RCCO Edmonton Scholarship Program

(Revised Document, May 2023)

The Royal Canadian College of Organists in Edmonton is pleased to provide a number of scholarships as well as a bursary/discretionary scholarship that provides funds for working organists, students and those curious about the organ to study or take part in other educational opportunities. All study will be taken in Edmonton with qualified organ instructors who are members of the RCCO Edmonton – either privately or at one of the Edmonton universities.

  • The Beginning Organist scholarships are open to any pianist at the Grade 8 level or beyond who is curious about the organ. Each scholarship provides organ lessons in Edmonton by a qualified RCCO Edmonton organ teacher (privately or at an Edmonton university.
    The process consists of a written application followed by an audition and a brief interview with the Scholarship committee.

    Note:

    1. Since we did not receive applications for the Beginning Organists Scholarships for the November 2022 auditions, the Edmonton Board of the RCCO decided to have another round of Beginning Organists Scholarships auditions on Friday April 28, 2023 and three scholarships were awarded.
    2. There will be the usual round of auditions in November 2023.
  • Intermediate and Senior Scholarships:
    • The Arnold Rumbold Bursary/Discretionary Scholarship is an intermediate scholarship available to a student who had received a Beginning Organist Scholarship and completed the lessons. Study is to be undertaken in Edmonton with a qualified RCCO Edmonton instructor.
    • The Edmonton Centre Intermediate Scholarship is aimed at working organists who wish to further their studies with a qualified RCCO Edmonton instructor (privately or at one of the Edmonton universities).
    • The Harry Farmer Scholarship is aimed at more advanced organ students to assist them with continuing studies or other educational opportunities in Edmonton related to the organ.
    • The Arnold Rumbold Scholarship for Performance Excellence is to be used for advanced organ study within the Edmonton Centre.
    • The George Rumbold Scholarship for Performance Excellence is to be used for advanced organ study within the Edmonton Centre.

The process consists of a written application followed by an audition and a brief interview with the Scholarship committee.

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 31, 2023. AUDITIONS FOR THE INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS TAKE PLACE LATE NOVEMBER 2023, AT ST. JOHN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 11111 57 AVE, FROM 1 PM ON.
The scholarship program is donor-driven with endowments from Arnold Rumbold-, the Farmer family as well as funds from the RCCO National’s College Development Fund and individual donors. We welcome all donations to the scholarship program.

Please send your scanned and signed application form before October 31 (all scholarships) to the RCCO Edmonton Scholarship Coordinator, Jacobus Kloppers at: jacobus.kloppers@telus.net

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The following scholarships and one bursary/discretionary scholarship are available each year:

  • Six Beginning Organists Scholarships ranging from $600 to $750
    • Two Edmonton Centre Beginning Organists Scholarships
    • Pamela Farmer Beginning Organists Scholarship
    • Up to three National Beginning Organists Scholarships for Beginning Organists, contingent on sufficient funding each year
  • The Arnold Rumbold Bursary/Discretionary Scholarship ($400), for a student who had received an RCCO Beginning Organists Scholarship, completed the lessons and successfully demonstrates financial need. If no application for the bursary is received, the amount may be awarded as an Arnold Rumbold Discretionary Scholarship.
  • The Edmonton Centre Intermediate Scholarship ($500)
    • The Harry Farmer Scholarship $1250)
    • The Arnold Rumbold Scholarship for Performance Excellence ($1250)
    • The George Rumbold Scholarship for Performance Excellence ($1250)

Audition Requirements

Those candidates whose applications are chosen for consideration will be granted an interview and an audition. Candidates will be contacted concerning details and time of the audition.
The requirements of the auditions are as follows:

Beginning Organist
  1. The performance of a piano piece (fast movement) at the Grade 8 level or above.
  2. The performance of a piece of choice of contrapuntal nature at the Grade 8 level (e.g. Bach Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier), but not required.
  3. Performing an introduction and one stanza of a hymn (from any hymnbook), of the candidates choosing, on the piano.
  4. The sight-reading of one hymn (4-part chorale style) or one hymn (melody & chords) at the piano.
The Arnold Rumbold Bursary/Discretionary Scholarship
  1. The performance of two organ pieces at an elementary level (e.g. a Prelude from Bach’s Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, a slow movement from a Mendelssohn Organ Sonata)
  2. Playing a hymn using hands and pedals
Edmonton Centre Intermediate Scholarship
  1. The performance of two pieces of the candidate’s choice on organ (at least one to be a fast movement).
  2. The performance, on organ of one hymn with an introduction and at least two verses showing a change in manual.
  3. The sight-reading of one hymn (4 -part chorale style) or one hymn (melody & chords) at the organ.
Harry Farmer Advanced Organ Scholarship
  1. The performance of two pieces of the candidate’s choice on organ. One of the pieces must be appropriate as a prelude or postlude for a wedding, funeral or a public worship service and of an intermediate level of difficulty.
  2. The performance, on organ of one hymn with an introduction and at least two verses showing a change in manual and with pedal.
  3. The sight-reading of one hymn (4- part chorale style) or one hymn (melody & chords) at the organ. Pedal is optional.
Arnold Rumbold Organ Scholarship for Performance Excellence, as well as the George Rumbold Organ Scholarship for Performance Excellence
  1. Three pieces at a level comparable to a Performers Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music or Toronto Conservatory, consisting of a 20th or 21st Century piece, a fast movement from a Romantic work and a fast movement of a Bach Trio Sonata

