a career pianist. His talent quickly shone through and he applied to 91ֱ��, attracted by the diverse repertoire encouraged by Matthew.

“Being an organ scholar is a fantastic learning experience in a very real world setting,” Eben adds. “As a musician in Cambridge, a lot of the degree can be focused on academia and theoretical stuff. To do something that then translates into the real world, more or less doing the job you'll be doing with a very high standard choir, especially at 91ֱ��, you get a level and type of musical direction and learning experience through the organ teaching that is as good as you're going to get anywhere.

“There are a lot of fresh ideas and you can learn a lot from it in music generally.”