Exeter College is delighted to welcome its new Junior Organ Scholar, Thomas McLean (2024, Music).
A former Music Scholar at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, he arrives at Exeter with a wide-ranging musical background and a passion for both performance and direction.
His musical journey began on piano and trumpet, later expanding to classical saxophone—on both trumpet and saxophone he achieved the Associateship of the Royal Schools of Music with distinction. Alongside his instrumental studies, he was an active chorister, singing evensong at cathedrals including Chichester, Winchester, and Christ Church Oxford, as well as at Clare and Keble Colleges. He also founded and directed a madrigal ensemble during his time at school.
Having taken up the organ in 2019, he has studied with Richard Moore, Philip Scriven, and currently William Whitehead, and holds the Colleague diploma from the Royal College of Organists. In 2023, he won both the Bach and Solo Organ Performance classes at the Godalming Festival. A recent highlight was performing Poulenc’s Organ Concerto with Southern Pro Musica under conductor Sam Orchard.
At Exeter, Thomas supports the provision of music for thrice-weekly chapel services, conducts, and rehearses the College Choir, and helps curate the termly programme of lunchtime organ recitals. His musical interests include early music—particularly the works of J.S. Bach—and the rich harmonies of the 20th-century French school. Beyond the organ loft, he is also deeply drawn to the world of opera verismo, a passion he hopes to pursue during his time in Oxford.
