Michael Hill Scholarship
The Michael Hill Scholarship is established to encourage organ study by students in grades 6-12 by providing funds to cover private organ lesson fees.
***We've made some changes to the scholarship process! Please read through the guidelines carefully and email [email protected] with any questions.***
Next application deadline: August 15, 2025
for trimester study period Sept. 1 through Dec. 31
Next application deadline: August 15, 2025
for trimester study period Sept. 1 through Dec. 31
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Who is eligible?
Students from rising 6th grade through undergraduate college who live in the Piedmont NC chapter area. Scholarships will not be awarded for lessons taken through the school the student attends - payment is for private study only. Applicants should have some keyboard experience, i.e. able to read music and play simple pieces/exercises. Students are asked to submit a short video of their playing as part of their application. Priority will be given to first-time applicants, but past scholarship recipients are encouraged to re-apply! What is the application process? Applications are considered three times per year, for three trimester study periods.
Every trimester, for every student, three online forms must be filled out.
As part of their application, students work with their intended instructors to create reasonable plans for number, duration, and frequency of lessons. This helps students proactively tackle the unique logistical challenges of finding practice and lesson times on the organ. Awards are disbursed directly to the instructor at the end of the trimester, when they submit the End-of-Trimester Form confirming how many lessons took place. How much money is awarded? The maximum award amount for a single trimester is $500. Award amount varies based on the number and duration of lessons provided during the trimester as recorded by the instructor in the Instructor End-of-Trimester Form. If the cost of lessons (at the instructor's typical rate) exceeds $500, the student/their parents are responsible for paying the difference. How do I find an instructor? We can help! If you need help finding an instructor, email [email protected] and we'll point you to teachers in your area. |
Form Links
Email [email protected] with any questions!
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Scholarship Background
On September 14, 2005, our friend and colleague, Michael Vance Hill, died, leaving a void in the organ community. He was born and reared in Greensboro and was an organ performance major under the tutelage of Dr. Harold Andrews at Greensboro College where he received his Bachelor of Music degree.
Even as a small child, Mike knew that he wanted to learn to play the organ. After watching and listening to the organist play the organ in church each Sunday, he would go home with his family and pretend to play the organ on his mother's drop-front dressing table, even using his feet! Even though he later became involved in the business world, he never lost his love of classical and ecclesiastical music and continued to serve as a church musician in the area.
He first served at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Greensboro as organist and choirmaster in the early 1970's. Next he was called to Thomasville to serve as organist and choirmaster at Heidelberg United Church of Christ. In 1981, he was called as organist to First Baptist Church in High Point, serving for almost twenty years. Mike continued to serve as a substitute organist in the Triad area even after he became ill. His last church service was played at First Presbyterian in High Point in June of 2005.
For several years, Mike was the owner and head floral designer at Lowdermilk Florist on Wendover Avenue in Greensboro. In this capacity, he was a member of the Piedmont Triad Florist Association and the N.C. State Florist Association, and he served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Retail Association for many years. Mike had many talents which he displayed with taste and aplomb. After the sale of Lowdermilk Florist, Mike enjoyed a fairly brief stint as the owner/operator of a gift shop in Adams Farm, after which he joined Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. of Colfax as head music engraver, where he worked as long as he was physically able to do so.
As part of his involvement in the church music community, Mike worked tirelessly for the American Guild of Organists, Greater Greensboro Chapter, serving as Treasurer, Sub-Dean, and subsequently as Dean. During his tenure as Dean, he was the instigator and organizer of ten annual AGO concerts designed to raise funds for Hospice chapters in the Triad area. These concerts usually involved other area instrumentalists, which served to expand the community interest in the concerts. After his term as Dean, Mike continued to serve on the GGAGO Board as Newsletter Editor/Publisher for several years.
Mike was the quintessential church musician, never wishing to gain glory for himself, only for God and the music. As a friend, no one could have asked for a most loyal and true friend as he - never judgmental, but always there in his quiet way with incredibly wry sense of humor, ever supportive and understanding. For those who loved and admired him, his early loss has left us bereft but with cherished memories.
It pleased Mike very much that the GGAGO Board voted to name our scholarship in his honor. The perpetuation of the organ as a viable instrument of the church was fo high importance to him, and we remember Mike each summer with our Michael V. Hill Memorial Summer Series Concerts. It is our hope that you will honor the life-force that was Mike by contributing to the Michael V. Hill Memorial Scholarship, which will foster future talented organists like Mike Hill.
This scholarship has been a dream of many in our chapter and the Board is pleased and excited to make these funds available to talented area youth.
Even as a small child, Mike knew that he wanted to learn to play the organ. After watching and listening to the organist play the organ in church each Sunday, he would go home with his family and pretend to play the organ on his mother's drop-front dressing table, even using his feet! Even though he later became involved in the business world, he never lost his love of classical and ecclesiastical music and continued to serve as a church musician in the area.
He first served at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Greensboro as organist and choirmaster in the early 1970's. Next he was called to Thomasville to serve as organist and choirmaster at Heidelberg United Church of Christ. In 1981, he was called as organist to First Baptist Church in High Point, serving for almost twenty years. Mike continued to serve as a substitute organist in the Triad area even after he became ill. His last church service was played at First Presbyterian in High Point in June of 2005.
For several years, Mike was the owner and head floral designer at Lowdermilk Florist on Wendover Avenue in Greensboro. In this capacity, he was a member of the Piedmont Triad Florist Association and the N.C. State Florist Association, and he served on the Board of Directors of the Southern Retail Association for many years. Mike had many talents which he displayed with taste and aplomb. After the sale of Lowdermilk Florist, Mike enjoyed a fairly brief stint as the owner/operator of a gift shop in Adams Farm, after which he joined Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc. of Colfax as head music engraver, where he worked as long as he was physically able to do so.
As part of his involvement in the church music community, Mike worked tirelessly for the American Guild of Organists, Greater Greensboro Chapter, serving as Treasurer, Sub-Dean, and subsequently as Dean. During his tenure as Dean, he was the instigator and organizer of ten annual AGO concerts designed to raise funds for Hospice chapters in the Triad area. These concerts usually involved other area instrumentalists, which served to expand the community interest in the concerts. After his term as Dean, Mike continued to serve on the GGAGO Board as Newsletter Editor/Publisher for several years.
Mike was the quintessential church musician, never wishing to gain glory for himself, only for God and the music. As a friend, no one could have asked for a most loyal and true friend as he - never judgmental, but always there in his quiet way with incredibly wry sense of humor, ever supportive and understanding. For those who loved and admired him, his early loss has left us bereft but with cherished memories.
It pleased Mike very much that the GGAGO Board voted to name our scholarship in his honor. The perpetuation of the organ as a viable instrument of the church was fo high importance to him, and we remember Mike each summer with our Michael V. Hill Memorial Summer Series Concerts. It is our hope that you will honor the life-force that was Mike by contributing to the Michael V. Hill Memorial Scholarship, which will foster future talented organists like Mike Hill.
This scholarship has been a dream of many in our chapter and the Board is pleased and excited to make these funds available to talented area youth.