Welcome to Suffolk
AGO
Welcome to the website of the Suffolk Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). We are a not-for-profit organization of professional musicians, educators, choir directors, organ builders, and amateur organists and enthusiasts from all walks of life. The Suffolk Chapter carries out the mission of the American Guild of Organists locally by sponsoring workshops, masterclasses, scholarship awards, recitals and other activities to promote the continuing education of organists and choir directors, as well as to create a fellowship of all people who love the organ and organ music. The chapter serves the western portion of Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, and is one of 28 chapters in the New York-Northern New Jersey area (Region II).
We meet on a regular basis throughout the year and hold annual events such as the Children's Choir Directors' Workshop and Children's Choir Festival, the Organ Expo, and the Scholarship Recital and Awards for students of the organ, in addition to other workshops and lecture/recitals led by members and guests. In some cases we partner with neighboring chapters in the Long Island/New York City area to organize activities. Meetings are educational and informal.
nation of the various sounds a pipe organ can make; a cartoon accompanied by pipe organ sound effects; musical games and prizes; individual hands-on explorations of the instrument; pizza and other refreshments; valuable information about local organ scholarships and lessons.
Directors' Workshop, featuring guest Festival Director and nationally acclaimed clinician and composer, Allen Pote.
member Chris Cusumano plays at the invitation of Pastor Steven Pavignano.
On Friday, October 30, the Chapter enjoyed a program led by Tom Bailey to visit two historic organs on the South Shore. The
program began at 2 pm with high English Tea at the mansion on the
grounds of the Bayard-Cutting Arboretum in Great
River) with tea sandwiches, desserts, and pastries, and scones with
cream and jam! Next we went directly across from the church to St. John's University, Oakdale campus, to visit the former estate of Frederick G. Bourne, the Singer Sewing Machine magnate. There John Connolly, Vice President of the University and curator of the organ, hosted us for another of Cindy Holden's lovely and thoughtful demonstrations on the J.W. Steer mechanical action organ built in 1870 and moved to Oakdale in 1974 from Blessed Sacrament in Albany, NY. Both John Connolly and Tom Bailey provided the history of the mansion and the organ to complete the program.
Special thanks to Tom Bailey for conceiving and executing the program so smoothly, to Cindy Holden for her time and talent demonstrating the instruments, and to Pam Warden and John Connolly for hosting our group.
Learn about Suffolk AGO Scholarships by clicking here or by selecting Scholarships from the menu at the top of this page.
Learn more about this year's activities and upcoming meetings by clicking here or by selecting Chapter Programs from the menu at the top of the page.
AGO Placement List
Churches, temples, and other organizations who are searching for directors of music, organists, and choir directors advertise their open positions in our newsletter, Suffolk Soundings. If you have an open position to advertise, learn more about listing your position with the Suffolk Chapter of the AGO by clicking here or by selecting Placement in the menu at the top of this page.
For Sale
We occasionally list items that may be of interest to our members. Learn more about sale items by clicking here or by selecting Placement from the menu at the top of the page.