Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial Scholarships

The Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee Memorial Scholarship Fund supports up to four scholarship awards in any given year.  For 2024-2025, the recipients are:

Ethan Chow, The Juilliard School
Henry Rye, St. Olaf College
Marshall Joos, Rice University
Jacob Gruss, The Juilliard School

2025-26 Scholarship Guidelines

Application Information:

The Committee on Scholarships will award one $15,000 scholarship to a person who will be enrolled as a full-time student in a nationally or regionally accredited undergraduate institution (college, university, or conservatory) during the 2025-26 academic year.

1. Past recipients will be able to reapply, but renewal of the scholarship is not guaranteed.
2. Student applicants must have verifiable financial need to be awarded this scholarship.
3. Student applicants must have a desire to commit a significant portion of the two years following graduation to teaching, performing, or other serious endeavor with respect to the organ.
4. Student applicants must be members of AGO.
5. Student applicants may not be the children or grandchildren of American Guild of Organists staff members, board members, or scholarship committee members.
6. Student applicants may not be related to Ronald G. Pogorzelski or Lester D. Yankee.

Performance Requirements:

Student applicants must have the ability to showcase their talent on the organ through three (3) unedited, contiguous video recorded performances: two repertoire pieces and one hymn.  Outstanding performances can occur at any playing level. Performances will be judged based on the quality of the performance, not the difficulty of the music. The focus should be on demonstrating excellence in performance at the applicant’s current level of playing. Each recording must clearly show the applicant performing at the organ console. It must be of sufficient quality to ensure a fair assessment of the candidate’s abilities by the application reviewers. Different instruments may be used; the candidate must provide a specification for each instrument used. Individual pieces may not be edited. We strongly encourage candidates to seek assistance from a school representative, technical adviser, or instructor to complete the video requirement.

• • The total time of the two repertoire recordings (not including the hymn) combined should not exceed 30 minutes.
    • One composition by J.S. Bach is required (for a trio sonata, your Bach submission should be two sonata movements – either I & II or II & III).
    • One additional contrasting work composed after 1800 is also required.
  • The performance of the hymn is not to be counted as a part of the 30-minute time limit for the repertoire pieces.
    • Any one of the following hymns is required (please use the version provided or suggested below)
      1) Adoro devote
      2) Lauda anima
      3) Innisfree Farm (please use the version found in The Hymnal 1982)
    •  An introduction and a full rendering (all verses) should be included, as if you were leading your congregation in singing the entire hymn.
  • If multiple organs are used, applicants must list the type of instrument for each piece.

Additional Application Requirements:

1. Student applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from their most recent organ instructor and another music/education professional.
2. Students must write and submit two essays, each up to 500 words in length: 1) Why do you need this scholarship? Explain the degree of your financial need, and outline any extenuating circumstances, and 2) Describe your passion for the organ and your career goals beyond an undergraduate degree. Each essay must be written at a level of sophistication expected of an incoming or current college student. The essays should focus on goals, achievement and dedication, and financial need. The essays will be judged not only on their content, but on clarity and college-level writing ability.
3. Students must provide information about family income, either by their Student Aid Index (SAI) as determined by 2025-2026 FASFA or a Financial Aid Evaluation Form completed by their university’s financial aid office.
4. Students must submit an official transcript from their high school or college.
5. Students will be required to submit a copy of their admissions and financial aid letters.

All materials must be submitted online between January 1- February 15, 2025. There is no application fee. Applicants should be informed of the results on or near April 15, 2025.

The scholarship will be disbursed directly to the recipient of the scholarship.  Two payments will be issued, one at the beginning of the fall semester and the other at the beginning of the spring semester.

 

Committee on Scholarships
Frank Crosio, BM, FTCL, FAGO, Director
Michael Bauer, DMA
David J. Hurd, Jr., MusD, LHD, DSM
Zach Klobnak, DMA
John A. Romeri, AAGO, ChM

Russell Weismann, DMA, AAGO  ex officio (Councillor for Education)
Contact AGO Headquarters.