The following conditions apply to scholarships:

  • Condition of each scholarship:
    • Edmonton Centre Beginning Organists Scholarship:
      To be used for organ lessons, privately or towards organ tuition costs at an Edmonton University. Recipients of these scholarships also become de facto Scholarship Members of the Edmonton Centre.
    • Pamela Farmer Beginning Organists Scholarship:
      To be used for organ lessons, privately or towards organ tuition costs at an Edmonton University. The recipient of this scholarship also become a de facto Scholarship Member of the Edmonton Centre.
    • National (BOS) Beginning Organist Scholarships:
      To be used for organ lessons, starting immediately, privately or towards organ tuition costs at an Edmonton University.       Recipients of these scholarships also become de facto Scholarship Members of the Edmonton Centre.
    • The Arnold Rumbold Organ Bursary/Discretionary Scholarship:
      to be used towards organ lessons within the Edmonton Centre or towards organ tuition costs at an Edmonton University.. The recipient of this scholarship continues to be       de facto Scholarship Members of the Edmonton Centre. If there is no candidate for the Bursary, the amount can be used as a Discretionary Scholarship, for which membership of the RCCO is required.
    • Edmonton Centre Intermediate Scholarship:
      To be used for organ lessons, privately or towards organ tuition costs at an Edmonton University. Candidates auditioning for the scholarship must be RCCO members.
    • Harry Farmer Organ Scholarship:
      For private organ lessons within the Edmonton Centre or organ tuition at an Edmonton University. Candidates auditioning for the scholarship must be RCCO members.
    • The Arnold Rumbold Scholarship for Performance Excellence:
      For private organ lessons within the Edmonton Centre or organ tuition at an Edmonton University. Candidates auditioning for the scholarship must be RCCO members.
    • The George Rumbold Scholarship for Performance Excellence:
      For private organ lessons within the Edmonton Centre or organ tuition at an Edmonton University.       Candidates auditioning for the scholarship must be RCCO members.
  • All scholarship lessons MUST BE STARTED within one year of the award or the scholarship is forfeited. (See note on National Beginning Organists Scholarship lessons).
  • All scholarship recipients are required to perform at the following Spring Scholarship Recipient concert in Edmonton. 
  • National Beginning Organists Scholarship (BOS-) lessons must start immediately or the scholarship is forfeited and recipients are required to perform an organ piece at the next Scholarship Recipient concert in Edmonton
  • Scholarship students must have a place to practice for which the Edmonton Centre can provide assistance.
  • Scholarships are not intended to cover sheet music, other materials or transportation costs.
  • Should the student fail to fulfil the conditions of this scholarship, the RCCO reserves the right to cancel the scholarship and require repayment of the portion of the scholarship used by the student.
  • Students may receive the same scholarship only once (including one Beginning Organists Scholarship).

DISBURSEMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP MONEY

All Scholarship money will be paid in advance to an approved RCCO Edmonton organ teacher towards the lessons or will be paid in advance to the student to defray organ tuition costs at an approved Edmonton university.

If the organs lessons taken privately cannot be completed due to some emergency, the Edmonton RCCO President and Treasurer will handle the issue in consultation with the organ instructor and student.

ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP RECITAL

All scholarship recipients are required to take part in the annual Scholarship Recipients Recital in February or March following the November auditions. This is a festive celebration of the various talents we have in Edmonton attended by the Scholarship donors as well. Due to the later April date of the Beginning Organists audition this year, the concert will be held on Monday September 18, 2023 at St. John’s Anglican Church, 11111 57 Ave.

© Copyright – RCCO Edmonton – (Royal Canadian College of Organists) 2023

© Copyright - RCCO Edmonton - (Royal Canadian College of Organists)