New Organist INITIATIVE
The New Organist Initiative (NOI) is a mission sponsored by the Detroit Chapter of the American Guild of Organists to encourage and support young people in learning to play the pipe organ. We hope to build the numbers of those who love and play the “king of instruments” in both sacred and secular settings.
To fulfill this mission, the NOI awards scholarships for organ lessons twice each month during the academic year to students, ages 11-18, in the metro Detroit area who demonstrate keyboard proficiency and pass an audition / application process.
The Chapter assigns qualified local teachers, provides mentors to students and their parents, helps arrange access to practice instruments, and maintains support during the course of instruction. Interested students commit to practicing at least two to three hours each week in order to be prepared for lessons and to grow as musicians. They have access to AGO Detroit Chapter programs, including faculty recitals, master classes, and organ crawls and demonstrations, and perform at a celebratory recital each spring. Scholarship support may be renewable on a yearly basis, contingent on student interest and progress.
See below for links to apply, for teachers to recommend their students for the program, and to donate in support of our efforts. For any questions about the New Organist Initiative, please contact us.