Arthur W. Mason Musical Scholarship Fund
Arthur Wright Mason (1866-1955) was born in New Lexington, Ohio. He was a musical prodigy, playing organ and piano in his church and at local dances when he was only eight. Mr. Mason's first formal training in music came through his participation in a local band that was fortunate to have an outstanding circus band leader as its director. At the age of 15, he toured throughout the Midwest as organist with a family of bell ringers. This job was the beginning of a musical career that would take him across the country.
In 1891, Mr. Mason became supervisor of music in the public schools of Columbus, Indiana. It was at this point that he left the realm of the traveling musician to begin his distinguished career as a music educator. He joined the Indiana Music Teacher's Association and was elected president of the organization in 1906. In 1926 he became director of the Indianapolis School of Music and Fine Arts, which later merged with the Metropolitan School of Music to form the Arthur Jordan School of Music, affiliated with Butler University. During this tenure Mr. Mason formally received his Bachelor of Music degree.
The Arthur W. Mason Musical Scholarship Fund was established in 1987 by Mr. Mason's daughter, Louise Mason Caldwell also a gifted musician and her husband, Ross Caldwell. This scholarship is awarded annually to outstanding students to further their music education.