Welcome to the
Saint Louis Chapter
of the
American Guild of Organists!
Our Purpose is to . . . .
- promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles
- encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music
- provide a forum for mutual support, inspirational education, and certification of Guild members.
The AGO has 20,000 members in 348 chapters throughout the United States, Europe, Korea and Argentina.
2014/2015
Calendar of AGO Saint Louis Chapter Events
» come, and discover us at any of these events «
Saturday, March 14, 2015 (morning; breakfast) — Dr. A. Dennis Sparger, the 2014 recipient of our Chapter’s Avis Blewett Award, is well known to all of us as a local leader in the interpretation of the choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Saturday, 14 March at 10:00 at, we will enjoy Dr. Sparger’s presentation focusing on the Passions of Bach at Centenary Methodist Church. Breakfast will be at 9:00.
Monday, April 20, 2015 (evening; dinner) — Another of our local musical luminaries, Dr. Stephen Mager, will present a program entitled “Taking the Mystery out of Composition” at Bethel Lutheran Church in Clayton on Monday evening, 20 April at 7:30. For all who dream of composing, arranging and perhaps publishing music, this will be an informative evening! Dinner will be at 6:30.
Monday, May 4, 2015 (evening; dinner) — Chapter co-sponsor’s a recital by the duo-organist team of Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault on the splendid Casavant at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. Dinner will be served at 6.30.
Monday, May 18, 2015 (evening; dinner) — Our Chapter’s Annual Dinner and Meeting will be held at the Historic Trinity Lutheran Church in Soulard. Monday evening, 18 May at 6:30. A Members’ Recital will follow dinner on the church’s new Schantz pipe organ. All are welcome to share their talents.
Sunday, June 21, 2015 (evening; no dinner) — as a Prelude to the Regional Convention, Sunday evening 21 June, the Chapter co-sponsor’s a recital by Christopher Houlihan at Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Soulard. This will, undoubtedly, be a spectacular conclusion to our Program Year as well as a stunning pre-convention event! The recital will be at 7:00 p.m.
AGO Saint Louis Program Highlights 2013 2014 from AGO St. Louis on Vimeo.
About our Chapter
» The chapter now known as the Saint Louis Chapter #633 of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) was originally chartered as the Missouri Chapter on October 23, 1911. In February of 1955, we officially became the Saint Louis Chapter. Saint Louis was privileged to host the 1948 AGO National Convention. The 1948 Convention was the first post-war convention and was organized largely by Dr. Howard Kelsey, former Washington University professor in the Department of Music in Arts and Sciences.
» Dr. Kelsey served as the University organist at Washington University for more than 30 years. During that time he established one of the naation’s first programs in historical performance practice as well as a nationally acclaimed program in organ. He supervised two-dozen PH.D. students, over a dozen Fulbright scholars, and scores of master’s degree students. He helped many of his students secure positions at major churches and universities across the United States and abroad.
» Mid-Winter conclaves were held in Saint Louis in 1956 and 1975. In 1985, Saint Louis was the site for an AGO Regional Convention. Saint Louis has also hosted two Pipe Organ Encounters (2006 and 2010.) The Saint Louis chapter has been selected as the site for the 2015 North Central Region Convention. Andrew Peters, pastoral musician at Second Presbyterian Church in Saint Louis has been selected as the convention coordinator.
» Our Chapter welcomes in membership anyone interested in organ and choral music. All are welcome without regard to his/her proficiency, experience, employment status or age. As we move into our second century, we welcome your participation, solicit your ideas and suggestions, and invite you to visit a meeting and program and join us in our love of organ and choral music. Our goal is to encourage individual expression, abolish the barriers of elitism and expand our chapter’s relevance to all of its members. I encourage you to be vocal about your observations and help us be responsive to and inclusive of all our members.
» As the Dean, I welcome you and look forward to seeing you at a meeting or program very soon. «
Soli Deo Gloria, Dawn E. Riske Dean, Saint Louis Chapter of the American Guild of Organists e-mail: dean@agostlouis.org
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Time Sensitive Information – Vocal Scholarship Competition – Entry Deadline: FEBRUARY 15, 2015
The National Society of Arts and Letters announces a vocal scholarship competition.
The Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship in Voice assist young artists who demonstrate exceptional talent and promise of future success.
Each winner will receive an award of$250 and will be eligible to compete for the National scholarships of up to $5,000.
Deadline is February 15, 2015.
Winston Scholarship in Classical Voice:
2015 Winston Voice Application
For more information,
please contact the Winston Competition Chair for Voice,
Carol Carlson (carol@carlsonstl.net).