The American Guild of Organists is pleased to announce their affiliation with Vox Humana, a new online journal that presents current ideas, trends, and research about the organ. Articles are published every two weeks by leading organists and scholars from around the globe. Visit Vox Humana.
AGO & Organ News
AGO Launches the American Guild of Organists Monograph Series
The American Guild of Organists is pleased to announce availability of J. Michael Barone and Pipedreams: The Organ and Public Radio.
Barone created a unique presence for the organ on the airwaves, produced a trove of original and important recordings, and, 35 years ago, created the foremost organ-centered broadcast, Pipedreams.
Future monographs in the series will include The Organ on Campus and The Making of a Virtuoso Organist.
Download a free copy of this unique document or purchase a printed copy in the AGO online store.
Two new Pogorzelski-Yankee Scholarships will be awarded for the 2018-19 academic year
The online application period for 1) an entering college freshman and 2) entering 1st year graduate scholarship begins January 1st and ends February 15, 2018.
More information on the Pogorzelski-Yankee scholarship – The application period has begun!
- Students must plan to be an entering college freshman or an entering first year graduate student in the 2018-19 academic year.
- Students must have a desire to commit a significant portion of the two years following graduation to teaching, performing, or other serious endeavor with respect to the organ.
- Students must attend, or plan to attend, a nationally or regionally accredited post-secondary institution (college, university, or conservatory) by the time awards are made.
- Students must provide verification of acceptance to the institution.
- Students must attend their institution as full-time students.
- Students must have verifiable financial need to be awarded this scholarship.
- Membership in the AGO is not required.
- Applicants may not be the children or grandchildren of American Guild of Organists’ staff members, board members, or scholarship committee members.
- Applicants may not be related to Ronald G. Pogorzelski or Lester D. Yankee.
Support the AGO on #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday, November 28, is a national day of philanthropy. To celebrate the occasion, we ask that you consider making a gift to the AGO Annual Fund. Our ambitious goal is to raise $24,000 in 24 hours. We are both making a commitment to contribute to the Guild on Giving Tuesday, and we encourage you to do so as well.
The Guild is poised for great things in 2018.
At our National Convention in Kansas City, Mo., July 2-6, we will roll out a completely new, three-year strategic plan that is designed to provide greater support to our chapters and members than ever before.
But first, we will start the year by helping to fund January Jubilees in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio.
In the spring we will honor John Ferguson with a Gala in Minnesota.
Then in June and July we will provide financial support to six chapters hosting Pipe Organ Encounters in six different states (Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, California, and Florida) and to the many dozens of students attending them.
All year long we will provide funding to aid the studies of a half-dozen Pogorzelski-Yankee scholars at the undergraduate and graduate levels; strengthen our five-tier certification program; and publish hundreds of pages of information about organs and organists in The American Organist, the world’s leading publication for our profession.
Please know that a gift of any amount will be greatly appreciated.
You can designate your tax-deductible gift in honor of a loved one, a colleague, a student, or a teacher. You can make your gift online at www.agohq.org or you can call us at 212-870-2310, during business hours from 9-5 Eastern time. If you have already made a gift to the AGO this year, please accept our deepest thanks.
In the weeks ahead, concert halls and houses of worship will be filled with the music of the King of Instruments, more so than during any other time of the year. Through our collective efforts, we will be accomplishing the mission of the Guild to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.
Thank you for all that you do for the Guild, for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Your gift to the Annual Fund will make a positive impact by helping our members, by strengthening our chapters, and by supporting our national organization.
On behalf of the AGO National Council and Headquarters staff, we send best wishes for a blessed holiday season.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Bedford, AAGO, ChM
President
James E. Thomashower
Executive Director
AGO National Convention 2018: Explore Kansas City’s Rich Musical History
Located in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, the American Jazz Museum showcases the sights and sounds of jazz through interactive exhibits and films, the Changing Gallery exhibit space, Horace M. Peterson III Visitors Center, Blue Room jazz club and Gem Theater. Since its inception in 1997, the Museum hosts thousands of students, scholars, musicians and fans of the arts for over 200 performances, education programs, special exhibitions, community events and more each year, providing an opportunity to learn about the legends, honor their legacy, or simply enjoy the sounds of modern day jazz.
Kansas City to Host 2018 AGO National Convention
AGO members will gather in Kansas City, Missouri July 2-6, 2018 for the AGO’s biennial convention.
Kansas City is currently experiencing a wonderful cultural rebirth. Energetic and attractive neighborhoods throughout the city are highlighted by world class performing arts venues, beautiful bars and restaurants, and a wide array of cultural hot spots such as museums, coffee shops, breweries, art galleries, and parks. Forbes named Kansas City one of “America’s Best Downtowns”; Huffington Post named it “Coolest City in America” in 2014; Time awarded KC “America’s Best City for BBQ”; and it was the first US city with access to Google’s ultra–high–speed internet service, Google Fiber.
Here’s a great article from the KC Independent on the rich musical and cultural heritage that Kansas City has to offer.
To keep up with news of the convention, bookmark the 2018 AGO National Convention website:
