AGO St. Louis Chapter
Welcome to the new website for the American Guild of Organists St. Louis Chapter
As you can see, our new website is up and running! We're still finishing adding information to the site, including all of our many members, but everything should be up and running in a few days. If you are a member, you should have received an email with information to allow you to log in and access the members-only portions of the site. If you have not received this email yet, you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to retrieve it. You may need to change your bookmarks to access your favorite pages in the site.
Some new features of our site include:
- Substitute lists (public and members-only)
- Member list with contact information (for members only)
- Members can modify their personal information
- Members can contact each other through the site
- Online sign-up for the guild
- Online payments for dues, donations and dinner reservations
- Export calendar to your Outlook or other .VCAL/.ICAL device
- Google maps of event and concert locations
- Member photos
- RSS feeds of website information
If you see errors or omissions, or have suggestions for the new site, please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you for your patience as we transition to this new format.
The American Guild of Organists is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 20,000 members in 348 chapters throughout the United States, and in Europe, Korea and Argentina.
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.
At the national level the AGO offers a monthly periodical, The American Organist. It also offers educational materials, group insurance, certification tests, and more.
At the chapter level, we offer newsletters, concerts, recitals, workshops, social events, educational forums, as well as placement and substitute assistance.
All individuals interested in the organ and choral music fields are invited to join the American Guild of Organists. Membership is open to everyone, regardless of denominational affiliation or musical ability.
St. Louis French Festival Flavors February’s Chapter Meeting
| Date: | Monday March 1, 2010 |
| Event: | Lynne Davis Recital/Lecture |
| Location: | St. Louis Cathedral Basilica 4431 Lindell Blvd |
| Time: | 6:30 Dinner (Boland Hall cafeteria behind cathedral, Newstead and Maryland) 7:30 Program (Enter sanctuary through west doors off parking lot between school and cathedral) |
| Host: | John Romeri |
| Cost: | $10 for dinner - Pay now |
| Reservations: | Kathleen Bolduan (314-725-1251 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
) |
Directions: | |
This month the STLAGO observes the St. Louis French Festival with organist Lynne Davis. Lynne will play and discuss the Suite on the Second Tone by Louis Nicholas Clerambault. The event takes place at the St. Louis
Cathedral Basilica and begins with a dinner at 6:30 p.m.
This program is one of three programs that she will present as part of the St. Louis French Festival, a celebration of our city’s rich French cultural and artistic heritage. The festival includes lectures on French music, art, and architecture, concerts of French music, tours of the St. Louis Art Museum’s French collections, a special tour of the Cathedral Basilica, French wine and cheese tastings, and a theatrical presentation on the French roots of St. Louis.
Lynne’s additional programs include: Friday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m. — a lecture on the architecture and stained glass of Chartres Cathedral. The lecture takes place at the Missouri History Museum. It will be followed by a
wine and cheese reception. The lecture is free. The reception costs $25. Reservations for the reception can be made through the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. On Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2:30 p.m., Lynne will appear in recital at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. Tickets are $12.
Lynne Davis graduated with honors from the University of Michigan where she studied with Robert Clark. She studied in France with Marie-Claire Alain, Jean Langlais, Maurice and Marie-Madeleine Duruflé and Edouard Souberbielle. For over 30 years she has lived in France. She married Frenchman and Chartres International Organ Competition founder, Pierre Firmin-Didot. Both were very influential in the French organ music
scene and initiated the celebrated 1992 exhibition and recording of Les Orgues de Paris. She holds the Certificat d’Aptitude de Professeur d’Orgue from the French government. She has held positions as professor of organ at the Conservatory of Music in Clamart, and the French National Regional Conservatory in Caen. She was recently appointed associate professor of organ, holding the Ann and Dennis Ross Endowed Faculty of
Distinction chair, at Wichita State University. She has appeared as a recitalist in Europe and North America.
