The Organ at Christendom College:
Christendom College holds the pipe organ “in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument, and one that adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to heavenly things,” as the Second Vatican Council declared.
To this end the college will have a four manual, 46 rank pipe organ specially built for its new chapel by Kegg pipe organ builders of Hartville, Ohio to beautify the liturgy. This organ is slated to be finished in the fall of 2022 and its stop list can be found here. In addition, an expansion of the music minor with a special emphasis on organ studies and an independent course of studies for organ will be instituted.
The Scholarship and Duties:
There will be two scholarships available:
The first type will be for the principal and assistant organist positions. The principal organist position will include $5000 in tuition reduction and lessons throughout the year. This organist will play at Sunday and Saturday Masses. The assistant organist position will include $3000 in tuition reduction and lessons throughout the year. This organist will play at weekday Masses.
The second type of scholarship will be a $2000 scholarship offered to promising beginners along with lessons throughout the year who will be given performance opportunities.
(All of the scholarships, which are potentially renewable every year, will be awarded at the discretion of the panel of judges and the amounts are subject to change.)
Requirements for Eligibility:
- Must have already completed an application for general admission to the college.
- Must pass an audition.
- Must enroll in and complete a music degree program at the college.
Skills Sought:
- Reliability and Punctuality.
- Strong sight-reading and musicianship skills.
- Ability to accompany congregational hymn and chant singing.
- Ability to play the organ literature with appropriate stylistic interpretations and registrations.
Application Process:
- Fill out and send this form, including one recommendation from an organ teacher by March 1, 2022.
- Submit it along with a video recording for prescreening purposes. The recording must include one piece from the repertoire listed below. It is not required that the format be a professional or studio recording, but the sound quality must be as good as possible.
- The repertoire for this prescreening should be a performance of either a Bach prelude and fugue (or an equivalent Baroque work) and a movement from a Romantic or Contemporary work. Pianists who wish to audition for the $2000 beginner scholarships may perform a Bach two-part invention on the piano (or the equivalent).
- If you are selected for a live audition—which will be Saturday, April 2—you will need to:
- prepare two works from the repertoire from sources such as were listed above in #3. One Baroque work and one Romantic or Contemporary work. Pianists auditioning for the $2000 scholarships must only play a Bach two-part invention (or the equivalent) and scales and arpeggios in all keys. No candidate may repeat the same piece from the prescreening audition.
- Be able to sight-read two short pieces.
- Be prepared for a short interview.
- If you are selected as a scholarship recipient, you will have to sign a contract specifying your duties.