The Guild serves approximately 20,000 members in 330 chapters throughout the United States, and in Europe, Asia and Australia.

What's Going On at Rochester AGO

September Newsletter

AGO Chapter's Opening Service

The Rochester AGO Chapter's Opening Service and Installation of Officers will be held on Sunday, September 19th at 3:00 at the Universalist Church, 150 Clinton Avenue South, Rochester, NY.  [map]  All members are encouraged to attend!

2010 - 2011 Rochester Celebrity Organ Recital Series

The 2010 - 2011 Rochester Celebrity Organ Recital Series includes performances by three AMAZING artists.  Mark your calendars now, and start alerting your friends and colleagues.   Cherry Rhodes (world renowned performer and teacher at USC) Saturday, September 25, 8:00pm at Asbury First United Methodist Church;   Olivier Latry (titular organist at Notre-Dame de Paris, and Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatory) Sunday, November 14 at 2:00pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral; and John Scott (formerly of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and since 2004 Director of Music and Organist at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, in New York) Friday, February 4 at 8:00pm at Christ Church, Downtown. An absolutely star-studded season!

We need your help to make sure this endeavor continues.  Become a sponsor today!  Sponsorship levels for the RCORS 2010 - 2011 season:

Dulciana: $1 - $99
Diapason: $100 - $249, receive a pair of tickets to one concert
Bombarde: $250 - $499, receive pair of tickets to two concerts
Tutti: $500+, receive a pair of tickets to all concerts.

Currently Open Positions  - Last updated on September 2, 2010.

The Portagville Chapel - Retreat for Organists

What's Going On at AGO Rochester (continued)...

CONGRATULATIONS ... to Chapter member David McCarthy, who passed the examinations for the FAGO* this past spring! This is a fantastic accomplishment, and brings great pride to the chapter. David's FAGO was announced at the national Annual Meeting held at the convention this past summer in Washington, DC. David is Organist and Choir Director at Incarnation Episcopal Church in Penfield, and teaches music history at St. John Fisher College and theory and ear training at Nazareth College.

I'm sure there have been other FAGO* members
in the past in our chapter, but I don't think there
are any currently. So, it's quite an accomplishment!
– Peter DuBois

* FAGO - Fellow of the American Guild of Organists - is the highest level of certification one can achieve.

CONGRATULATIONS... to Dr. Robert Poovey, Chapter board member (Professional Concerns), who has been appointed as Artistic Director of The Rochester Boys Choir.  Dr. Poovey will lead the Training Choir, Concert Choir and Touring Choir of the Rochester Boys Choir in its ninth season.  Read more about his appointment in our September newsletter.

What's Going On at Eastman School...

The Eastman School of Music announces the ninth annual Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI) Festival: Pedaling through Time: New Perspectives on Pedal Technique, November 11-14, 2010. This year’s program focuses on the art of playing the pedals, from the seventeenth century to the present day. Designed especially for students and teachers, the festival will offer new perspectives on pedal technique and opportunities for “feet-on” experience with important practice instruments, such as the pedal clavichord, pedal piano, and harmonium.

New this year: Registration Discounts for Student-Teacher Pairs and Groups.

Organ and Instrumental Music of Martin Herchenröder

On Friday, September 17 at 8:00 pm, Eastman School of Music students will perform works by and in the presence of Martin Herchenröder: composer, organist, and Professor of Music at the University of Siegen, Germany.  Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park, Rochester [map].  Admission is free.

What's Going On at AGO National...

The Long-Range Planning Task force of the Amercian Guild of Organists has released its report which details the results of a survey of members and former members.