Evan Lawrence – Pettman Organ Scholar

The Oratory’s organ scholarship was endowed in 2011 by Mr Ian Pettman in lasting and loving memory of his late wife June. Ian and June were both great supporters of the Oratory’s liturgical and musical traditions. June died in 2006 and Ian in 2016. The scholarship allows a student to gain experience of traditional Roman Catholic liturgical music performed to the highest standards, both through practical involvement and observation. The scholar is principal accompanist for the Oratory Junior Choir and also assists and participates in the Latin liturgies. A distinctive aspect of the Pettman scholarship is that it also supports other aspects of the scholar’s training, including organ tuition and travel to study historic organs abroad. Previous scholars now hold significant cathedral and collegiate posts.

Evan Lawrence became our ninth Pettman organ scholar in September 2024. Growing up in Dublin, he studied violin and piano as a scholar of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and sang with RTÉ Cór na nÓg. He became an organ student of Dr Carole O’Connor and at 15, he was appointed Junior Organ Scholar of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. In 2021 he received the Sr Catherine McCauley Cup for the most promising organist in the Feis Ceoil national competition, giving a prize recital for Dublin’s Pipeworks Organ Festival.

Evan gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists in January 2024, winning the Limpus and Dixon prizes for top marks in performance and improvisation. He is currently a Violin Fellow with Sinfonia Smith Square, and studies the organ with Daniel Moult. In 2025, he graduated with First Class Honours from a degree in Violin Performance at the Guildhall School. He has previously held organ scholarships at the Grosvenor Chapel, and at St Mary’s Church, Battersea, during which time he studied with Anne Marsden Thomas. He frequently gives recitals at venues including Westminster Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral and the Three Choirs Festival. Evan looks forward to taking up the organ scholarship at Westminster Abbey upon completing his two years at the Oratory.