The Edwards Organ Scholar - Rector's Rambling for May 18, 2025

     
In 2004 I received a phone call from a lawyer in South Carolina informing us that the parish had been left a bequest from the estate of a Mr. William Edwards, a retired chemist.  The bequest was from the estate of him and his sister Eleanor, the late Human Resources Director of the old Hudson’s store on Woodward.  The bequest was for music at St. John’s, in memory of their father John Leigh Edwards, Choirmaster and Organist at St. John’s from 1904 to 1947.

This is how the Edwards Organ Scholarship came into being. A two to three year award, the Scholar assists  not only by playing the organ, but learns what it takes to be a part of a world class Anglican choral program.

We recently received this from the Episcopal News Service.

  The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston, Texas, and the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM) are pleased to announce the appointment of Grace Jackson as the recipient of the 2025–2026 AAM Gerre Hancock Internship. The Gerre Hancock Internship program was established to create full-time mentoring opportunities for extraordinary young church musicians who demonstrate a strong interest in the music and worship of The Episcopal Church. This annual internship is jointly funded by AAM and the host institution and offers the intern ten months of practical experience through intense and intentionally formative work as part of an outstanding music program. During her time at St. John the Divine, Grace will be mentored by Mr. Steven Newberry as well as the other St. John the Divine staff.

Grace Jackson is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in organ and sacred music at the University of Michigan, studying with Nicole Keller. She also studies carillon with Tiffany Ng and serves as the carillon contributing editor for The Diapason. Jackson earned a Master of Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame, where she was an organist and graduate assistant for the Liturgical Choir at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, she holds a Bachelor of Music in organ and piano performance from Oklahoma City University. Jackson currently serves as organ scholar at St. John’s Episcopal Church (Detroit, MI) under the direction of Huw Lewis and is a Graduate Student Instructor for the Department of Musicology at the University of Michigan.

 We are sad to hear that Grace will be leaving us, but so grateful that she has this great opportunity to continue her learning in Houston!  Of the seven Hancock Internships that have been awarded, since its foundation, Grace is the third St. John’s Edwards Organ Scholar to receive this honor! 

As of now Grace plans on being with us into July and she will be missed! The search is already underway for the next Edward Organ Scholar to join us for the new academic year.