A CURRENT SPAC PROJECT

A compositional debut album for Natalie Draper that is expertly interpreted by organist Anne Laver, “Pattern & Colors" is a joyful celebration of colorful, modern repertoire for the pipe organ. From the post-minimalist pulsing and cascading tone clusters of "Pattern Dances" to the timbre-bending “super-instrument” of violin and organ on “Interlaced,” to the rich, meditative vocal counterpoint in “A Study in Breathing: Allein zu dir,” the music offers an expressive, fresh take on what the organ can do, while giving a nod to past traditions and contexts.

The album will be recorded on Syracuse University’s Holtkamp organ in Setnor Auditorium, the Quimby organ at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Syracuse, and an eighteenth-century Italian organ in Eastman’s Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester.

Natalie Draper, DMA
Assistant Professor of Composition & Theory
Setnor School of Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Syracuse University

HISTORY

The Boston chapter’s Special Projects Advisory Committee (SPAC) committee was created following the 1976 National Convention of the American Guild of Organists, which was hosted by the Boston chapter. There was a surplus of about $80,000 from the convention, and those funds were used to institute an endowment fund for special projects involving the organ. The individuals who conceived the idea and served on the the first SPAC group were some of the 1976 convention leaders: Max Miller, John Ferris, Marshall Wilkins, Peggy Krewson, Barbara Owen, and Martin Steinmetz. Over the years other chapters of the Guild have used this model to manage the money received from their conventions.

It was established that projects eligible for funding must be ones that the public would be invited to attend or to participate in some way. The funds would not be used for building or maintaining organs in churches. The organ and choral projects that could be funded included public concerts, radio broadcasts, research projects, publications, new music commissions, educational projects, recordings, and scholarships. In arriving at their recommendations SPAC often took into account additional money raised by the applicants from other sources.

As of 2019 about 130 grants had been made, usually ranging in amounts from $300 to $3,000. The only exception was the $40,000 used to establish the Boston chapter’s organ library, where some of the endowment provided for shelving, cabinets, and furniture, and refurbishment of the space provided by Boston University. Other projects of note have included the support of the chapter’s former radio program on WCRB (which reached an estimated 10,000 listeners each Sunday for fifty years), many recordings, commissioned works, and research for writing books.

ELIGIBILITY

Grantees do not need to be a member or a chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and can be an organization or an individual.

SPAC members and current officers and directors of the Boston chapter are not eligible to receive grants as individuals.

If an individual receives an award for $600 or more, a miscellaneous income tax form will be filed by the chapter.

APPLICATIONS

Applicants must submit their application electronically to the SPAC chair, Heinrich Christensen. The application can be found here and submitted to the chair at email. Questions can be addressed to the chair by email as well.

Application deadlines are April 15 and October 15.

The funding typically awarded ranges from $500 to $1,500. The maximum award is $3,000.

REQUIREMENTS

Projects must be marketed to and open to the general public, relate to the organ or choral singing in some way, and be consistent with the ideals of the American Guild of Organists. The usefulness of the project to other individuals and groups must be discussed in the application.

Following completion, a product to share on the Boston chapter’s website, such as a new composition, a recording or excerpts from a recording, a scholarly article, or pictures and a brief report for our newsletter are of particular interest. As well, a copy of new music or a new book would be welcome additions to the chapter’s organ library.

A detailed summary of the project and a self-evaluation of the results are required.

FUNDABLE PROJECTS

A document listing all SPAC awards since 2000 may be accessed here. The following are general examples of fundable projects:

CONCERTS: Concert series are not fundable, but a single concert is, even if within a series. Applicants should explain why the event is noteworthy and include information about the anticipated audience, location, instrument, performers, publicity plans, and co-sponsorship if any.

EDUCATION: Proposals should include the project’s purpose, initial audience, co-sponsorship if any, and the usefulness of the project to other individuals and groups. Applicants are encouraged to contact publishers and journal editors to determine feasibility for publication. Funds will not be awarded for purposes of tuition support or for research as part of an academic degree program.

COMMISSIONS: Requests for support to sponsor commissioned music should include information about the composer, premiere performance, performer(s), and how the composition will be made available to other musicians for future performance. A copy of the proposed contract with the composer should be included.

ORGAN BUILDING OR RESTORATION: Money will not be made available for instruments in or for religious institutions. Assistance in purchasing or restoring instruments in buildings used primarily for secular purposes is fundable.

RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS: Expenses for conducting research not associated with an academic degree program are fundable. The project must lead to a scholarly publication in a journal or a magazine related to the field.

BROADCASTS: Applications for funding to support the development of media broadcasts that can be used on multiple platforms and bear relevance in all areas of the country are possibilities for funding.

RECORDINGS: Recording projects involving notable new works, famous composers, historic instruments, or music that has not been recorded previously by others are potential projects for funding. Applicants should explain why the project is noteworthy and include information about the composer, performer, instrument, avenues of distribution, and other relevant information.

SPAC Awards in 2025

Boston Early Music Festival, 2025 Organ Mini-Festival and Masterclass, $1,000

Worcester Chapter AGO, Advanced Pipe Organ Encounter, $2,000

HEINRICH CHRISTENSEN
SPAC Chair

Email