Jacob Giancaterino grew up in Midlothian, VA and attended Midlothian High School, where he played in the show choir band led by Mrs. Michelle Graham. In 2022, he graduated Summa Cum Laude in Piano Performance and Magna Cum Laude in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech. As a music major, he studied privately with Dr. Richard Masters and Dr. Sarah Rushing, while participating in masterclasses given by Dr. David Korevaar, Jonathan Biss, and Conrad Tao. A lover of vocal music, Jacob sang in the Virginia Tech choirs for 3 years and took a semester of “Opera Workshop.” Jacob also served as a lead musician at Blacksburg United Methodist Church and Christiansburg Church of the Brethren. Since returning to the Richmond area, Jacob has furthered his interest in church music through organ studies with Dr. Robert Gallagher and service on the music staff at Huguenot Road Baptist Church. Additionally, he is a baritone in the Richmond Symphony Chorus and has studied privately with Russell Wilson (piano) and James Taylor (voice).

 

William Tan (18) is Principal Organist at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Richmond, on the historically built 1983 Taylor and Boody organ. Studying piano since age five with Gloria Swanson, he completed ten years of the National Guild of Piano Teachers’ Guild Auditions. Beginning organ studies in 2023, he completed a 2023-2024 Richmond Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Scholarship, culminating in a year-end recital, and continued studying with Daniel Stipe, Principal Organist at All Saints Episcopal Church, in a second scholarship year. William also has received private lessons from well-known organists including Bruce Stevens, Jean-Baptiste Robin, and Christopher Houlihan. In February 2025, William won second place in the David Dubois Organ Competition. William is an active recitalist, with recent recitals taking him to St Michael’s Episcopal Church, All Saints Episcopal Church, and Bruton Parish, Williamsburg. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society, where he is an editor. William particularly enjoys the music of Couperin, Bach, and Duruflé.

 

James Elder wanted to learn to play the organ since he was ten years old. He is now sixteen and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to study under his enthusiastic teacher, Grant Hellmers. James is homeschooled and also enjoys rock climbing and ballroom dancing. He thanks the AGO Richmond Chapter very much for the scholarship!

 

Nathaniel Ely, 16, attends the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology in Petersburg, where he is a piano major.  He has studied piano for nine years and violin for four years.  He began taking organ lessons in 2024 with Daniel Stipe; he currently studies under Dr. Ardyth Lohuis.  He has received guidance also from Thomas Lee Bailey.  This summer he will attend the Pipe Organ Intensive at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Nathaniel plays frequently in worship services at his home church, Reveille United Methodist in Richmond.  He enjoys spending time in the great churches and cathedrals of Europe, having visited France, Germany, Bulgaria, Ireland, Lithuania, and England.