FUNDation Strong: The Berl Olswanger Memorial Scholarship Fund
Berl Olswanger, W.C. Handy, Paul Flowers
Photo Courtesy: The Commercial Appeal
Among some of the longer existing funds held by the Foundation is the Berl Olswanger Memorial Music Scholarship Fund, which was created by the Session on November 9, 1981 and administered under the former Wills and Endowment Committee, until such time that the Foundation was formed and the Fund was transferred to the Foundation. Berl Olswanger died in October of that year at the age of 63.
Who is Berl Olswanger?
Known as Mr. Music of Memphis beginning in the 1960s, the lifelong Memphian began playing the piano when he was three years old and had his own radio program on WMC at the age of twelve. In the 1930s he toured the country with the George Olsen orchestra. He served in World War II for four years and became Admiral “Bull” Halsey’s entertainment and music officer for the South Pacific. Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope were among many entertainers that he accompanied during that time.
In the 1950’s he had his own television show in the Memphis market through WMCTV and it continued as a daily show into the 1960s. He eventually had recordings through RCA and in the late 1950s was the music director for Pepper Records in partnership with John Pepper, co-owner of WDIA radio station in Memphis. He composed close to forty compositions.
Photo Courtesy: Memphis/Shelby County Public Library
Berl became an entrepreneur in the 1960s, owning up to three stores that were a combination of a music school, music studio, and piano store in the Memphis area where he taught countless Memphians. He taught piano in the unique style of chord method. He even published the Berl Olswanger Piano Course that was distributed nationally. He was well known for his commercial jingle writing and vocal arrangements for widely known vocal groups.
He was known personally by many Memphians as he transitioned from solo playing engagements to forming the Berl Olswanger Orchestra and its famous “Olswanger Beat” which was in high demand for performances. He was a master piano player for over six decades – playing, writing and orchestrating a wide variety of arrangements and in different styles, all stemming from his excellent grasp of ragtime.
Berl and his wife Edna were members of Second as well as the Chapel Class, where he often played for his fellow class members. The Chapel Class was so appreciative of his ministry among them that they supported the fund established by the Session with both their dollars and over the years with their active engagement in the lives of young musicians who would honor the Lord with the furtherance of the talents given to them. The fund was further enhanced upon the receipt of the proceeds of a life insurance policy which was a bequest to the Church by Berl.
The Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded to one or more qualified Christian students majoring in music with preference given to members of Second Presbyterian Church.
Special consideration is given to students planning to or attending a Memphis college or university, or to those who, while on scholarship, are willing to participate in Christian music endeavors within the church or elsewhere.
Scholarships are bestowed in the form of a grant and disbursed to the college or university. They are renewable for four years.
Edna & Berl Olswanger
The responsibility for the selection process rests upon the Berl Olswanger Memorial Music Scholarship Committee consisting of the following individuals: Chair of the Foundation’s Grants Committee or his or her designee, President of the Chapel Class, two members of the Chapel Class who are appointed by the President of the Chapel Class, Director of Music, and a member of the Church Choir who is appointed by the Director of Music. Marion Quinlen has chaired this Committee since the Foundation’s involvement. Charlotte Neal remains a long-time committee member and Nancy Crosby served in this capacity for many years.
As of June 30, 2019 the fund balance was $93,108. Since the Foundation has had the fund, $41,000 in scholarships have been granted to date from this endowed fund. Prior to that, approximately $25,000 had been distributed for a total of $66,000. The Foundation is able to accept additional donations to this scholarship fund and to the College Music Scholarship Fund which the Foundation established as an expendable fund in order to complement the Olswanger Fund with immediately available scholarship funding.
The Recipients
Nineteen students have benefitted from this scholarship. The universities attended include Memphis, Rhodes, Union, Belmont, Vanderbilt, Millsaps, University of Mississippi, University of Alabama, Arkansas State, East Texas State, and University of Michigan. Some of the more recent recipients have included Daniel Polloreno and Molly Johnson Pennington, who both received degrees from the University of Memphis and Katie Neal, who completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Union University.
Sam Johnson
Sam Johnson is the most recent recipient. Sam began his studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Memphis this fall. He recently graduated from Millington Central High School where he compiled a long list of accomplishments and awards in the choral and athletic worlds. You may have seen Sam in the choir where he sings as a tenor. He also serves as one of the Music Ministry Interns sponsored by the Foundation. Sam says, “My goals include being able to sing in Opera Memphis, Broadway, and learn more about music therapy and theater.” Sam serves in our church during Sunday and other evening services as well as special music events. He is mentored by Calvin Ellis, Choral Director at Second and Clay Fusion with Campus Outreach.