Roberta Bitgood
Encyclopedia
Roberta Bitgood Wiersma was an American organist, choir director and composer. She was a pioneer of 20th-century American church music and the first woman to serve as national president of the American Guild of Organists.
, Connecticut
, of parents Grace Robinson Prentis and Robert A.T. Bitgood. She showed an early talent for music and started violin lessons at the age five. She studied at the Williams Memorial Institute
from 1920–24 and began performing in local churches and school orchestras. Bitgood graduated from the Connecticut College
for Women and continued her studies in New York
at the Guilmant Organ School with William C. Carl, where she graduated in 1930. She went on to receive a master's degree in music education from Teacher's College at Columbia University
in 1932 and a master's and doctoral degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary
after studying with Clarence Dickinson and David Williams
in 1935 and 1945.
Bitgood taught in New York at the Bloomfield College and Seminary. She married and had a daughter Grace, and worked as an organist in New York, New Jersey, California and Michigan. In 1975 she was elected president of the American Guild of Organists
. After retiring in 1976, Bitgood returned to Connecticut, where she continued to work as an organist in local churches and synagogues.
The Roberta Bitgood Organ Scholarship was created in 1993 by the American Guild of Organists, New London County Chapter. Bitgood received the William C. Carl Medal in 1930 and the Connecticut College Medal in 1974. She died in New London, Connecticut.
Her works have been recorded and issued on media, including:
Life
Roberta Bitgood was born in New LondonNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, of parents Grace Robinson Prentis and Robert A.T. Bitgood. She showed an early talent for music and started violin lessons at the age five. She studied at the Williams Memorial Institute
Williams Memorial Institute
The Williams Memorial Institute is located in New London, Connecticut. The house was built in 1891 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 30, 1978....
from 1920–24 and began performing in local churches and school orchestras. Bitgood graduated from the Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
for Women and continued her studies in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
at the Guilmant Organ School with William C. Carl, where she graduated in 1930. She went on to receive a master's degree in music education from Teacher's College at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1932 and a master's and doctoral degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary may refer to:* Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, an ecumenical seminary affiliated with Columbia University in Manhattan* Union Presbyterian Seminary, in Richmond, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina...
after studying with Clarence Dickinson and David Williams
David Williams
-Musicians:* David Williams , Aboriginal musician and artist* David Williams , Welsh bassist* David Williams , Welsh guitarist and bassist in Son of Dork...
in 1935 and 1945.
Bitgood taught in New York at the Bloomfield College and Seminary. She married and had a daughter Grace, and worked as an organist in New York, New Jersey, California and Michigan. In 1975 she was elected president of the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
. After retiring in 1976, Bitgood returned to Connecticut, where she continued to work as an organist in local churches and synagogues.
The Roberta Bitgood Organ Scholarship was created in 1993 by the American Guild of Organists, New London County Chapter. Bitgood received the William C. Carl Medal in 1930 and the Connecticut College Medal in 1974. She died in New London, Connecticut.
Works
Bitgood was known for sacred music, anthems, cantatas and hymns. Selected works include:- The Greatest Of These Is Love
- God Himself Is With Us
- Let us Witness Together for SATB choir
- Organ Album, collection (1991)
Her works have been recorded and issued on media, including:
- Women Composer For Organ-Music Spanning Five Centuries Audio CD (October 24, 2006) Gasparo Records, ASIN: B000025YJO
- Music She Wrote Audio CD (July 31, 2001) Raven Records, ASIN: B00005NF8G