Palomar Chapter Annual Organ Scholarship Auditions will be held in May 2024.
Palomar Chapter Annual Organ Scholarship Auditions are for applicants of any age. Organists must reside in San Diego North County or study with a teacher who is a member of the Palomar Chapter. An applicant may audition once on piano for a set of introductory organ lessons. Local piano teachers are given information about the auditions. Scholarship money awarded may be used for organ lessons or other type of organ camp. Lessons must be given by a member of AGO. The scholarship money comes from a fund which is added to each year by proceeds from a Scholarship Benefit Concert and Dinner held in the Fall of the year. The concert is based on a theme and features chapter organists, two scholarship winners, and a massed choir with singers from local church choirs and the San Luis Rey Chorale. You can view and print the PDF’s below.
Carol Graham and Kimberly Bedell, Education Committee
2024 Organ Scholarship Application Form
2024 Scholarship Audition Guidelines
2024 Scholarship Announcement
Scholarship Repertoire Requirements for Organists
Pictured: Kimberly Bedell, Jenny Yun, Alex L., Carol Graham, and Mackenzie O.
Auditions were held at Noon on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at King of Kings Lutheran Church, Oceanside. Chapter member, Kimberly Bedell is the Music Director. The adjudicator was Jenny Yun.
Two students auditioned on piano. Alex L., 19, played Invention 1 by Bach and Prelude Op. 11, No. 4 by Scriabin. Alex is a student at Palomar College and studies piano with Dr. Michael Munson. Mackenzie O., 13, played Nearer, My God to Thee by Lowell Mason arr. by Marshall McDonald. Mackenzie studies piano with Joanne Stohs.
After the auditions, both students took the opportunity to explore and play their pieces on pipe organ. Each student was awarded $1,400 from the Scholarship fund to begin studies on organ with a Palomar AGO teacher and/or attend an organ camp. Both students will study introductory organ lessons with Dr. Michael Munson. Additionally, dues will be paid for one year as Palomar Chapter student members. Congratulations!
Congratulations to Kassandra B., our May 7, 2022 Organ Scholarship Award Winner! Kassandra is 9 years old and started organ lessons with Dr. Emma Whitten when she was six. She speaks Spanish, and her favorite TV show is Carmen Sandiego. She likes chocolate and she loves to dance, sing, and paint!
8 year old organ student with teacher, Dr. Emma Whitten
Palomar Chapter Organ Scholarship Auditions were held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Oceanside. The adjudicator was George Butterfield. Because of Covid restrictions, each performer played individually. Kimberly Bedell, Director of Music Ministries at King of Kings, supervised the auditions. Six organists auditioned and a total of $1975 was awarded. Two students were selected to play in the upcoming Scholarship Benefit Concert in October. All participants will be given opportunities to participate in Palomar Chapter events during the year.
Annual Organ Scholarship Auditions, June 20, 2020
The “socially distanced” organ auditions were held on Saturday, June 20, 2020 in Oceanside. Emily Holzer was the adjudicator and Carol Graham was the facilitator. The three students were each awarded a one year AGO student membership ($50 value) plus scholarships for organ lessons as follows: Jordan B. $450, Kevin T. $750, and Julie T. $550. We hope we have the opportunity to hear these students play during the coming year. All received high marks. Congratulations!
Palomar Chapter of the American Guild of Organists 