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.
Feb. 6th (Fri.) & Feb 7th (Sat.) -
2015 Suffolk AGO Children's Choir Festival St. James Lutheran Church
corner of Woodlawn Ave. and 2nd Ave.
St. James, NY 11780
Andrea Baxter, guest conductor & clinician
Friday, February 6th - 7:30 pm Director's Workshop
Saturday, February 7th - 3 pm Festival Service
Directions: From Northern State Parkway continue on Rt 347 east, then take Rt.111 north to Smithtown, continue on Rt. 25A north to Woodlawn Ave. Make Right and continue to 2nd Ave.
Church and parking lot are on left (north) side of Woodlawn Ave.
Feb. 22nd (Sunday) 3 pm
2015 Suffolk & Nassau AGO Chapters Members' Recital
The program will include works by Gscheidle, Jongen, Rameau, Sanders, Widor and others on the church's newly refurbished Aeolian-Skinner of four manuals and 69ranks
March 7th (Saturday)
11 am - First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton (Austin organ)
12:30 pm Lunch at "Il Capuccino" 30 Madison St., Sag Harbor
2 pm - Old Whalers' Church (44 Union St. Sag Harbor)
site of Long Island's oldest extant organ - Henry Erben 1845
Presentation on the organ by the Rev. Mark Phillips, Pastor
Members in attendance will have the opportunity to play at each location
Please RSVP to Thom Bolert at (631) 324-2397 or thbohlertfirstpres@hotmail.com
if you are planning on joining us for the 12:30 lunch at Il Cappuccino
Preview the events of the 2014-2015 season by clicking here
Membership Renewal Keeping your membership current means that you continue to receive an uninterrupted subscription to the national magazine, The American Organist, and our local chapter newsletter, Suffolk Soundings. The new membership year starts July 1st, 2014, and renewal will be done using the new online system instituted by our national headquarters. If you are a current member, you will be contacted by headquarters concerning the renewal process.
If you're getting ready to join us for the first time, the membership application is online. Click here to access the AGO Headquarters membership page. And Welcome!
You can learn more about the benefits of membership by clicking here or by selecting "Join the AGO" in the Menu at the top of this page.
Membership Directory
The 2014-2015 Members' Directory will be published in November. All current members as of October 15 will be included. Please be sure to renew your membership as soon as possible so that the Directory will be accurate.
Please also consider supporting your chapter by purchasing an ad in the Directory. Advertisement forms may be found on page 8 of the October Newsletter (Suffolk Soundings)
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.
2015 Suffolk AGO Scholarships
Learn about Suffolk AGO Scholarships by clicking here or by selecting Scholarships from the menu at the top of this page.
Download the 2015 Suffolk AGO Scholarship Brochure here
Chapter Events
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.
Chapter Monthly Newsletter Suffolk Soundings ~
Read the October 2014 Newsletter by clicking here
Go to the Suffolk Soundings Archive Page by clicking here
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.
Image: Bourdon pipe schematic, French Horns. From the Encyclopedia of Organ Stops by Edward L. Stauff. Permission granted under terms of copyright. For more information go to www.organstops.org.