John Scott

John Gavin Scott (18 June 1956 – 12 August 2015) was an English organist and choirmaster who reached the highest levels of his profession on both sides of the Atlantic. He directed the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral in London from 1990 to 2004. He then directed the Choir of Men and Boys of Saint Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York City until his death at age 59. Whilst training countless young musicians, he maintained an active career as an international concert performer and recording artist, and was acclaimed as "the premier English organist of his generation".

Career Born to Hetty (née Murphy) and Douglas Gavin Scott in Wakefield, Yorkshire, John Scott began his musical career as a chorister at Wakefield Cathedral. It was also there that he first learned to play the organ. From 1974 to 1978, he was Organ Scholar at St John's College, Cambridge, assisting George Guest and studying with Jonathan Bielby, Ralph Downes and Gillian Weir.

In 2004, Scott moved to New York City to succeed Gerre Hancock as Organist and Director of Music at St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, home of an internationally renowned choir and the only church-affiliated choir boarding school in North America.

Scott recorded dozens of CDs for labels that included Hyperion, Priory, Decca, Nimbus, Sony, and Chandos. He also compiled chants and psalm texts to publish in The New St Paul's Cathedral Psalter, later reprinted for worldwide distribution as The Anglican Psalter. Highlights of his concert career included the complete organ works of Bach, Buxtehude, Duruflé, Franck, Mendelssohn and Messiaen, and the complete organ symphonies of Vierne and Widor.

Honours and awards In 1978, Scott won the inaugural Manchester International Organ Competition, and in 1984 he became the first British organist ever to win the International Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany. In 1998, he was named "International Performer of the Year" by the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In 2007, Scott was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nashotah House Theological Seminary. The organ at Saint Thomas Church, built by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, was posthumously dedicated in his memory.

Personal life He married Carolyn Jane Lumsden, daughter of organist David Lumsden, on 28 July 1979. They had a son and a daughter before divorcing in June 2010.

Scott married former organist Lily Ardalan on 25 May 2013, and three weeks after his death, their son was born.

Partial discography Along with numerous industry awards,

Recordings for solo organ Hyperion: Mendelssohn: Music for Organ The Complete Organ Music by Maurice Duruflé Organ Music by Marcel Dupré, Volumes 1–2 Percy Whitlock Priory: Great Postludes Twentieth Century Organ Masterpieces John Scott Plays the Organ of St Paul's Cathedral, London John Scott Plays the Organ of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh The Buzard Organ in All Saints Episcopal Church, Atlanta Castle: Favourite Organ Works Guild: John Scott Plays Liszt JAV: On a Sunday Afternoon, Volume 7 Nimbus: William Mathias: Organ Music

Recordings with choir Hyperion: The English Anthem, Volumes 1–8 The Psalms of David The Music of St Paul's Cathedral Music for St Paul's Advent at St Paul's Epiphany at St Paul's Passiontide at St Paul's William Croft at St Paul's The St Paul's Service and Other Music by Herbert Howells Kenneth Leighton: Cathedral Music Hear My Prayer My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord My Spirit Hath Rejoiced Praise to the Lord Remembrance Conifer: Stainer: the Crucifixion Decca: The Choirboy's Christmas EMI: Carols from St Paul's Cathedral How Can I Keep from Singing? Guild: Christmas from St Paul's Prelude: Christmas Music from St Paul's Pro Organo: Christmas on Fifth Avenue Easter on Fifth Avenue Resonus: J. S. Bach Motets Dancing Day