Given in memory of Helen Skuggedal Reed, the scholarship is intended to encourage excellence in organ performance.  The successful applicant will be a student who shows outstanding promise. An award of $1,000 is available annually.

Helen Skuggedal Reed (1948-2017) was a talented organist and harpsichordist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She began music studies at age 3 in Halifax, won many prizes at the Halifax Music Festivals, earned a BA (Honours English) from Dalhousie University in 1969 and received her Masters of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan in 1971.  Her musical career was based in the United States, specifically in Evansville Indiana, but she gave performances throughout the Eastern US, Canada, and in her parents’ native country, Norway. Ultimately, she became a professor of music and harpsichord at the University of Evansville and the principal harpsichordist of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.

Helen was selflessly devoted to helping young students as teacher, accompanist, music competitions judge, and in any other way she could. After her untimely death from an accident, her family has established this scholarship to carry on her work to support emerging young organists.                  

 Eligibility

• Applicants must be under 30 years of age as of the application deadline.
• Open only to applicants whose home (or parents’ home) is in Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).  All other things being equal, priority will be given to students nominated by the Halifax Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
• Must be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident.  
• Must be enrolled in or accepted for a university music program pursuing a major or a minor in organ, at either undergraduate or graduate level.
• Must be a member of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. 
• The same person may receive the scholarship a maximum of two times. 

Application

• Application form is found here.
• Applicants must be nominated by a member of the Royal Canadian College of Organists in one of the four provinces of Atlantic Canada.
• Evaluation of the applications will be made by a panel selected by the Halifax Centre, RCCO.
• Applicants must provide two letters of reference, mailed separately to the Halifax Centre, RCCO.
• At the conclusion of the period of study, the successful candidate will provide a written report to the President, Halifax Centre, RCCO.
• Application forms and letters of reference must be sent (by email or regular post) as indicated on the application form.
• Applications must be sent on or before March 31.
• The successful applicant will be notified by May 1.