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.
This is the Intern
ational Year of the Organ
The Suffolk Chapter's celebration will start when we join over 200 other chapters in the United States, Canada, and abroad in presenting an Organ Spectacular recital on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at 7:30 pm. Our host for this program is St. James RC Church, 429 Route 25A in Setauket. Music performed by members of the chapter will include Ornament of Grace, a piece for organ and oboe composed for this international event by Bernard Sanders. David Bouchier, radio host of WSHU--FM, our local NPR affiliate, will provide entertaining commentary.
In addition, on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 7:30 pm, the Suffolk Chapter will join the Nassau and Queens Chapters in sponsoring a grand organ concert, together with St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, by the international star of the popular television series Joy of Music, Diane Bish. 
View a brief video of Diane Bish thanking the AGO for its promotion of the International Year of the Organ by clicking on the picture at right.
View a brief video of Michael Barone, host of the nationally broadcast radio program, Pipedreams, in which he supports the AGO's International Year of the Organ, by clicking on the picture at left.
Learn more about the events by selecting Chapter Programs from the menu at the top of this page.
Friday, September 19, 2008 6 pm Annual Potluck DinnerAt the home of Deb and Tim Jenks in Greenlawn. Bring some food, bring a friend, and enjoy a relaxed evening. New members especially welcome. Deb emphasizes that this is casual. Bring a bathing suit if you'd like to go for a dip in the pool. Food assignments and directions to the Jenks' house will be included in the September issue of the Suffolk Soundings newsletter.
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 News
On Friday, June 13, 2008 Thomas Murray performed at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. The recital was co-sponsored by the Suffolk, Nassau, and Queens Chapters. Many thanks to the Cathedral for hosting the event, and to the Queens and Nassau chapters for co-ordinating the event and hosting a lovely reception following the recital.
Pictured from left to right are: Henry DeVries, Dean, Nassau Chapter; Vincent Alukonis, Dean, Queens Chapter; Thomas Murray; Meredith Baker, District Convener; Deanna Muro, Dean, Suffolk Chapter.
On Sunday, June 1, 2008, the Members' Dinner and Installation of Officers took place at Nocello Ristorante in Northport. Cindy Holden thanked this past year's officers for their service, conducted the swearing-in of new officers, and led the members in song and prayer before dinner.
Special guests at the dinner were Deanna and Don Muro. As outgoing Dean of the Chapter, Deanna was presented
with a plaque and flowers by Claire Klein and Joan Wingerter along with the heartfelt thanks of all present for the countless hours of service that Deanna has contributed to the Chapter these past two years. During her tenure, Deanna has never hesitated to lend a helping hand to any and all of the committees if something needed doing, whether it was assisting with the administration of AGO certification exams, auditioning students for scholarships, preparing flyers and programs for events, accompanying at choral reading sessions and the Children's Choir Festival, stuffing envelopes for the Organ Expo and even helping with hospitality, not to mention performing at events like member recitals and the Organ Expo. All this in addition to helping with the monthly production of the Chapter Newsletter as well as her other reporting responsibilities as Chapter Dean. Thank you Deanna!
Officers and Committee Chairs for 2008-2009 are: Dean-Deborah Jenks; Sub-Dean-Claire Klein; Secretary-Joan Wingerter; Treasurer-Janet Pinto; Placement Service-Valerie Cardona; Hospitality-Marie and John Melfi; Professsional Development-Helen Kegerreis; Registrar-Eleanor Gould; Scholarship Chair-Dr. Carol Weitner; Education- Carol Landis; Publicity-Paul Elsener; Members-at-Large-Tom Bailey and Alan Lush; Chaplain- the Reverend Dr. Tim Hoyt Duncan.
Membership
Keeping your membership current means you can continue to receive the national magazine and our newsletter, Suffolk Soundings, as well as benefit from our chapter programs. The new membership year starts July 1st, and renewal forms were sent out to members in early June by US Mail. If you've misplaced your renewal form or you're joining us for the first time, you can click here and print out a copy.
If you're not a member yet, 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.
Scholarships
Learn more about Suffolk AGO Scholarships by clicking here or by selecting Scholarships from the menu at the top of this page.
AGO Substitute List
All members receive a comprehensive list of substitute organists each month in our 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, as well as here on the website. 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.