Creating a Sustainability Program For The Performance Of Organ Music
[ALBANY, CA, JULY 15, 2025] – Calliope: East Bay Music & Arts (Calliope: EBMA) announces the launch of the Dr. Richard Cushman Organ Scholarship Program, which subsidizes the training of the next generation of organists to ensure that the beautiful instruments and expansive repertoire continue to be played into the future. Inspired by Dr. Richard Cushman’s legacy and sudden passing, Calliope: EBMA began work with St. Alban’s Episcopal Church’s leadership on the creation of this special organ scholarship program: one where rising young keyboard musicians can study with the highly qualified organist, Arthur Omura, a former student of Dr. Cushman, to become accomplished organists.
Calliope: EBMA is a secular nonprofit arts organization with the mission of “building community and advancing social justice through the arts”, and has the unique advantage of being housed at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. St. Alban’s, with aesthetically beautiful, welcoming spaces and gorgeous acoustics, is also home to a very fine historic pipe organ; a 1914 Hook and Hastings instrument which was originally designed and built for the Sisters of the Presentation Convent in San Francisco.
St. Alban’s beloved longtime organist, the late Dr. Richard Cushman, had a lifetime passion both for organ music and for teaching, and was dedicated to keeping organ music alive as an art form by training young organists in the discipline. When he died unexpectedly in December of 2024 he had just started working with two new students.
Dr. Cushman, described by a former student as “a civilized man in uncivilized times”, was universally beloved by all who had the opportunity to spend time with him either creating music, discussing literature, or attending one of his afternoon teas.
The program instructor, Arthur Omura, grew up attending St. Alban’s Church Services and studied organ with Dr. Richard Cushman as a teen. Mr. Omura has advanced degrees in keyboard music from the University of Southern California; in addition to the organ, he is also an accomplished pianist and harpsichordist, with a fine hand in servicing the latter. He built his first harpsichord in a classroom at St. Alban’s.
We are thrilled to also present the 2025 recipients of the scholarship: Armen Phelps, a calculus teacher at Cristo Rey De La Salle High School; Nico Cardenas, local high school senior; and Eileen Chen, a Ph.D student at the University of California, Berkeley.
Details of the Program:
- Program Capacity: At this time, there is space for a maximum of two students at a time.
- Finances: In order to emphasize the value of the lessons, students are expected to contribute a portion of the lesson cost, according to their means, with Calliope offsetting the balance.
- Geographic reach: Students should be current residents of Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, Oakland, or Alameda.
- Age of Participants: Playing the organ requires sufficient height to reach all of the components. At this time, the minimum age of participants is 15; however, the application has a section where a student of 13 or 14 may petition to take part in the program (space permitting).
- Maximum Length of program participation per student: The maximum length of participation in the program is three years. As a general concept, each year will have a theme: year one – introduction to basic technique; year two – getting to know the repertoire; year three – journeyperson – able to play for church services and/or concerts.
- Agreements: After being accepted into the program (should capacity permit), students (or their parents, if they are under the age of 18) must complete an agreement regarding expectations surrounding behavior, practice, payment, and the like.
Even though all spots are currently filled, we are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will accept new students as slots become available. Please visit https://www.calliope-ebma.org/dr-richard-cushman-organ-scholarship to complete an application.
For further information regarding Calliope: EBMA, the 2025-2026 Concert Season, or the Dr. Richard Cushman Organ Scholarship Program, please reach out to Christine Staples and Tiffany Fajardo by email at [email protected] or see below for phone numbers and website.
Tiffany Fajardo
Executive Director
(510) 586-8324
https://www.calliope-ebma.org/
Christine Staples
Board President
(510) 872-0764
https://www.calliope-ebma.org/
ABOUT CALLIOPE: EBMA
Calliope: EBMA is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to building community and advancing social justice through the arts. Based at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany, CA, we offer an eclectic monthly concert series—from classical to global music—with affordable ticket options and livestream access.
We provide rental spaces for performances, rehearsals, and lessons, as well as gallery walls for local artists. Committed to fair pay for musicians, we also support arts accessibility for all.
Founded through a collaboration of St. Alban’s members, local musicians, and community partners, Calliope honors its namesake—the Greek muse of eloquence and epic poetry, gifted with a beautiful voice—while fostering creativity in the East Bay.
Learn more at our website—and yes, it’s pronounced “call-EYE-oh-pee”! ??
