AGO Vision Statement
The vision of the American Guild of Organists is to engage, support, and uplift every organist.
AGO Mission
The mission of the American Guild of Organists is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.
Value Proposition
As a member of the Guild you can:
- Connect with other organists
- Enjoy camaraderie at chapter events and conventions
- Receive encouragement from colleagues
- Enhance your skills as an organist and choral conductor
- Learn at your own pace through our members-only online resource, the Organ Tutor
- Access career opportunities and job listings through the National Job Board
- Discover news about the organ and choral worlds online through the AGO’s national and chapter websites, The American Organist (TAO), and Vox Humana
- Earn professional credentials through AGO certification
- Seek advice regarding professional concerns from our new, members-only career hotline
- Celebrate the organ in its historic and evolving contexts
- Nurture new organists of all ages
- Share your knowledge and expertise
- Find inspiration and challenge
- Experience great organs and organists
- Save money with discounts on AGO convention registration fees and publications
- Enroll in high-quality, competitively-priced insurance plans
Major Programs
- More than 270 local chapters supporting 13,000 organists and choral directors worldwide
- Five-Tier Professional Certification program leading to the Service Playing, Colleague, Associateship, Choir Master, and Fellowship certificates
- National and Regional Conventions in cities across the country
- Six Competitions in Organ Performance, Improvisation, and Composition
- Scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as an organ scholar program for emerging organists.
- Student Commissioning Project for pairs of student composers and organists
- Pipe Organ Encounters (POE, POE Advanced, POE Technical) for teens and (POE+) for adults
- Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza events introducing grade school students to the organ
- 30 Online Video Lessons for the New Organist
- The American Organist Magazine, the leading monthly magazine for the profession
- Vox Humana, an online journal featuring ideas, trends, and research about the organ
- January Jubilees to nurture part-time musicians in religious institutions
- Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Standards
- Career Development and Support including the world’s most comprehensive job board for organists