Education
New Promo Material
Please share these files with young pianists you know.
We all need to help spread the word about our scholarship opportunities.
Flyer Poster
Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza
Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza - a free event to introduce young musicians the organ. Sponsored by Harrisburg Chapter American Guild of Organists.
We hope to schedule an event soon. If you’d like to be alerted to updates, please send an email to harrisburgago@gmail.com
Scholarship Opportunities
The Harrisburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is pleased to offer several scholarship opportunities to people who wish to pursue study of the organ.
An informative flyer is also available. Please print one for a young pianist who you may know.
Shenk Scholarship
The Shenk Scholarship Fund was established in August of 2001 with a generous gift given to us by Chapter Member Melvin Shenk (1938-2021) as a memorial to his mother Violette I. Shenk (1910-1999). Incidentally, Violette was a first cousin to Violette Cassel for whom our biannual student competition is named. Mrs. Shenk was an organist for 60 years and served as organist of the Manada Hill United Methodist Church. She also taught piano for 30 years and was well known in the area.
The Shenk Scholarship was set up to promote and encourage the study of organ to interested students throughout the Central Pennsylvania region. The Executive Committee approved the scholarship to be used for organ lessons to qualified students. Each summer the selected students receive ten half-hour lessons (or the equivalent) from a member of the Harrisburg Chapter. In late August each year all scholarship recipients are invited to participate in a group recital.
Since the time when it was established this fund has given 181 awards giving each recipient lessons during the summer months. Numerous students who were scholarship recipients continued study and are now serving churches, studying music in college, and otherwise continuing to play the organ.
Although the Shenk Scholarship has traditionally been offered to students 18 years of age and under, beginning in 2024, at the discretion of the Education Committee, up to three scholarships may be awarded to collegiate piano majors who are interested in pursuing summer organ study and do not take organ lessons at their college/university.
Qualifications for Applicants
Experience
While previous piano experience is desirable it is not required.
Ability to read music is crucial so having some experience with singing and / or playing another instrument is desirable.
Terms of the Organ Lesson Scholarship
Instruction: Student will receive the equivalent of ten 30-minute lessons from a teacher in the greater Harrisburg Area. Students in York, Lancaster, and other surrounding chapter areas will need to travel to the teacher assigned. The lesson is to be scheduled at a time and place convenient to both teacher and student. If either student or teacher misses a lesson because of illness or other valid reason, a make-up lesson may be scheduled at the teacher’s discretion.
Practice:
Student must arrange for practice time on an organ with at least two manuals and a 32-note pedal board.
Student should practice at least three hours per week.
Student is to follow the teacher’s instructions and prepare lessons to the best of his/her ability.
Organ Shoes and Music Books: Student is responsible for providing teacher-approved organ shoes and all music assigned by the teacher. Organ shoes for women are approximately $50 and for men $55 (plus shipping) available from Organmaster: www.organmastershoes.com or Tic-TacToes: http://www.tictactoes.com. Most organ methods are in the $35-50 price range.
Termination: If the student misses more than two lessons without good reason, or fails to honor the terms of the scholarship, the scholarship may be terminated at the teacher’s discretion, upon consultation with the Education Committee.
Performance: The students who receive the Shenk scholarship will be given the opportunity to play in a Chapter-sponsored student recital – A Sunday afternoon in late August.
Report: Students will give a written report of their experience to the Harrisburg Chapter Newsletter editor upon completing the lessons, and no later than September 15: Shawn Gingrich, 1102 Ballyshannon Dr, Elizabethtown PA 17022 or emailed to Shawn Gingrich HarrisburgAGO@gmail.com (Electronic file emailed is preferred).
Guild Membership: Upon completion of these lessons, the student will be given a one-year student membership in The American Guild of Organists. After that time it is recommended that they renew their membership.
Subsequent Study: If the student wishes to continue studying with the teacher beyond the scholarship period, he/she may do so by consent of the teacher and by paying the teacher’s standard fee for lessons from that time forward.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is April 30th each year. New Applicants for Shenk Organ Lesson Scholarship must submit audio/video recording via an Online Link which will be provided upon receipt of your application. It should include: A piece representative of your current level of playing / singing (with clear announcement of title and composer). NOTE: Applicants who have previously received the scholarship DO NOT need to submit a recording. Click this application link to apply online. Following submission, first-time applicants will need to upload the required recording which demonstrates current musical level - use this UPLOAD LINK.
Use this email link to request a hardcopy if you wish to submit via mail or email.
Yocum Scholarship
In 2003 a scholarship fund was established through a gift from Faith Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg to honor the late Charles Yocum (d. 2016) on his retirement as music director of the church. The scholarship was established to honor Chuck's commitment to the AGO, and to acknowledge the respect he holds with our membership. Chuck designated the fund to benefit students wanting to attend Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) in the summer months.
Since its establishment in 2003 this scholarship has provided 33 full-tuition scholarships for students to attend a POE, an intense 4 to 5 day experience in studying and hearing and learning. Our students have attended POEs from Massachusetts to California and everywhere in between.
Terms of the Yocum Pipe Organ Encounter Scholarship
Student should have keyboard proficiency, but prior organ experience is not necessary.
Student will attend a Pipe Organ Encounter sponsored by a Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Student will receive full tuition for the Pipe Organ Encounter from Harrisburg Chapter AGO.
Student is responsible for registering for the event.
Student is responsible for transportation to and from the location.
Student is responsible for music, organ shoes or other supplies required by teachers.
Student will give a written report of their experience to the Harrisburg Chapter Communication Chair upon returning from the Encounter, and no later than September 15 to Shawn Gingrich, 1102 Ballyshannon Dr, Elizabethtown PA 17022 or emailed to Shawn Gingrich harrisburgago@gmail.com (Electronic file emailed is preferred).
Student will be given a one-year student membership in The American Guild of Organists by the Pipe Organ Encounter Committee.
Student will be invited to participate in a Chapter recital if appropriate.
Applications for the Yocum Scholarships to attend a Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) are due March 15. POE events tend to fill up quickly so be sure to register for the event you want to attend. Click this application link to apply online. Use this email link to request a hardcopy if you wish to submit via mail or email.
Visit the National website for up-to-date information on POE.
Throne Scholarship
In 2011 a gift was given to the Harrisburg Chapter AGO from Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Churchtown from a bequest of Ida Enck Throne who served that congregation as organist. The money was given to help train organists. The Harrisburg Chapter earmarked this fund to promote adult education.
For complete information on this opportunity, click the following link: Throne Guidelines
How can YOu help?
If you know of a student who would benefit from either attending a Pipe Organ Encounter or having reduced cost organ lessons, please print the application for them or contact us: harrisburgago@gmail.com.
Financial donations are always appreciated. Venmo (@HarrisburgAGO) or Paypal (harrisburgago@gmail.com). If sending a check, please write to Harrisburg AGO and send them to Shawn Gingrich, 1102 Ballyshannon Drive, Elizabethtown PA 17022,