Distinguished Artist Series Features Organ Concert by Gardner-Webb’s Staff Accompanist

Timothy Scruggs Has Served the University for Nearly Two Decades

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Timothy Scruggs, staff accompanist for the Gardner-Webb University Department of Music, will be the featured performer in the next Distinguished Artist Series concert. Scruggs, a GWU alumnus, has served in his position at GWU since 2003. His program of organ music will be on March 8 at 8 p.m. in Dover Chapel.

Scruggs began his musical studies with piano lessons at the age of 9. He decided to learn organ at age 15 and enrolled as a student of Elizabeth Bennett through the Community School of Music at Gardner-Webb University. After graduating from high school, he entered Gardner-Webb as an organ performance major where he continued studying with Ms. Bennett.

After graduating with the Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance, he continued his organ studies with Dr. Brian Bailey at Appalachian State University, where he received the Master of Music degree in organ performance. His primary duties at Gardner-Webb include accompanying for music majors and minors enrolled in applied lessons and accompanying for Concert Choir and Chorale. He has also accompanied for several opera theater and musical theater productions and collaborated with faculty and guest artists.

Scruggs has also been active as a church organist for over 26 years and has served as the organist for First United Methodist Church of Gastonia, N.C., since 2013. He has previously been the organist at churches in Forest City, Boone and Spindale, N.C., and was the conference musician/organist for the annual conference of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church from 2014-2016.   

The program includes selections by Dubois, Howells, Bach, Gardonyi, Mendelssohn, Dupre, Portman and Vierne. The Dover Chapel organ was built by the Reuter Organ Company of Lawrence, Kan., and was originally installed in 1974. The organ underwent a major renovation in 1999 at which time the console was replaced and an additional rank of pipes and four digital voices were added. The organ currently contains 1,282 pipes (23 ranks) plus the four digital voices that are controlled by a two-manual console with a 32 note pedalboard.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for senior adults and free to GWU students, faculty and staff. To purchase or reserve tickets, click here.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 48 hours prior to the event. Please call (704) 406-4253 or email [email protected] with your request.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.