— Henry Evans
|
When once asked what a conductor does, conductor Gordon Houssein of the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Training Band (a wind ensemble) said, ‘I wave my arms about and hope for the best.’ What is a conductor?:A conductor is someone who leads and guides an orchestra or a group of singers in order to perform a piece to the best of their abilities. Conductors work in theater or stage plays, film or TV scores, lead orchestras and choirs that are either amateurs or pros. What does a conductor do?:The conductor makes sure that the music piece is interpreted properly by acting as the guide to the musicians or singers. He chooses and studies the music score, may make certain adjustments to it and relay his ideas to the performers so that when the music is played, there is unity and harmony. He schedules rehearsals, plans the orchestra's repertoire and attends What educational background should a conductor have?:Education and experience is what makes a good conductor, or for that matter, anyone who wants to attain a goal. Conductors often have degrees in music, knows how to play an instrument or several instruments, can sight-read, has a good ear, a broad knowledge of music history, styles and functions of various musical instruments, have taken post-graduate courses with emphasis on conducting and have experience leading ensembles whether they be amateurs or pros. What are the qualities of a good conductor?:A good conductor is one that is comfortable leading a group, a great motivator and communicator, has a strong stage presence, well-organized, flexible, especially in his schedule and loves to travel. He is able to build a connection with the musicians and uses hand gestures or signals that the musicians clearly understands. Why become a conductor?:Although this field is extremely competitive, becoming a conductor especially to well established orchestras, is both lucrative, gratifying and a position that is well-respected. So, the question:What is conducting? What is choral conducting? Important elementsLess is more BreatheConducting has more to do with singing and breathing than with piano-playing. ListenOne of the most important elements in teaching, conducting, and performing, all three, is listening. PrepareThe real art of conducting consists in transitions.
Reminders:The bigger your gestures get, the slower the orchestra plays. Smile always to the musicians. At the end of the day they are the ones who are playing. Not you!! Look the orchestra in the eyes even if you feel they are not looking back. There are no bad orchestras, only bad conductors. Make sure if you have metal cufflinks that they are secure. I once went on and started conducting furiously, and one of my metal cufflinks flew out towards the cellos. Luckily no one or any instrument was harmed! Never be rude, be diplomatic. Never forget, it’s the players who play the notes. Really know the music you conduct, in as much depth as you possibly can. The music needs to flow in to you, to take complete possession of you. Dr. Carter referenced the following website: Discover Conducting His personal website is www.jeffreycarter.us where you will find some fun links and some inspirational links, as well as all sort of ephemera. He suggested the book Teaching Choral Sight Reading by Jack Boyd, published by Mark Foster. Dr. Carter may be emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
The POE Steering Committee is pleased to announce the dates for the 2010 St. Louis POE. We will host young organists from around the country here from June 13-18. Housing for the students will be at Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Guest faculty include:
Michael Bauer, University of Kansas Douglas Cleveland, University of Washington Carla Edwards, DePauw University Wilma Jensen, Concert Organist Christopher Marks, University of Nebraska Lincoln
The backbone of the POE is daily private lessons for each student with a teacher. In addition to a daily lesson, each student will receive practice time. The week also features organ recitals (open to the public and our chapter members), an organ building session, workshop with faculty, an organ crawl, and a recreational event. The week will conclude on Friday morning with a student recital. Download a brochure and application to attend.
If you have any questions about the POE, please feel free to contact the POE Director, Andrew Peters at 314-367-0367 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Please also consider a contribution to the POE!Contributions will help defray some of the expenses from the week. In addition, extra income may provide scholarship assistance for some potential students. All contributors will be acknowledged in an upcoming issue of THE OPUS newsletter. Contributors will also be recognized in recital programs during the POE week. Select your desired level of donation and click the link below. Or to send a donation by mail, Download and print a donation form here. All contributors will be acknowledged in an upcoming issue of THE OPUS newsletter. Contributors will also be acknowledged in recital programs during the POE week. |
Here are some of Dr. Jeffery Carter's notes from the January meeting: