Scholarship Opportunities
The Harrisburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is pleased to offer
several scholarship opportunities to young people who wish to pursue study of
the organ.
Applications for the Yocum Scholarship to attend a Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) are accepted each year with a January 31 deadline. See below for more details on this scholarship. Click here to download the guidelines and application from 2008 for requirements. Visit the National website for up to date information on POE locations.
Applications for the Shenk Scholarship for organ lessons are being accepted each year with an April 30 deadline. Click here to download the guidelines and application example from 2008.
An informative brochure is also available. Please print one for a young pianist who you may know.
Our downloadable files require Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™. Please click on the logo below to download a free copy.
The Shenk Scholarship
The Shenk Scholarship Fund was established in August of 2001 with a generous gift given to us by Chapter Member Melvin Shenk from the Violette I. Shenk memorial. Incidentally, Violette, Melvin’s mother, was a first cousin to Violette Cassel for whom our biannual student competition is named.
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. Recent teachers have been Josephine Freund, Richard Frey, Shawn Gingrich, and Shelly Moorman-Stahlman.
This scholarship may only be received three times.
2002 - we awarded two scholarships
2003 - we awarded eight scholarships
2004 - we awarded nine scholarships
2005 - we awarded twelve scholarships
2006 - we awarded ten scholarships
2007 - we awarded six scholarships.
2008 - we awarded nine scholarships
Please help us continue to make this scholarship possible. See below for information on how to donate to this outreach to young organists.
In June 2003 a scholarship fund was established to honor Guild member Chuck Yocum on his retirement from Faith Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg. 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. This scholarship may only be received three times.
2003 - one student was awarded and attended the New York City POE
2004 - two students were awarded, one went to Decatur, Georgia in June one went to Worchester, Massachusetts in July.
2005 - six students attended POE events.
2006 - four students attended POE events.
2007 - three students attended POE events. One went to Springfield, Massachusetts and two went to Richmond, Virginia.
2008 - one student attended POE in Charlotte, NC.
Please help us continue to make this scholarship possible. See below for information on how to donate to this outreach to young organists.
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 our Education Committee Chairman, Shawn Gingrich.
Financial donations are always appreciated. Please contact our Treasurer, Brian Rice, to make a contribution or mail your check to Brian Rice, 1430 Green Street, Harrisburg PA 17102.