American Guild of Organists

The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is an international organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in New York City with its administrative offices in The Interchurch Center. Founded as a professional educational association, it was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1896, with the authority to grant certificates of Associate or Fellow to members who passed examinations.
Membership is not limited to professional organists, but is open to anybody with an interest in the organ and organ music. As of 2020, there are approximately 14,000 voting members in all categories of membership. The AGO's current president is Michael Bedford, elected in 2016.
The Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music.
Founders.
Among the 145 founding members of the guild were Benjamin Dwight Allen, John W. Bischoff, Dudley Buck, George Whitefield Chadwick, Kate Sara Chittenden, Charles Whitney Coombs, Gaston Dethier, Clarence Dickinson, Clarence Eddy, Arthur Foote, William Gilchrist, Henry Houseley Henry Holden Huss, Bruno Klein, Ernst R. Kroeger, Benjamin Johnson Lang, Peter C. Lutkin, and Herve D. Wilkins. Clifford Demarest also played an important role in its first two decades.
Organization.
The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is geographically divided into seven regions and 298 chapters. The AGO has chapters in Australia (Sydney), Barbados, Hong Kong, Kenya (Nairobi), Finland (Helsinki), Singapore, Shanghai, and Taiwan. The European chapter is the oldest chapter outside of the US, with many members in France and Germany, as well as other countries.
The leadership of the AGO consists of a National Council, seven Regional Councillors forming a Board of Regional Councillors, and various local chapters within each Region. The national headquarters is located at 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260, in New York, New York, in The Interchurch Center.
The National Council is the governing body of the American Guild of Organists. The four National Officers, five National Councillors with committees in portfolio, and the Chair of the Board of Regional Councillors (selected by the seven Regional Councillors from among their number) are members of the National Council. The Executive Director is a non-voting member of the National Council. The Chaplain is an honorary member of the National Council.
The National Officers of the Guild consist of a President, a Vice President/Councillor of Competitions and New Music, a Secretary/Councillor for Communications, and a Treasurer/Councillor for Finance and Development. National Councillors coordinate and represent to the National Council specific areas of the work of the Guild—education, membership, competitions and new music, conventions, young organists, and finance and development.
The Regional Councillors are elected by the members of the Guild assigned to chapters within each of the seven regions. Regional Councillors are responsible for supervision and coordination of the work of the Guild in their Regions and representation of the Region on the National Council through the Chair of the Board of Regional Councillors. The Board of Regional Councillors meets in person with the National Council once per year with voice, but no vote.
Appointed District Conveners are responsible for the development of the Guild's interests in each state or area located within the Region. The District Convener assists the Regional Councillor in the work of the Region.
In addition to District Conveners, Regional Coordinators are appointed to assist the Regional Councillor and a National Councillor in coordinating work of a specific portfolio area of the Guild within the Region, such as education, regional competitions for young organists, and professional development.
In 2014, the formerly nine regions were consolidated into seven:
Over the years, a number of international chapters have been formed and are grouped into the following AGO regions:
These international chapters formally affiliate with the AGO rather than other professional associations that may already exist in their country, such as the Royal Canadian College of Organists or Royal College of Organists (UK).
Michael Bedford is currently president, initially elected in 2016 to a two-year term. He was re-elected in 2018 to an additional two-year term and, in 2020, re-elected to a third and final term for 2020–2022. He succeeded John C. Walker. Other past presidents serving in the 21st century, and their terms in office, include Eileen Guenther (2008–2014) and Frederick Swann (2002–2008).
Programs and publications.
The organization holds national conventions in even-numbered years and regional conventions in odd-numbered years. The 2010 national convention held in Washington, D.C., on July 4–8, for example, included workshops and concerts at prominent Washington-area churches, with premieres of newly commissioned works. The 2014 national convention, attended by more than 1,700 members, featured several notable venues in the Boston area, including Memorial Church of Harvard University and Trinity Church. The 2020 national convention planned for July in Atlanta, Georgia, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AGO sponsors a number of education programs, including "Pipe Organ Encounters," which are intended to introduce youth to the organ and its workings. It also produces a series of instructional DVDs for organists, providing insights into advanced playing technique, organ registration, improvisation, and interpretation. Renowned organists on these "Master Series" videos are: Catharine Crozier (vol. 1), Marie-Claire Alain (vol. 2), Frederick Swann (vol. 3), Gerre Hancock (vol. 4), and Marilyn Mason (vol. 5).
The AGO issues several professional certificates and designations upon completion of the appropriate exams and membership in good standing: the "Service Playing Certificate" (SPC), "Colleague" (CAGO), "Choir Master" (ChM), "Associateship" (AAGO), and "Fellowship" (FAGO), the highest level of certification bestowed upon accomplished organists by the organization's Board of Examiners.
The American Organist Magazine.
In 1967, the AGO began publishing "Music Magazine", a news journal for its membership. Now titled The American Organist, the monthly magazine is the official journal of the AGO for members and non-member subscribers. The illustrated periodical features news about new and restored pipe organs, concert programs, research into organ literature, chapter activities, and reviews of new organ compact discs. "The American Organist" is also the official magazine for the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America. Its masthead proclaims the journal's goal, to further the AGO's " ... ideals, objectives, and cultural and educational aspirations". From October, 1968, to June, 2009, "The American Organist" was also the official journal of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. The AGO also is an affiliate with the online journal "Vox Humana".