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.
Sunday, March 7, 2010 3 pm ORGAN EXPO: Kids, Kartoons, and the King of Instruments
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. At St. Luke Lutheran Church, 20 Candlewood Path, Dix Hills. Admission Free.
RSVP to Carol Landis by March 1.
Members, please encourage all the budding young musicians you know to attend! Non-members who would like more information: please contact the Webmaster.
Co-sponsored with the Rockville Centre Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM).
Directors' Workshop, featuring guest Festival Director and nationally acclaimed clinician and composer, Allen Pote.On Friday evening, Mr. Pote led a workshop for Chapter members and participating choir directors on running effective rehearsals and engaging the children by means of various techniques including games and visual cues. On Saturday, the morning and afternoon rehearsals concluded with a well-attended Festival Service featuring over 80 children and ten area churches.
There are many people to thank for this program, especially Deanna Muro for accompanying the rehearsals and the Festival Service so admirably; Helen Kegerreis and Deanna Muro for planning and executing the program; Tom Bailey and Rev. David Sellery of St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Bay Shore for hosting the event; Deborah Jenks, Claire Klein, and Paul Elsener for providing hospitality; and Paul Elsener for providing photography and other logistical support. Of course we also thank the children, and their parents, and choir directors for enabling them to participate!
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On Monday, January 18, 2010, the Chapter, together with the Queens and Nassau chapters, co-sponsored a mini-convention with a day-long series of workshops. Over 50 members, friends, and presenters participated.
Many thanks to the convention planners: Gerald Anders, Henry DeVries (Nassau Dean), Deborah Jenks (Suffolk Dean), Claire Klein (Suffolk Sub-Dean), and Tom Sexton (Queens Dean). We also thank presenters, in particular Deanna Muro (Suffolk Chapter), Rev. Timothy J. Hoyt-Duncan (Suffolk Chaplain) and John Buckel (Queens Chapter) for contributing their knowledge and experience. We thank also our roving photographers Paul Elsener (Suffolk Chapter) and Vincent Alukonis (Queens Chapter), and our Registrar Chris Cusumano (Suffolk Chapter). We are very grateful to three able Nassau members who performed at the Master Class: Meredith Baker, Henry DeVries, and Michael Bower. And last but not least, we thank the Community Church of Douglaston for sharing their wonderful space with us for the day.
It takes a lot of people to make a program like this get off the ground! Kudos to all!
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On Wednesday, November 11, chapter members enjoyed the second of our two organ crawls this fall, the trip to Harlem to visit All Saints RC Church.
The organ, a grand 4-manual instrument dating back to 1892, is rarely heard these days, but each Christmas Eve and Easter Vigil,
member Chris Cusumano plays at the invitation of Pastor Steven Pavignano.Chris arranged and led the tour for us. Several other members, including Ray Henderson, Deanna Muro, and Carol Weitner, played the instrument. Both the building and the organ represent some of the finest workmanship of the late 19th century.
We were joined by Nassau and NYC Chapter members as well, and enjoyed lunch at a nearby Trattoria following the tour.
Among those attending the organ crawl were Suffolk Chapter members and friends Paul Elsener, Deanna Muro, Paul Eschenauer, Carl Gscheidle, Carol Weitner, Helen Gscheidle, Claire Klein, Ray Henderson, Den Collins, Chris Cusumano; Nassau Chapter members Leonard and Helene Lehman; NYC Chapter members Steven Lawson and Charles Updegraph; and Chris Walton organ builder.
Many thanks to Chris for planning and executing such a wonderful visit to a hidden gem!
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! Afterward we moved down the road to St. John's Episcopal Church of Oakdale, built in 1765, and reputedly the third oldest church on Long Island and the second oldest in Suffolk County. Its Jardine 2-manual, 3-rank organ is a historic instrument whose stops were ably demonstrated for us by member Cindy Holden. In addition, Tom Bailey presented his research on the builder, and Pam Burner, Senior Warden of the church, presented some fascinating history and background on the church as well.
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.
and Organ Improvisation Workshop
Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25, 2010
with Tom Trenney
The Registration Form for the Hymn Festival and workshop will be available here and on our Programs Page for download and printing in March.
As a well-known member of our Chapter says: "You'd have to be crazy not to attend a workshop with Tom Trenney!"
That says it all.
The 2010 Suffolk AGO Organ Scholarship and Elsener Award have been announced and applications are available for download on the Scholarships page.
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.
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 membership year started July 1st, 2009, and renewal forms were mailed to current members in early June.
If you're getting ready to join us for the first time, the membership application for 2009-10 is available online. It's never too late! Please click here to download and then print a copy, 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.
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.
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.