Here is a list of our Organ Scholar Winners with links for any with personal web pages.
We’re excited for the small part that we have played in advancing their careers.
2023 JoEllen West
2023 Kelsey Berg
2022 Katherine Jolliff
Eastman School of Music, undergraduate
Interlochen Arts Academy, piano and organ performance
teachers: David Higgs, Tom Bara
from Indianapolis, Indiana
2022 Sol Rizzato
Cleveland Institute of Music, graduate student
Organ Scholar, Plymouth Church UCC, Shaker Heights, Ohio
Oklahoma University, Bachelor of Music in Organ and Viola
teachers: Todd Wilson, Adam Pajan
from Chicago
2020 Matthew Wachtman
Organist, Trinity United Church of Christ, Wadsworth, Ohio
Indiana University, Master of Music
Baldwin Wallace University, Bachelor of Music in Keyboard Performance
teacher: Christopher Young, Nicole Keller
from Defiance, Ohio
2020 Dale Nickell
Organist and Associate Director of Music Ministries, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee
Eastman School of Music, Master of Music in Organ Performance and Literature
Colorado State University, Bachelor of Music
teachers: Nathan Laube, Joel Bacon
from Golden, Colorado
2019 Josh Ring
Adjunct Professor, Olivet Nazarene University School of Music
University of Iowa, Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance and Pedagogy, Master of Arts in Organ and Pedagogy
Northern Illinois University, Performer’s Certificate in Organ, Master of Music in Music Composition
Olivet Nazarene University, Bachelor of Music in Music Composition and Oiano Performance
teachers: Gregory Hand, James Russell Brown
2018 Andrew Barbour
Principal Organist, St. Gertrude Parish (Dominican), Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Master of Music in Organ
Lenoir-Rhyme University, Hickory, North Carolina (ELCA), Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Music
2017 Hannah Koby
Interim Co-Director of Children’s and Youth Choirs/Organist, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Hochschule fur Kirchemusik, Rottenberg am Neckar, Germany
Cleveland Institute of Music, Master of Music in Organ Performance
Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Music in Church Music and Organ
teachers: Todd Wilson, Lorraine Brugh, Sunghee Kim
2016 Nicole Simental
Order of the Most Holy Savior-Bridgettine Sisters
Indiana University, Doctor of Music
University of Notre Dame, Master of Sacred Music
Wheaton College, Illinois, Bachelor of Music
2015 Kevin J. Vaughn
Director of Music and Organist, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, South Bend, Indiana
Accompanist, South Bend Chamber Singers
University of Notre Dame, Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance, Master of Music, Bachelor of Music in Piano, Organ, and Sacred Music
2014 David Lim
Shop Technician, Red River Organ Company
Director of Music, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Ardmore, Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma, doctoral candidate
University of Iowa, Master of Arts in Organ Performance
Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and Biology
teachers: Adam Pajan, Damin Spritzer, Gregory Hand,Chad Winterfeldt, Chad Fothergill, Jon Naatjes
2013 Priscilla (Weaver) Gabriel
Cantor (Music Director), Faith Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Indiana
Private Piano and Organ Instructor Indiana University, Doctor of Music in Organ Performance and Literature, Kodaly Certificate
University of Notre Dame, Master of Sacred Music
Grove City College, Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Music in Organ
2012 Matthew Gerhardt
Kantor, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Missouri
Hochschule fur Kirchenmusik, Herford, Germany
Indiana University, Master of Music in Organ Performance
Concordia University Wisconsin, Bachelor of Parish Music
teachers: Janette Fishell, Bruce Neswick, Robert Nicholls, John Behnke
2011 Kipp Cortez
JL Weiler, Inc. of Chicago, pipe organ restoration apprentice
University of Michigan, Doctor of Music in Organ Performance and Literature, Sacred Music, and Carillon Performance, Master of Music in Organ, Carillon, and Sacred Music
Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Music in Organ and Church Music
from LaGrange, Illinois
2010 Justin Knabach
Minister of Music and Worship, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Sunset Hills, Missouri
Concordia University Chicago, Bachelor of Arts, certification as Director of Parish Music with a minor in Theology, registered worker in Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
2009 Jonathan Rudy
Cantor, Grace Lutheran Church, Clarksville, Tennessee
AGO 2014 NYACOP First Prize and Audience Prize Winner
Indiana University, Doctor of Music, Master of Music in Organ and Sacred Music
Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Music in Organ and Sacred Music
teachers: Lorraine Brugh, Karel Paukert, Janette Fishell, Bruce Neswick
from Batavia, Illinois
2008 Paula Maust
Assistant Professor of Music Theory, Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore-Washington, DC
Peabody Institute, Doctor of Musical Arts in Harpsichord, Master of Music in Harpsichord
Cleveland Institute of Music, Master of Music in Organ
Valparaiso University, Bachelor of Music in Organ
teachers: Adam Pearl, Webb Wiggins, Todd Wilson, Lorraine Brugh
2007 Emily Woock
Director of Parish Music, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, Illinois
Indiana University, PhD candidate in Music Education
University of Notre Dame, Master of Sacred Music
Anderson University, Master of Music Education
Hartt School of Music, Kodaly certification
Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, (Concordia University Chicago), Bachelor of Arts
teachers: Christopher Young, Craig Cramer, Steven Wente
2006 Laura Zimmer
Administrative Assistant, Music Department, Concordia University, Chicago, IL
Concordia University: Master of Church Music, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
teachers: Howard Warnick, Carl Schalk, Herbert Gotsch, Steven Wente, Natalie Jenne
from Berkeley, Illinois
2005 Nathan LeMahieu
Teaching Faculty Clapham School, Wheaton, Illinois
Adjunct Professor of New Testament, Wheaton College, Illinois
Organist and Co-Music Director, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton College, PhD in Biblical and Theological Studies
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Master of Divinity
University of Notre Dame, Master of Sacred Music
Northwestern University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Music in Organ and Church Music
from Sheboygan, Wisconsin
2004 Joy-Leilani Garbutt
Director of Music, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, San Francisco
Concert Artist Cooperative management
Boulanger Initiative, nfp, co-founder
Fulbright Scholar, France
Harvard University, PhD in musicology, Master of Education
Northwestern University, Master of Music in Organ Performance
teachers: Jeremy Filsell, Sophie-Veronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Douglas Cleveland, Christa Rakich
2003 Brian Wentzel
Director of Music, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lorain, Ohio
AGO Fellowship certificate
Luther Seminary, Master of Sacred Music
Northwestern University, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts
teachers: Paul Westermeyer, John Ferguson, Anton Armstrong, Douglas Cleveland, Margaret Kemper
2002 Ross Updegraff
Software Developer/Web Team Lead Chicago Venture Partners
Northwestern University, Doctor of Music in Organ Performance
Brigham Young University, Master of Music
Ohio Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Music
native of western Pennsylvania