About the American Guild of Organists

The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 250 chapters and 10,000 members throughout the United States and abroad. 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.

Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. Under the leadership of the National Council, a network of volunteer committees and officials at the regional, district, and local levels directs the activities of the Guild.

The AGO National Headquarters is in New York City, where a full time staff supports and coordinates education, publication, administration, and development activities of the organization. For purposes of administration and representation, the Guild is divided into seven geographical regions, and each chapter is assigned to one of them.

The AGO and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA) share a mutually beneficial association, a collaboration that has existed since 1975. For several decades this relationship has been strengthened by financial contributions from APOBA and its members in support of the AGO and its Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) program. The AGO has responded with generous provisions for bringing news from APOBA and its members to the organ public.

The purposes of the AGO are:

To advance the cause of organ and choral music, to increase their contributions to aesthetic and religious experiences, and to promote their understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment.
To improve the proficiency of organists and choral conductors. To evaluate, by examination, attainments in organ playing, choral techniques, conducting, and the theory and general knowledge of music, and to grant certificates to those who pass such examinations at specified levels of attainment.
To provide members with opportunities to meet for discussion of professional topics, and to pursue such other activities as contribute to the fulfillment of the purposes of the Guild.

Guild-sponsored activities include a series of examinations for professional certification as well as programs and an extensive list of publications, CDs, DVDs, and learning resources for all levels of interest.

The AGO also administers competitions in organ performance and improvisation, and in organ and choral composition. National and regional conventions, held in alternate years, showcase the finest performers.

The American Organist magazine, published monthly, is the most widely read journal devoted to organ and choral music in the world.

ORGAN WEEK AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

HIGH SCHOOOL CAMP

Dates: June 8-13, 2025

Approx. Cost: $500 for commuters (includes lunch and dinner), $600/room and board

Enrollment is limited, so register early; the deadline is June 1. 2025 rates and registration coming soon.

Organ Week is designed for high school students interested in expanding (or beginning) their organ study. Led by a faculty of prominent concert and church organists, the program features one-to-one instruction, masterclasses, and recitals on the finest pipe organs in northern Colorado, including CSU’s Casavant organ.

Study the art of organ building, develop skills in choral conducting and harpsichord, and improve your organ playing with a faculty of concert organists including Ken Cowan and CSU’s chair of organ, Joel Bacon.

Organ weeks have a long history at CSU since the years when professor Robert Cavarra invited organists such as Marie-Claire Alain, Luigi Tagliavini, and Anton Heiller to give week long courses to capacity audiences. The festivals brought organ students from across the country, ideas were exchanged, insights were made, and great music filled the city!

Concerts feature world renowned soloists performing major solo and collaborative works.

What to Expect (for students)

Two tracks of education for beginner and advanced organ students
Tours of some large and historic instruments in Northern Colorado
Touring the inside of some large and historic organs
Private instruction during the week with some of the best organists in the field
Attending many recitals and performances with World Class Organists
Hands on classes from a master organ builder
A chance to meet other students who share an interest in organ
The opportunity to take your keyboard skills to another level
Recreation activities, such as hiking in the Rockies
Spending time on CSU’s campus, taking advantage of great and new accommodation
Open to any level of organ student (must be proficient in piano, e.g. 2-part invention)

AGO NATIONAL NEWS

Woman Composer Sunday

3/9/2025 - 3/9/2025

Organists around the globe will includes works by women composers in their services and recital programs on Sunday, March 9, 2025..

AGOYO LIVE 25
Virtual Conference
Friday, Feb. 7, 4:45 - 9 p.m. (ET)
Saturday, Feb. 8, 9:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. (ET)

Join other young organists for two days of inspiring guest speakers, research and panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

FREE for AGOYO members
Click here to register.

Meet me in St. Louis for the 2026 National Convention! St. Louis may be the "gateway to the west," but we're expecting more than 1,000 attendees from the North, South, East, AND West for a memorable gathering featuring dozens of recitals, concerts, workshops, and worship services. Registration will open in Fall 2025.

When: July 6–10, 2026

The American Organist Magazine

The American Organist Magazine (TAO), published monthly by the AGO, is the most widely read journal devoted to organ and choral music in the world. It is the official journal of the American Guild of Organists and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America. Print and digital subscriptions may be purchased with membership, or separately. Digital access is available to members and subscribers.

Božičević Wins Pogorzelski-Yankee Annual Competition

Croatian composer Ivan Božičević has won the 2026 AGO Pogorzelski-Yankee Annual Competition. He will compose a work for the R.J. Brunner & Co. house organ at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to be premiered in 2026. Božičević is also a previous winner of the AGO/ECS Publishing Award for Choral Composition (2014) and the AGO/Marilyn Mason Award for Organ Composition (2016).

Besides composing, Božičević is active as an organist, pianist, arranger, and jazz musician. He also leads the newly formed composition class at the Academy of Arts in Split, Croatia. His opus encompasses five symphonic compositions, orchestral, chamber, choral and soloistic works, as well as numerous electronic compositions. In recent years, organ has been his chief creative interest, leading to new works involving organ with electronics and/or computer-controlled organ. He is committed to modernizing the repertoire.

Of special interest to AGO members will be the album of his organ music, The Moonpiper (2018), performed by the composer on the Zanin organ (2000) in Belgrade Cathedral.

Regional Ambassador

Sheryl Sebo, DMA, AAGO
Chair, Southwest Region
(AR, CO, LA, NM, OK, TX )

TriSTATE CHAPTER

About the American Guild of Organists

ORGAN WEEK AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

HIGH SCHOOOL CAMP

Approx. Cost: $500 for commuters (includes lunch and dinner), $600/room and board

AGO NATIONAL NEWS

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