He was an organist born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England who was a chorister at a cathedral and studied at the Royal College of Organists before being made Organ Scholar of St. John’s College Cambridge in 1974 where he was the assistant to Dr. George Guest for four years and received the John Stewart of Rannoch Scholarship in Sacred Music.
He made his debut in 1977 at the Proms in Royal Albert Hall and after leaving Cambridge he became Assistant Organist in two London cathedrals. He joined St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1985 moving from the initial post of Sub-Organist to Director of Music and Organist.
During his career he won the Leipzig J.S. Bach Organ Competition, gave recitals in five continents, played at the Washington National Cathedral by invitation, and worked on occasions such as the National Thanksgiving Service for the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday and the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, for which he also composed an anthem.
He made numerous recordings of works by composers that include Mendelssohn, Durufle, Mathias, Janacek, Tilson Thomas and Elgar.
He became the Organist and Director of Music at St. Thomas’ Church in New York and President of the Percy Whitlock Trust and was awarded the Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order for his services to music.
During the summer of 2015 he toured 7 European countries, giving 14 organ recitals and returned to New York on 11th August. The following day he suffered a fatal heart attack and died in New York. He was 59 years old. Three weeks later his second wife gave birth to their son, who was his third child.
The Bach Choir recordings
Angelus ad Virginem (Anonymous 13th/14th Century Latin)
London 417 898-2 (CD: O Come All Ye Faithful)
Brass – Members of The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
Organ – John Scott
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Once in Royal David’s City (Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander/Henry John Gauntlett)
London 417 898-2 (CD: O Come All Ye Faithful)
Brass – Members of The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
Organ – John Scott
Conductor – Sir David Willcocks
Choir of St. Thomas’s Church recordings
Once in Royal David’s City (Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander/Henry John Gauntlett)
Pro Organo 7200 (CD: Christmas on Fifth Avenue)
Director – John Scott
Organ – Jeremy S. Bruns
Arranger – Sir David Willcocks
Sources:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/arts/music/john-scott-organist-and-choirmaster-dies-at-59.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scott_(organist)
- http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/music/scott060625.shtml
- https://www.guildmusic.com/artists/scottj.htm
- http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/artist_page.asp?name=scott