The Southeast Minnesota Chapter of the American Guild of Organists scholarships are provided by the Isabelle Dyck Fund of the Rochester Area Foundation and facilitated by the Southeast Minnesota Chapter.

This program is designed to encourage students, with adequate keyboard training and an interest in church music, to become acquainted with the church organ. We hope by offering this scholarship that we can help students make informed choices later in their musical careers regarding the organ.

Auditions

The 2009-2010 AGO Scholarship Auditions will be held Saturday, May 8, 2010, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Auditions will take place at First Presbyterian Church, 512 3rd Street SW, Rochester.

Auditions will be held before a panel of three qualified piano and organ judges. Each applicant is required to perform the following repertoire on the piano or on the organ:

1. Applicant's choice of a Baroque piano or organ piece.
2. Applicant's choice of a piano or organ piece demonstrating technical and musical proficiency.
3. Hymn of student's choice.
4. Hymn (to be sight read) as chosen by the AGO Scholarship Committee.

Applicants should complete the application form (pdf, 248 KB) and return by April 24, 2010 to:

Connie Schuelka, Chairperson
3411 Chalet Drive NW
Rochester, MN 55901

The AGO Scholarship Committee, which coordinates the scholarship auditions, consists of Lee Afdahl, Robert E. Scoggin, Connie Schuelka, and Brian Williams. For further information about this program, contact the Chapter Dean, Scott Schilbe.

AGO Organ Scholarship Competition Recital

The eighth annual AGO scholarship competition recital will be held on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Rochester. Each applicant auditioned for judges Merrill (Jeff) Davis, Eileen Nelson Ness, and Robert Tewes. Scholarships for organ study were awarded to the following applicants.

• The Hoang, Owatonna, MNl organ teacher is Lee Afdahl
• Evan Johnson, Rochester, MN; organ teacher is Robert Scoggin
• Teresa Kramer, Chatfield, MN; organ teacher is Brian Williams
• Audrey Kvan, Rochester, MN; organ teacher is Brian Williams
• Lisa Nguyen, Owatonna, MN; organ teacher is Eileen Nelson Ness
• Mary Nguyen, Owatonna, MN; organ teacher is Eileen Nelson Ness
• Michelle Schmid, Rochester, MN; organ teacher is Robert Scoggin

The SE Minnesota AGO continues to be blessed with the eighth year of scholarship funds provided by the Isabelle Dyck Fund of the Rochester Area Foundation. The scholarships are facilitated by the Southeast Minnesota Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

We thank First Presbyterian Church for hosting the event and give special thanks to Zoe Abrahamson for her efforts as Scholarship Committee chairperson.