Joseph Nathan Garton Memorial Scholarship Fund
Daisy Hinkle Garton established this scholarship fund in 1983 in honor of her late husband, Joseph Nathan Garton. A gifted performer, composer, and teacher, Professor Garton earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he met his wife, Daisy. They were married in 1940 in Murray, Kentucky. Both taught at Murray State Teacher's College. Professor Garton could play a dozen or more instruments, among them oboe, french horn, and double bass. Returning to Bloomington after four and a half years of active duty service during World War II, Professor Garton entered the doctoral program at IU. In his dissertation, entitled The Thesaurus Harmonicus of J.B. Besard 1603, he transcribed 169 lute tablatures to modern notation. The Gartons played together in the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, and he performed with the Bloomington Baroque Players Ensemble for many years. His first composition for a string quartet earned him the prestigious scholarship to study under world-renowned Austrian composer, Arnold Schoenberg. Combining his love of performing with his gift for teaching, Professor Garton frequently appeared before various groups with his collection of primitive instruments, explaining their characteristics and origins and giving demonstrations of each. After his death, his wife donated his early music instrument collection to IU.
The Joseph Nathan Garton Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding student majoring in early music at IU Jacobs School of Music. If a qualified early music student cannot be found, the scholarship is awarded in the area of music composition.