Roberta Bitgood

Roberta Bitgood (Wiersma) (15 January 1908 – 15 April 2007) 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. Early life and education Roberta Bitgood was born in New London, Connecticut, to Grace Robinson Prentis and Robert A.T. Bitgood. She showed an early talent for music, and started violin lessons at the age five. From 1920-1924, she studied at the Williams Memorial Institute. While at Williams, she served as concert master and assistant conductor for her school orchestra. At age fifteen she began taking organ lessons over the summers, and subsequently started performing at local churches. Bitgood attended Connecticut College for Women, studying music with a major focused in violin and organ performance. She graduated with honors in 1928, and continued her studies in New York City at the Guilmant Organ School. Bitgood won a $500 scholarship to attend the school, and, while there, worked with the founder . During her time at Guilmant, she also completed her Associate and Fellowship exams with the American Guild of Organists (AGO).