Looking ahead to two organ recitals this fall at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Evanston (see below in “Events”), NSAGO member Greg Hummel writes about the continued success of Immanuel’s annual Organ Scholar Awards:
Since 2002, Immanuel Lutheran Church has sustained one of the nation’s distinctive church-based organ scholar programs, encouraging gifted undergraduate and graduate musicians to pursue careers in organ performance and sacred music (https://immanuelevanston.org/organ-scholar-program/).
What sets the program apart is its setting within the life of a worshipping, singing congregation. Candidates perform major organ repertoire, accompany live singers in a hymn, and interview with a nine-member jury drawn from Immanuel’s worship and music leadership. The jury considers not only technical accomplishment, but also musical judgment, liturgical awareness, and the ability to lead congregational song.
The 2026 scholars—Áron Sipos, an undergraduate at McGill University, and Gege Bi, a graduate student at the Eastman School of Music—join an accomplished community of Immanuel alumni now serving as organists, cantors, directors of music, educators, and performers throughout the United States and beyond.
Their recitals are presented on Immanuel’s mechanical-action pipe organ, an instrument grounded in North German and Dutch traditions and especially well suited to contrapuntal and Baroque repertoire. Each free recital will be followed by a reception welcoming the artists and audience.
Greg Hummel