American Guild of Organists
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the USA, headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization. Membership is not limited to professional organists, but is open to anybody with an interest in organ music. There are approximately 25,000 AGO members in all categories. The Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music.
[edit] Organization
The AGO is geographically divided into nine regions and 330 chapters nationwide. In recent years, the AGO has added international chapters in Bermuda, Australia, Korea, and Singapore. The European chapter is the oldest international chapter, with many members in France and Germany, as well as some in other countries.
The leadership of the AGO consists of a National Council, several Regions and various local chapters within each Region. The national headquarters are located at 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260, in New York, USA.
The National Council is the main governing body of the American Guild of Organists. The four National Officers, three National Councillors with portfolio and nine Regional Councillors are members of the National Council. The Executive Director is a non-voting member of the National Council.
The Executive Committee of the Guild is responsible for the management of the affairs of the Guild when the National Council is not in session and acts on matters referred to it by the National Council. All actions of the Executive Committee are subject to ratification by the National Council at its next meeting. The Executive Committee consists of the four National Officers, the three National Councillors with portfolio and the Convener of the Regional Councillors (elected by the Regional Councillors at their first meeting following a national election). The Executive Director is a member of the Executive Committee.
The National Officers of the Guild consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer who also serves as the Councillor for Finance and Development, and a Chaplain. The Chaplain is an honorary national officer and not a member of the National Council.
National Councillors coordinate and represent to the National Council specific areas of the work of the Guild -- education, professional development, competitions and conventions, and finance and development.
The Regional Councillors supervise and coordinate the work of the Guild in each Region and represent the Regions on the National Council. There are nine regions:
- I – New England
- II – New York/New Jersey, including Europe
- III – Mid-Atlantic
- IV– Southeast, including Bermuda
- V– Great Lakes
- VI – North Central
- VII – Southwest
- VIII– Pacific Northwest
- IX– Far West, including chapters in Australia, Korea, and Singapore
A Regional Councillor is elected by the members of the Guild assigned to Chapters within each of the nine regions. The Regional Councillor is responsible for supervision and coordination of the work of the Guild in their Region and representation of the Region on the National Council.
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 and professional concerns.
Frederick Swann has been president of the AGO since 2002 and was re-elected to a third two-year term as AGO President in July 2006, at the AGO's national convention in Chicago, Illinois.
[edit] Programs and publications
The organization holds national conventions in even-numbered years and regional conventions in odd-numbered years. It sponsors a number of education programs, including "Pipe Organ Encounters," which are intended to introduce school children to the organ and its workings.
The AGO also issues several professional certificates and designations upon completion of the appropriate exams and membership in good standing in a Guild chapter: the Service Playing Certificate (SPC), Colleague (CAGO), Choir Master (ChM), Associateship (AAGO), and Fellowship (FAGO).
The AGO publishes a monthly magazine, The American Organist, for members and non-member subscribers, featuring 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 Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders in America.
