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ALFRED E. LUNSFORD SCHOLARSHIP
FOR PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTERS ANNOUNCED BY
THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS
New Permanently Restricted Scholarship Fund in Memory of
Alfred E. Lunsford Will Provide Scholarships for
AGO Pipe Organ Encounters Attendees Beginning in 2004
NEW YORK CITY — The American Guild of Organists (AGO), is pleased to announce the creation of a new scholarship for AGO Pipe Organ Encounters—the ALFRED E. LUNSFORD SCHOLARSHIP—established by generous gifts from the Schantz Organ Company or Orrville, Ohio and the Lunsford estate. This permanently restricted fund will support scholarship awards to deserving AGO Pipe Organ Encounters participants beginning in 2004. Additional tax-deductible contributions in memory of Alfred E. Lunsford, former Greater Southeast area sales representative for the Schantz Organ Company, are welcome.
“Al Lunsford was key in our success as a company and I am thrilled that this has been established in his memory” stated Jeffrey Dexter, vice president and tonal director of the Schantz Organ Company. “I know that Al would be pleased by it as well.” The Alfred E. Lunsford scholarship is the tenth and newest permanently endowed scholarship sheltered by the AGO New Organist Fund.
“The AGO is very grateful for the generosity and support of the many individuals whose vision for the future of our profession is manifested by the creation of scholarships for young, aspiring musicians,” notes Frederick Swann, president of the AGO. “These individuals have made an investment in the youth of America, whose enhanced knowledge of the organ and appreciation of its role in worship will contribute to a bright future for our profession.”
 ALFRED E. LUNSFORD (1918–2003) spent much of his life as a church musician and organbuilder. He held positions as organist in various churches in Knoxville, most recently at St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church. In addition to his long membership in the American Institute of Organbuilders and the Organ Historical Society, he was also the last surviving charter members of the Knoxville AGO Chapter, serving four terms as its dean, more than any other individual. In 1946, Mr. Lunsford became regional sales manager of the Greater Southeast area for the Schantz Organ Company, a position he held for over 50 years. During this period he sold hundreds of new Schantz organs as well as hundreds of additions, restorations, and renovations of existing instruments. Additionally, he personally built several new pipe organs, which were installed in the greater Knoxville area.
PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTERS are regional summer organ institutes designed to introduce teenagers to the pipe organ and the sacred music profession. They provide private and group instruction, opportunities for ecumenical worship, and a chance for young musicians to meet others with similar interests.
The NEW ORGANIST FUND was established in 1993 to support Guild programs dedicated to developing a new generation of organists. Today, the New Organist Fund shelters both permanently endowed named scholarships, and gifts restricted for the support and development of new organists. Permanently endowed scholarships have been created in memory of Seth Bingham, Clarence Dickinson, Philip Hahn, Charles N. Henderson, Alfred E. Lunsford, and Ned Siebert, and in honor of Philip E. Baker and Morgan and Mary Simmons. Additional funds have been designated in honor of Ruth Milliken, and in memory of Virgil Fox. These scholarships will be activated once the minimum balance threshold of $10,000 is achieved.
The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, it sets and maintains high musical standards and promotes the under-standing and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The purpose of the AGO is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members. The Guild currently serves more than 20,000 members in more than 340 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine, the official journal of the AGO, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, reaches an audience of more than 24,000 each month.
This information is submitted by F. Anthony Thurman, Director of Development and Communications. For further information, please contact Dr. Thurman at AGO National Headquarters. This press release is available on the Internet at <www.agohq.org/bulletin>.
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