In the early 1970s, William Carey College became the new home of the books, manuscript papers, artwork, antique piano, and hymn memorabilia of renowned organist Clarence Dickinson after the death of his second wife, Lois Stice Dickinson. A recent renovation of the room that houses the historic items in the Clarence Dickinson Special Collection has created renewed interest in the collection, in the life of Clarence Dickinson, which it illustrates, and in the art of organ performance. The first Clarence Dickinson Memorial Organ Festival, which was held in January 2007, featured a lecture about the life and work of Clarence Dickinson and his first wife, Helen Adell Dickinson. Stephen Garner, an alumnus of William Carey College and assistant professor of music at Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, was the featured scholar. Dr. Garner is writing a biography of Dr. Dickinson, and he is utilizing materials from the collection and numerous recordings of personal interviews taken with former students, colleagues, and friends of Dickinson in New York City and elsewhere. In conjunction with that first event, the Dumas L. Smith/I. E. Rouse Library on the William Cary University campus (which houses the collection) hosted an open house to showcase the collection.
The second annual Clarence Dickinson Memorial Organ Festival was held on January 17–19, 2008, at the Winters School of Music on the Hattiesburg campus. The event featured an organ recital and masterclass by Dr. Jeff R. McLelland, organist/choirmaster at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as the event’s first organ competition, with divisions for beginners and for advanced players. The beginners were required to play a Bach prelude and fugue or a contrasting piece and a hymn; the advanced players were required to play a Bach prelude and fugue, a contrasting piece, and a hymn/hymn arrangement. Representatives from both divisions participated in the masterclass. Judges for the competition were Jane Butler, organist of Trinity Episcopal Church, Hattiesburg, and Lorenz Maycher, organist/choirmaster at First Trinity Presbyterian Church, Laurel, Mississippi.
Six entrants participated in this initial competition. Playing in the beginner division were Pearl Choi, sophomore music therapy major at WCU from South Korea; David Harrison, high school junior from Ocean Springs, MS; Marissa Hipp, high school junior from Grenada, MS; and Carlena Speed, senior piano performance major at WCU from Seminary, MS. David Harrison was the winner of the beginner’s division and received the cash prize and a certificate, and will be presented a Clarence Dickinson medallion for his performance in May.
Playing in the advanced division were Christopher Ray, a freshman music major at Mississippi College, Clinton, MS, and Patrick Scott, a senior organ major at Birmingham Southern College, Birmingham, AL. Scott and Ray, both judged as outstanding entrants, tied for first place in the advanced division, and each received an equal share of the cash prize and a certificate. They, too, will each receive a Clarence Dickinson medallion.
The medallions, which feature Dr. Dickinson’s image on one side and the seal of the university on the other, will be presented to the winning competitors in May by one of Dickinson’s students and current AGO president, Frederick Swann. Swann will present a lecture/recital on May 2 at 7:30 pm. (Full details are listed in the “Here & There” column of this issue.) All of the winners have been invited to play next season in a joint organ recital as part of the Laurel, MS First Trinity Presbyterian Church’s Concert Series.
Coordinating the festival and this event are Kathy Vail, assistant professor of Music, WCU; Patricia Furr, director of libraries, WCU; and Gene Winters, professor of church music and voice, WCU. For further information about future festivals, competitions, and events please contact the Winters School of Music, William Carey University, 498 Tuscan Avenue, Campus Box 14, Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Those interested in next year’s competition should write or call (601/318-6175) the Winters School of Music and ask to be added to the competition’s mailing list; or e-mail: <gene.winters@wmcarey.edu> or <kathy.vail@wmcarey.edu>. For information about visiting the newly reopened Clarence Dickinson Special Collection at Carey University Libraries, contact director of libraries, Patricia Furr at <pfurr.@wmcarey.edu>.
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