The Organist and Master of the Choristers is responsible for overseeing the music of the cathedral, including the training and direction of the cathedral choir. The Assistant Organist accompanies the choir and is required to deputise the responsibilities of the Organist and Master of the Choristers. Despite the title which implies that they assist an organist, the Assistant Organist spends the most time at the organ console. In common with nearly all cathedrals in the UK, Chichester appoints an organ scholar each year to take a share of the playing of services in the cathedral and the training of the probationers in the Prebendal School. The organ scholarship is a one-year non-renewable post usually held by someone in their gap year between school and university, or in the first couple of years after graduation.
