American Guild of Organists

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AGO Choir Master Certification

The American Guild of Organists was chartered in 1896 by the Board of Regents, University of the State of New York, to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification. Examinations have played a central role in the Guild’s work since its founding. Being professionally certified can play a major role in your life and career. Choir Master certification attests to a candidate’s ability to lead a choir and establish effective procedures necessary for a successful choral program. For additional details, see the AGO Professional Certification Requirements for 2025.

2025 Examination Dates and Fees

The next exam will be given June 4, 2025 (morning and afternoon). Both sections, $495; single section $295. Student rate: both sections, $375; single section $250. Surcharge for non-AGO members is $115. Application deadline is April 1, 2025.

Educational Resources for Choir Master Certification

Videos Demonstrating Certification Exam Procedures
100 Strategies for Successful AGO Certification
Professional Certification Requirements 2025
2024 Manual of Procedure for Certification

Webinars for Choir Master Certification

Monday, May 13, 2024
Compositional Techniques (AAGO, ChM, and FAGO)
Presented by Vince Carr FRCO, ChM, André Lash FAGO, and Wayne Peterson FAGO, ChM

Monday, May 6, 2024
Ear Tests (AAGO, ChM, and FAGO)
Ear Test Handout
Ear Test Solutions
Q&A
Presented by Vince Carr FRCO, ChM and Eric Birk FAGO

Past Choir Master Exams

Choir Master Exam 2024
Choir Master Exam 2023
Choir Master Exam 2022      Solutions for the 2022 exam       Ear Test A          Ear Test B
Choir Master Exam 2021      Solutions for the 2021 exam
The 2020 Choir Master exam was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Choir Master Exam 2019      Solutions for the 2019 exam
Choir Master Exam 2018      Solutions for the 2018 Exam
Choir Master Exam 2017      Solutions for the 2017 Exam
Choir Master Exam 2016      Solutions for the 2016 Exam
Choir Master Exam 2015      Solutions for the 2015 Exam

Choir Master Ear Training Exercises

The AGO Committee on Professional Certification has created the ear training exercises below for candidates to use in their preparation for Choir Master certification. Listen to each of the examples and then refer to the Ear Training Solutions and the Ear Training Solutions – Error Detection.
Please note that for study purposes, the suggested pause time for each example is 60″.  However, candidates are only allotted 30″ during the actual exam.

Past TAO Articles for Exam Preparation

Preparing for AGO Exams (reprints from past TAO magazine articles)
“It Don’t Mean A Thing If You Can’t Make ‘Em Sing”/Leading Hymn Singing from the Organ: A Practical Checklist by Kenneth Grinnell, FAGO, ChM, April 2006
Ten Tips on Sight-Reading by Jonathan B. Hall, FAGO, ChM, March 2009
Transposition: Not a Four-Letter Word by Kenneth Grinnell, FAGO, ChM, May 2008
On Modulation by Dean Billmeyer, FAGO, Handout from a 2008 convention workshop

Contact Cliff Hill Music or Lois Fyfe Music for purchasing Choir Master repertoire.