AGO Commissioned Pieces
Through the years, the American Guild of Organists has commissioned numerous pieces which have been premiered at the biennial national conventions as well as at regional or chapter events. The variety of commissioned compositions reflects the Guild’s ongoing support of new music for the organ. Contact AGO Headquarters for any additions or updates to the list below.
2024 AGO National Convention San Francisco, California
Mason Bates – Suite for Organ (I. On the Rhine II. Stars III. Toccata)
David Conte 2024 Distinguished Composer Award – O Come, Let Us Sing/When In Our Music God Is Glorified for organ, choir, and optional congregation
Melissa Dunphy – Generations (I. The Morning Song II. The Darkest Hour III. The Great Work) for organ and voice
Iain Farrington – Heads Up (I. Swing Around II. Swag Rag III. Sweet Steak) for organ solo
Texu Kim – Diptych on Veni Creator Spiritus for organ solo
Jessica Meyer – Strong Arms to Hold Back the Dark (Ghostly – Reassuring – With Resounding Joy – Beginning Anew) for organ and trombone
Eurydice Osterman – Psalm 23 for organ solo
Carl Rütti – Wisdom – Suite for organ solo (I. Dancing Wisdom II. Brother Glacier’s Farewell III. Mea culpa IV. Hope V. La Sapienza di San Francesco)
Errollyn Wallen – Gather for organ solo
2022 AGO National Convention Seattle, Washington
George Baker – Le Tombeau de Jean Langlais for organ solo
Carol Barnett 2022 Distinguished Composer Award– Summer 2020 for organ and horn
Damien Geter – Elegy for organ and tenor
John Muehleisen and Charles Anthony Silvestri – Cantata Caffeinata for organ, choir, 2 soloists, soprano saxophone, and percussion
Hina Sakamoto – Tamayura: The Orbs encircling me in Heaven for organ and marimba
Mark Sedio – Nada me falta for organ, choir and percussion
William White – O Clavis David for organ and choir
Sharon J. Willis – Ascension Suite for organ solo
2020 AGO National Convention Atlanta, Georgia
David Briggs – Passacaglia Chromatique for organ solo
Jonathan Bailey Holland – Dream Variations for organ and choir
Rachel Laurin 2020 Distinguished Composer Award – Concert Piece No.3, Op. 94 – Mr. Mistoffelees Overture
Eric Nelson – The Love of God
June Nixon – Intrada – St. Anne for organ and duo trumpet
Brenda Portman – Prelude and Tarantelle for organ solo
Julian Wachner – My Cathedral
2018 AGO National Convention Kansas City, Missouri
Benjamin Cornelius-Bates – Sonata No. 1 for organ solo
Pamela Decker 2018 Distinguished Composer Award – The Seven Last Words and Triumph of Christ
Emma Lou Diemer – Remembering for organ solo
Thierry Escaich – Quatre Visages du Temps for organ and orchestra
Frank Ferko – Cartes Postales de la Guerre (Postcards from the War) for mezzo-soprano and organ
Anthony Maglione – The Wedding of Solomon for organ, orchestra, and choir
Forrest Pierce – Mirror Cantata for organ and choir
Sir James MacMillan – Everyone Sang for organ and choir
Cecilia McDowall – O Antiphon Sequence for organ solo
Tarik O’Regan – As One for organ and choir
Rosephanye Powell – Walk with Me, Lord for organ and choir
Jean-Baptiste Robin – The Hands of Time for organ solo
Chen Yi – Totem Poles
2016 AGO National Convention Houston, Texas
Emma Lou Diemer – Hommage to Bach and Widor
Eric Ewazen – Rhapsody and Fugue for organ and brass quintet
Naji Subhy Paul Irénée Hakim – Fandango for organ solo
Luke Mayernik – Rêverie for organ and alto saxophone
Joan Tower – Power Dance for organ solo
Zachary Wadsworth – Earthquake for organ and choir
David Ashley White 2016 Distinguished Composer Award– With a Shining like the Sun
Bayoubüchlein for organ solo
2014 AGO National Convention Boston, Massachusetts
Carol Barnett – March to Glory for organ solo
Lisa Bielawa – Neumark Dances for organ solo
Carson Cooman – Solstice Sonata for trumpet and organ
Pamela Decker – Faneuil Hall for organ solo
Libby Larsen 2014 Distinguished Composer Award – Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round for organ and choir
David Lasky – Prelude on ‘Picardy’ for organ solo
Matthew Martin – O Be Joyful in the Lord for organ and choir
Nico Muhly – Patterns for organ solo
Betty Olivero – Lo Ira Ra (I Will Fear Not Evil) for mixed chorus, accordion, clarinet, harp and piano
Scott Perkins – Benedictus for organ and choir
Robert Sirota – Apparitions for organ and string quartet
Hillary Tann – Embertides for organ solo
Edward Thompson – Prayers of Hildegard for SATB chorus and marimba
James Woodman – Eight Little Harmonies and Counterpoints for organ solo
2012 AGO National Convention Nashville, Tennessee
Diana Burrell – Phos for organ, percussion, and cello
David Conte – Psalm of Praise (Psalm 100)
Eleanor Daley – Fill Us, Lord for organ and choir
Craig Phillips 2012 Distinguished Composer Award – Three Sketches for Organ (Awakening, Midnight Dance, Fête) for organ solo
Rosephanye Powell – The Cry of Jeremiah for organ and choir chamber orchestra
Roberto Sierra – Organ Concerto
2010 AGO National Convention Washington, D.C.
Mary Beth Bennett – Great Voice of God (Vox Dei)
Rihards Dubra – for organ, choir, and brass ensemble
David Hurd 2010 Distinguished Composer Award – Three Psalms for Chorus and Two Organs
Rachel Laurin – Fantasia for organ and harp
Leo Nestor – Joy! Because the Circling Year for organ and choir
O Risen Christ, Still Wounded for organ and choir
Dorothy Papadakos – La Petite Sweet for organ and jazz ensemble
Craig Phillips – Sojourn for organ and winds
Phil Snedecor – Hymn Tune Arrangements
Gwyneth Walker – Sanctuary for organ solo
2008 AGO National Convention Twin Cities, Minnesota
Judith Bingham– Jacob’s Ladder for organ with strings
Libby Larsen – He Rose: Fanfare for Easter for organ and brass quartet
Jakko Mantyjarvi – And Hit a World, at Every Plunge for solo organ
Stephen Paulus 2008 Distinguished Composer Award
Steven Stucky – The Kingdom of God for SATB a cappella choir
The Minnesota Organ Book
2006 AGO National Convention Chicago, Illinois
Frank Ferko – Livre d’orgue for organ solo
Adolphus Hailstork – Two Studies on Chant Melodies
Naji Hakim – Capriccio for organ and violin
Aaron David Miller – Sleepy Hollow – a tone poem for organ and orchestra
Emily Maxson Porter – People, Look East for organ and choir
Richard Proulx 2006 Distinguished Composer Award Choral Anthem with obbligato instrument
Hallel for organ solo
Augusta Read Thomas – Angel Tears and Earth Prayers for organ and trumpet
Julian Wachner – Organ Concerto
Richard Webster – Choral Anthem with obbligato instrument
Sharon Willis – The Agora Celebration Suite for Organ for organ solo
Carl Wiltse – Lyric Piece for organ and handbells
2004 National Convention Los Angeles, California
Praises of Jerusalem for organ and SATB choir
Mary Beth Bennett – Preludes to the Apocalypse for organ and two trumpets
David Conte – Prelude and Fugue for organ solo
James Hopkins – Concierto de Los Angeles for organ and orchestra
Ian Krouse – Chiacona for organ and guitar
Erica Muhl – Fleet for organ and percussion
Margaret Sandresky 2004 Distinguished Composer Award – The Mystery of Faith for organ solo
Williametta Spencer – O Come, Let Us Sing for organ and choir
2002 National Convention Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
William Bolcom – Borborgym
Owen Burdick – Jacob’s Prayer
Charles Callahan – Postlude on “Vom Himmel hoch”
Emma Lou Diemer
Ruth Henderson – From Darkness to Light organ and choir
Bruce Neswick – Epilogue on “Veni Creator Spiritus”
Dorothy Papadakos – The Women at the Tomb
Carl Schalk 2002 Distinguished Composer Award
Ben Steinberg – Psalms of Thanksgiving for organ, cello, and harp
Erik Santos Star Rising
AGO Distinguished Composer Award
The Distinguished Composer Award was established in 1986 by the Committee on New Music, under the directorship of Philip Brunelle. Its purpose is to make members of the AGO aware of the outstanding composers in the United States writing for organ and chorus.
Virgil Thomson (1986)
Ned Rorem (1989)
Daniel Pinkham (1990)
Samuel Adler (1991)
Dominick Argento (1992)
William Albright (1993)
Conrad Susa (1994)
Emma Lou Diemer (1995)
Dan Locklair (1996)
William Bolcom (1998)
Alice Parker (2000)
Carl Schalk (2002)
Margaret Vardell Sandresky (2004)
Richard Proulx (2006)
Stephen Paulus (2008)
David Hurd (2010)
Craig Phillips (2012)
Libby Larsen (2014)
David Ashley White (2016)
Pamela Decker (2018)
Rachel Laurin (2020)
Carol Barnett (2022)
Committee on New Music
Louise Mundinger, MM, Director Email
David J. Hurd, Jr., MusD Email
Carol Feather Martin, MM Email
Alexander Meszler, MM Email
M. Jonathan Ryan, MM, FAGO, ChM, ex officio (Vice President/Councillor for Competitions and New Music) Email
AGO Headquarters Email