Organ Scholar Program

In 2018 the Congregational Council of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer approved the use of the Charles Schisler Memorial Fund to establish an Organ Scholar Program.  An organ scholar is a young musician (undergraduate or recent graduate) who is employed part-time as an assistant to the full-time musician in order to gain experience in playing, directing, and performing administrative duties.

Organ Scholar Benefits to the Scholar:

• Gain practical experience by performing a regular schedule of playing church services, accompanying multiple choral groups, and learning the rudiments of administrative duties for a church musician
• Opportunity to be mentored by a nationally recognized church musician
• Discernment of career choice
• Learn new skills and improve others in preparation for graduate school or career
• Be part of an established, large, and diverse music ministry in an urban church with a strong liturgical focus

Organ Scholar Benefits to Redeemer:

• Ongoing fulfillment of Charles Schisler’s legacy by teaching and nurturing faithful young musicians who will become church leaders
• Puts Redeemer at the forefront of filling an educational void that has been created by changes in university music programs
• Expansion of Redeemer’s children and youth music programs

Contributions

Donations are needed to make the Organ Scholar a permanent position that will honor Charles Schisler’s legacy in support of programs for Redeemer’s young musicians. Please prayerfully consider making a contribution to the Schisler Organ Scholar Fund. No contribution is too small and both one-time and recurring gifts are welcomed

Dr. Charles Harvey Schisler, in whose memory the Organ Scholar Fund is named, was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church, Northampton, PA, as well as faithful member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and Professor Emeritus of Emory University. He held a Bachelors Degree in Music from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and a Masters Degree in choral conducting under Elaine Brown from Temple University. Charles studied organ and conducting with Karl Richter, noted Bach interpreter, at the Munich State Academy and sang in the Munich Bach Choir. He received his Ph. D. from the Indiana University School of Music. He was organist – choir director at Swathmore Methodist Church and served on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. His career continued when he joined the faculty of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and became Dean of the College. Later he became Professor of Music at Emory University in Atlanta and at the same time became an active member of Redeemer. Charles chaired organ committees at Swathmore Methodist Church and at Redeemer from 2001-2003. Charles served as guarantor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, PA and was a member of the Pennsylvania German Society. He received many awards including an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Westminster and the Emory University Crystal Apple Award for Excellence in teaching. Charles’ love of music and tireless service to Redeemer was an inspiration to all who knew him.