Scholarships
Athenaeum of Ohio (Chapel of St. Gregory), Cincinnati, by Martin Pasi (2022)
“To my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments.”
— Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overview
The Cincinnati Chapter is proud to offer scholarships to enable people under 18 to learn the organ with a professional organist in weekly lessons, group settings, and more.
While some previous keyboard experience is helpful, prospective scholarship recipients need not have any prior piano study. In general, we recommend beginning keyboard study no earlier than around age seven.
Organ teachers are appointed by the Chapter’s Scholarships Committee, and awards are renewable until the student finishes high school. Note that receiving a scholarship one year does not guarantee a renewal.
Trinity Episcopal Church, Covington, by Carl Wilhelm (1994)
Christ Church Cathedral (Chapel), Cincinnati, by C.B. Fisk (2018)
How it works
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Each scholarship funds 25 private lessons per year.
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Scholarships are awarded for lessons lasting 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the needs of the student.
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Parents/guardians cover a copay of $10 per lesson, though this can be waived in case of financial need.
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Lessons are scheduled between the teacher and parents/guardians at a mutually convenient location and time on a weekly basis, recognizing that the occasional scheduling conflict or illness is inevitable.
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Teachers will help the pupil organize regular practice time on an appropriate organ at a location agreed upon with the parents/guardians.
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To ensure progress, students are expected to practice an amount of time appropriate to their development and ability, determined in conjunction with the teacher, usually between 20 and 60 minutes per day.
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Music is purchased by the parents/guardians, however the Chapter also has considerable quantities of music that can be loaned out at no cost; additionally, much organ music is the public domain and is therefore can be printed at home.
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When the pupil is ready to learn the pedals, the parents/guardians will need to purchase organ shoes, as recommended by the teacher. Beginners do not normally start playing the pedals until at minimum six months after beginning organ study.
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The Scholarship Committee several times per year organizes special group lessons and masterclasses in which all scholarship recipients are invited to play for each other. Attendance is highly recommended, but not mandatory.
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Recipients are expected to play any one piece — agreed upon with the teacher — at a Chapter event within a year of being awarded a scholarship.
Apply
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To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out the application below.
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If possible, make an audio or video recording of any keyboard piece (a simple cell phone recording is perfectly acceptable). If the applicant has never had any kind of piano lessons, please simply indicate that.
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Applications for the 2025–2026 academic year will be accepted until Friday, August 1, 2025 at midnight, and applicants will receive notification of the outcome of applications on Monday, August 4, 2025.
Museum Center, Cincinnati, by E.M. Skinner (1929)