The judges of the Robert & Nancy Powell Scholarship are pleased to announce the 2026 winner, Elijah Morris, an incoming Junior at Trinity College, Hartford, CT, studying with Christopher Houlihan. This year Elijah will be a Visiting Student at Hertford College, Oxford University.

Elijah will join us performing at our annual scholarship recital in July 2027 (to accommodate his year at Oxford University) at Christ Church Episcopal, Greenville. You can hear his required competition Bach, romantic and hymn submissions, and read more about him below.

Bach Piece: Organ Sonata No. 2 in C minor, BWV 526, Movements 2: Largo and 3: Allegro (Starts at 12’38”, Movement 2: start at 16’35”. Movement 3: start at 20’53”) [YouTube link]

Romantic Piece: La Nativite du Seigneur, neuf meditations our orgue: IX: Dieu Parmi Nous, Oliver Messiaen (Starts at 43’28”) [YouTube link]

Hymn: The Day of Resurrection (Ellacombe) – Anonymous [YouTube link]

Elijah’s Bio

Elijah Morris is a third-year undergraduate studying with Christopher Houlihan at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. He is pursuing a B.A. in Music and Medieval Studies, focusing on pipe organ and on medieval English literature. Elijah performs regularly with choral performances in the Connecticut area, and notable organ academies, including the Yale Organ Academy and Poitiers (France) Organ Academy. In addition to his duties as a performer, Elijah has most recently finished a year as Organ Scholar at St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, CT, under Dr. Nicholas Capozzoli. In 2022, Elijah began studying with Mr. John Rose, Professor Emeritus of Organ at Trinity College. Upon beginning undergraduate studies with Professor Houlihan at Trinity College, Elijah became Trinity’s Assistant Chapel Organist. This fall Elijah will attend Hertford College, Oxford University as a Visiting Student. Elijah’s love for sacred music extends far beyond organ performance. He has composed pieces for solo organ, chamber ensembles, choral performance, and orchestra. Elijah’s goal is to contribute to the sacred and classical music communities in whatever ways he can.

"Recognizing the Past While Reaching Towards the Future."

$7,000* Award for 2027

A scholarship fund was established in 2022 to honor Robert Powell, FAGO (1932-2025), organist and composer of hundreds of choral and organ service pieces of published music, along with his wife, Nancy Powell, AAGO (1931-2026), also a consummate organist. They have served the Greenville community for decades as leaders and role models for the organists and church musicians of this community.

A $5,000* scholarship will be awarded in July 2027 to an undergraduate student pursuing study in fall 2026 at an American college, conservatory, or university, leading toward a career in organ performance and church music. An additional $2,000 winner’s recital program (includes travel expenses) will be scheduled in May/June 2028 to perform in Greenville, South Carolina for the AGO, our sponsors, and the public.

The application process includes writing a short essay and submitting a recording of two standard organ pieces (Bach and Romantic). Application deadline is June 1, 2027. Check back in February 2027 for application forms.

*The Greenville AGO Chapter is also pleased to inform scholarship applicants that John Polo is also the Program Director of the Greater Bridgeport AGO Chapter M. Louise Miller – Paul E. Knox Scholarship. Both scholarships have the same criteria and timeline but submitted separately and have separate judges. This is a unique opportunity to win up to $14,000 in scholarships. That application is available at this link.

John Polo
Program Director, Powell Scholarship – Greenville AGO Chapter

Current Judges/Committee

• Mr. Donald Duncan (Co-Chair) - Director of Liturgy & Music, Christ Church, Episcopal, Greenville, SC
• Mr. Vance Jenkins (Co-Chair) - Director of Music & Principal Organist, Buncombe Street Methodist Church, Greenville, SC
• Dr. Ed Dunbar - Scholarship Judge and Retired Professor Organ, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
• Rev. Dr. Jim Parham - Trinity Lutheran, Greenville, SC
• Mr. Robert Glick - Scholarship Judge and Retired Professor of Organ, Erskine University/First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, SC
• Dr. Brennan Szafron - Scholarship Judge and Organist & Choir Master, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Tryon, NC
• Dr. Will Thomas Cleveland - Scholarship Judge and Director of Music & Organist, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greenwood, SC

Scholarship Sponsors – Click here to help us thank the many organizations and individual donors that have helped us create and sustain the Powell Scholarship & Organ Competition. This brings a sense of great pride helping support the careers of future church musicians, giving them a glimpse of our Greenville area, and honoring the legacy of Robert & Nancy Powell.

Become a Powell Scholarship Sponsor or Donor - the scholarship is designated program within the Greenville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, a 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Individuals can use the donate link on this website. Checks can made out to the Powell Scholarship Greenville American Guild of Organists, c/o John Polo, Treasurer, 26 Appian Circle, Simpsonville, SC 29681. Thank you in advance for helping us build this scholarship.

Scholarship Kickoff Choral Festival - On June 4, 2023, over 100 singers representing 25 AGO member church choirs from the Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson AGO chapters, along with brass musicians from the Greenville Symphony, kicked off the Powell Scholarship with a Choral Festival of all Powell published composition, at Christ Church Episcopal, Greenville. This was a standing room only audience that also participated in the singing. View this wonderful concert.

For additional information on Robert and Nancy Powell, see this Member Spotlight.

Previous Scholarship winners:

2026	Mr. Elijah Morris	Program will be July 2027
2025	Mr. James Jeffery	[PDF program]
2024	Ms. Abigail Wood	[PDF program]
2023	Mr. Jacob Gruss	[PDF program]