John and Gladys Hart Memorial Organ Scholarship
Administered by the Royal Canadian College of Organists Victoria Centre; Victoria, BC
Introduction
History
In 1991, $5100 was received by the RCCO from the daughters of the late John and Gladys Hart to
establish a fund as a memorial to their parents. This fund is to provide in perpetuity for an annual
organ scholarship.
Past recipients of the scholarship include Sarah MacDonald, Kevin Dill and Robert Kwan.
Award Criteria
A candidate is eligible to receive the $500 Hart Scholarship subject to the following conditions:
the candidate must
(a) reside on Vancouver Island or the surrounding islands;
(b) use the scholarship within the following calendar year;
(c) use the scholarship for organ lessons or for certification purposes (RCCO or nationally
recognized music conservatories);
(d) notify the scholarship committee and receive specific approval for the use of the
scholarship (directly related to organ study), if not in keeping with condition ‘c’.
(e) all completed application forms must be submitted by email. Approval to receive the
application in a different format may be granted by the committee if the request is received
before October 1st.
Qualifications of the Applicant
Proficiency in keyboard (Grade 8 RCM, VCM, CC or equivalent) is required, which will be detailed in
the completed application form. There may be an audition if there are multiple deserving
applicants.
The Teachers
Teachers selected to work with the Scholarship recipient should be current RCCO members or hold
appropriate professional qualifications. A recipient’s teacher will be welcome to join the College.
Publicity
Information about the scholarship will be distributed to RCCO and Victoria Centre Pro Organo
Newsletter members, and, at the discretion of the committee, may also be distributed to members
of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association, Victoria Conservatory of Music, University of
Victoria School of Music, major churches, and keyboard teachers in the Greater Victoria area,
newspapers. The Scholarship may also be advertised on social media (Facebook, Twitter etc).
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John and Gladys Hart Memorial Organ Scholarship Fund
Application Form Information
1. Submission Deadline
The deadline is October 15 for the following calendar year’s awards.
2. Complete the application form on-line:
A complete application includes the following information submitted by email:
 The candidate’s application form (2 pages) must include information in all the text boxes.
 The teacher’s letter of support must include the teacher’s email address, postal address, and
phone number. Information may be verified with the teacher.
Please attach the application form (two pages) and the teacher’s letter as separate documents;
attachments can include a Word document, a pdf, or a scanned copy of the original letter.
3. Submit the application form by email:
 E-mail the completed application to RCCO Hart Scholarship by October 15.
By submitting this application candidates agree to the terms of the Hart Scholarship.
All candidates will be contacted by email or phone on or by November 15.
4. Conditions of the Hart Scholarship
The award will be paid directly to the recipient or the recipient’s teacher. The award may also be
delivered in instalments. Applications for renewal will be considered.
If the conditions of the award criteria are not fulfilled, the RCCO reserves the right to rescind the
award and to demand (in consultation with the teacher) the reimbursement to the RCCO Victoria
Centre of the already used portion of the scholarship. Teachers will receive compensation for
lessons already provided.
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John and Gladys Hart Memorial Organ Scholarship Fund
The audition – if multiple deserving applicants
The audition shall be conducted by a panel of at least three people; two shall be organ teachers, and
one should represent the Executive of the Centre (the President or his/her delegate). Each candidate
will be notified a minimum of two weeks in advance of the location, date and time of the audition.
Audition guidelines: each candidate will perform on piano:
 two keyboard pieces of differing styles and periods, of which one may be a piece by Bach.
 a simple sight-reading test.
An important part of the proceedings is the interview, in which the panel chats informally with the
candidate to assess the commitment with which the study of the organ is being approached.
Notification of awards
When the panel has reached its decisions, all candidates will be informed by email, but only the
successful candidate(s) will be contacted by telephone. Further communication with successful
candidates will confirm the availability and willingness of the teacher and provide advice about
arranging the lessons.
A list of successful scholarship recipients may be sent to newspapers. The names will also be
published in the Victoria Centre’s newsletter Pro Organo. The Centre will fund the recipient’s
membership in the College for one year, or will provide reduced fees for workshops, etc. The Centre
will endeavour to involve successful scholarship recipients in the Centre’s activities, both during and
after the period of their awards.
About the RCCO
We are a community with a passion for the organ and its music who seek to enrich the lives of others
with music, skills and knowledge, by promoting the instrument and its music in worship and in
concert, and by preserving the legacy entrusted to us.
For more information about the Victoria Centre, go to:
 Website: RCCO Victoria Centre website;
 Email: RCCO Victoria Centre email;
 Facebook: Royal Canadian Centre of Organists – Victoria Centre
 Twitter: RCCOVictoria
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