The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 20,000 members in 330 chapters throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music.
Under the leadership of the National Council, a network of volunteer committees and officials at the regional, district, and local levels directs the activities of the Guild. The AGO National Headquarters is in New York City where a full time staff supports and coordinates publication, administration, and development activities of the organization. For purposes of administration and representation, the Guild is divided into nine geographical regions, and each chapter is assigned to one of them.
The purposes of the American Guild of Organists are:
To advance the cause of organ and choral music, to increase their contributions to aesthetic and religious experiences, and to promote their understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment.
To improve the proficiency of organists and choral conductors.
To evaluate, by examination, attainments in organ playing, choral techniques, conducting, and the theory and general knowledge of music, and to grant certificates to those who pass such examinations at specified levels of attainment.
To provide members with opportunities to meet for discussion of professional topics, and to pursue such other activities as contribute to the fulfillment of the purposes of the Guild.
E-mail sent by David Enlow, Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 @ 1:26pm
Dear Colleagues,
Our year-end dinner cruise is less than a month away. Strictly, the deadline is May 1st, so please purchase your tickets as soon as you can.
I will be able to hold a limited number of placesopen until May 14th; either check with the Group Spaces website if you intend to pay by card, or write to me if you intend to pay by check, after the May 1st 'soft' deadline.
E-mail sent by David Enlow, Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 @ 5:31pm
Dear Colleagues,
Many of us are recovering from the exhilaration of last week's musical offerings! If you are in that state of recovery, best wishes!
Our signature year-end event is approaching, the dinner cruise. Last season included the first cruise in a few years, and I think we were all impressed that even though the views and sheer fun of boating are plenty of enjoyment in themselves, the bar was open, not the cheap stuff, and the food was on par with the whole experience! It was so pleasant the program committee and board have agreed to do it all again, this year!
I hope you will join me and your esteemed, convivial, fun-loving colleagues in the Guild and New York musical life in this evening of enjoyment, food and drink. Please visit www.nycago.org and click buy tickets to reserve your place on the motor yacht. Also, you may send a check for the correct amount (see website for details) with the names of your guests.
Now, let me be clear: there is plenty of room on the boat -- M.Y. Affinity is 120 feet long and accommodates 140 for dinner easily. Please feel free to invite friends, colleagues, spouses, partners -- all are welcome. The chapter subsidizes the cost to members as a benefit of membership, but all are most welcome at cost ($100).
If you have your own yacht to relax on after the stresses of a busy season, very well. If not, see you May 21st!
