University of Alabama Organ Scholarship Competition

The 2013 University of Alabama Organ Scholarship Competition finals were held January 24 at the Moody School of Music. The awards were UA scholarships in the amounts of $8,000, $5,000 and $3,000 for first, second and third place, respectively.

Christopher Henley, from Talladega, Alabama, was the first place winner; he is a Community Music School student of Faythe Freese, professor of organ at the University of Alabama. Matthew Edwards, from El Centro, California, won second place; he is a student of Hope Davis and Carol Williams. Shawn Thomas, a master’s student of Laura Ellis at the University of Florida in Gainesville, won third place.

Judges for the recorded round were Patricia Fitzsimmons, Karen Eschelman, and Charles Tompkins; judges for the final round were Fred Teardo, Charles Kennedy, and Jim Cook.