Pogorzelski and Yankee Memorial Scholarship

The Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee Memorial Scholarship is intended to support the education of talented young organists who will make significant contributions to the fields of organ playing and sacred music.

The Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial Scholarship will be awarded for a period of up to four years for undergraduate applicants and two years for graduate applicants. Awards for the initial year of the scholarship (2014-2015) will be as follows:

1. Four undergraduate awards of $7500 each for a rising freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. The award will be renewable each year totaling $30,000 for the rising freshman, $22,500 for the rising sophomore, $15,000 for the rising junior, and $7500 for the rising senior.
2. Two graduate awards of $15,000 each for a student entering graduate study and a student in his/her second year of study. This award will be renewable once for the student entering graduate study for a total of $30,000.

Applicants for the Pogorzelski-Yankee Scholarship must include the following in their application materials:

1. A digitally recorded video, essay, registration form, the applicant's most recent official academic transcript, and two letters of recommendation. The digitally recorded video may not exceed 45 minutes of music. It will contain a program that includes three pieces of organ music: one composed by J.S. Bach, and two additional contrasting works composed after 1800. The video 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. Different instruments may be used; the candidate must provide a specification for each instrument. Individual pieces must not be edited.
2. In addition, the video should contain a brief (5-10 minutes) personal statement in which the applicant must describe his/her musical background and hopes for organ study at the university/college/conservatory level.
3. An essay of no more than three pages should answer the following questions: What are the applicant's career goals, and what makes the applicant a good candidate for this scholarship?
4. Two letters of support are required: one from the primary organ instructor, and a second from another music or education professional. References should underscore the applicants achievements, potential for future success, and qualities that align with the mission of the Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial Scholarship.

Applications are due by February 15, 2014 and all materials must be received at the AGO offices by this date. There will be no application fee. Applicants will be informed by April 15 so that they may include this information in negotiations with the school of their choice.

Scholarships will be awarded to entering freshman and entering masters students contingent upon notification of acceptance into the degree program. As per the donors' wishes, the student must agree in writing to commit a significant portion of the two years following graduation to teaching, performing, sacred music, or other serious endeavor with respect to the organ.

The Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee Memorial Scholarship will be renewable only if the student maintains an overall 3.0 academic GPA in all music coursework. Those who do not maintain this average or for any reason lose good standing at their academic institution will be placed on probation for a term; if the situation is not corrected, they will lose the remainder of the scholarship funding. It will not be reinstated. Should a recipient decide to transfer to another nationally accredited music program, the scholarship can be transferred along with the recipient.

The scholarship will be disbursed as a check directly to the appropriate office of the recipient's chosen institution. Before the final disbursement of the scholarship, each recipient of the Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee Memorial Scholarship must provide the committee with documentation that he/she will graduate with the intended degree. In the two years following graduation, the recipient will provide updates on organ- related activities pursued during that time.