Young Organist Scholarships
Information for those Seeking a Financial Award
The San Francisco Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (SFAGO) is committed to the support of those wishing to follow a course of study on the organ. The scholarship committee will consider applications for financial support twice each year. Completed application forms should be received by SFAGO by the last day of June or December at sf.ago.scholarship@gmail.com.
Annual awards will be made of up to $500 per successful applicant.
The funds for these awards will be drawn from the Joanna Smullin Organ Educational Fund, donations made by chapter members and from collections taken at SFAGO program. There is a finite amount of scholarship money available and awards will be made based on a combination of order in which they are received and merits of the video provided. Student age range is from the 11th birthday to the 26th birthday. Successful applicants in full time education will also be given student membership of the SF chapter of AGO. Teachers should be current members of the SFAGO chapter or an immediately adjoining chapter. These include Palo Alto/Peninsula; Redwood Empire. If there is no current organ teacher then SFAGO will supply a list of those who have listed themselves as teachers.
Applications: Students should have some experience in playing the piano or organ. First time applicants should be able to demonstrate in a short video:
Performance of any short piece of piano or organ music by a recognized classical composer. For piano this could be a Beethoven, Clementi or Scarlatti Sonata/Sonatina etc. For organ this could be one of the eight short preludes attributed to J.S. Bach or any simple piece written for the organ.
Playing of scales in E major, B flat major, C harmonic minor and F melodic minor. Both hands in parallel motion (no pedals), 2 octaves each.
Performance of a simple hymn of their choice, either with manuals and pedals or manuals only.
Video recordings may be submitted via Email; on CD, on a memory stick or uploaded to YouTube, dropbox or Vimeo etc. Towards the end of each program year scholarship awardees shall play one or two short pieces at a members’ recital or organ crawl or similar event. If the student cannot play for these events because of schedule conflicts, an opportunity to play for members of the Board will be given. This will indicate progress made since audition videos were sent or from the previous year.
Reapplication for scholarships will be considered at the discretion of the scholarship committee. The award money will be paid directly to teachers.
Special Projects Committee
Current Chair of the Special Projects Committee is David Schofield. The Special Projects Fund is the result of the financial success of the 1984 National AGO Convention in San Francisco. This fund is awarded in the form of grants to applicants selected by the Special Projects Committee. Grants in excess of $50,000 have been awarded since the inception of this fund, with a maximum grant amount of $3000.
Grant Questionnaire - Organizations