I’ve been a member of the AGO since 1975 when I was out of college 5 years. I was a serious organ student then, apprenticed to Ronald Stalford for the study of organ and church music. He was Organist/Choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church in Georgetown (DC). They had a 4-manual Moller on which I practiced before and after work at an office.
I could not have advanced professionally had I not joined the AGO. There are so many opportunities, at chapter meetings, workshops, and conventions to meet or hear in concert accomplished organists, world-famous choirs, famous virtuosos such as Catherine Crozier and Gerre Hancock, and other people important in the field of church music. Most of these events are not publicized outside of the AGO, that is, in the print and electronic media. I learned about a world of beautiful organ and choral music through being a member, essential classical music I never would have known otherwise.
Some people I met through AGO meetings or members include David McKay Williams at Christ Church. Where else could the opportunity arise for you to turn pages for Frances Jackson (British organist and composer from Yorkminster Cathedral), or to meet in person at a symposium at Catholic University, Jean Langlais and his wife? I still have the nametag I took from his chair after he left! I chatted with the young genius Felix Hell near the refreshments after an AGO concert 2 years ago, he was polite, friendly and natural.
Membership in the AGO entitles one to their excellent magazine, “The American Organist,” and offers many resources such as CD’s, DVD’s, and books and printed material. You can prepare to take one of their certification exams. I passed the Colleague exam in 2003, and it has proven invaluable to list it on my resume. Members can obtain sample contracts for church musicians and advice on weddings and funerals. There are salary schedules in the directory of your local chapter, so that you know what fair compensation to ask for in a job search.
I realize that some younger people born after1970 say, “I don’t need the Guild.” My daughter, who’s in her 20’s, remarked, “People our age don’t join unions.” However, the AGO is not a union, rather a guild. “Webster’s Dictionary” defines a guild as, “in medieval times, a union of men in the same craft or trade to uphold standards and protect the members, 2. any association for mutual aid and the promotion of common interests.” Many people under 40 rely on the Internet, their cell phones, “Facebook” and “My Space”, and other technology sources as their network. They believe they don’t need to join an organization such as the American Guild of Organists. In “Job Hunting for Dummies” the author, Max Messmer, disagrees, saying that people should join trade associations. He says, “keeping current on key issues and new developments in your profession or industry and in the business world at large is key if you want to advance in your job,” and he recommends that you read regularly “Trade publications that cover your particular field . . .”, of which TAO is a good example. On another note, one fact of life is that in the world of work you may have to talk to “older people”. Although I am an “older person” now, I was young when I first joined the AGO and I remember even back then, the majority of people at the meetings were middle-aged and older, although there were usually at least 8-10 of us “younger people.” Instead of avoiding people outside your age group, why not go forth with an open mind, realizing that perhaps there is something to be learned from your elders who are more experienced than you. And the elders would definitely benefit by having young people of a different generation with new ideas join our organization, We older people realize it is essential to attract younger people as members of the AGO and we are thrilled when you join, since it assures the future of quality church music and that the AGO will not perish!
Although I agree that technological devices such as cell phones and computers are useful, for TRUE networking, you can’t beat the AGO. Meeting your colleagues face to face is superior to interacting with them online. You’ve probably had the experience of someone telling you a funny story which you don’t quite “get.” They say, “You had to be there!” Again, you have to BE at an AGO meeting, participating in anthem readings or singing, for the first time, a newly-commissioned hymn by an exciting young composer together to experience valuable human and spiritual connections. Through asking members you can discover which churches have good pipe organs on which you could practice. In today’s society, many people are ignorant about churches and may never have heard an organ played; you may feel isolated being a professional musician at a church, sometimes feeling misunderstood by people who are not musicians. Belonging to the Guild can help to remedy this situation and perhaps you will find a support group at your local chapter.
Also if you are serious about your profession as a church musician, potential employers are more impressed with your dedication when you can list membership in the AGO on your resume. Finally, I found all my excellent teachers for the past 25 years through being an AGO member!
Why do some young musicians believe that joining professional organizations such as the AGO is valuable? In the August 2008 issue of The American Organist, Sarah Hawbecker, AGO Region IV Councillor, wrote an article “Where do I Fit into the Mission of the AGO?” I assume she is a young person, and she mentioned in her article that “We want others to share our excitement for the organ.” One of her good ideas to attract others to the AGO was to “give a free [organ] lesson.” She also believes it is important to attend each others’ concerts. I agree that we should go to others’ concerts, and when I have met young organists, I make an effort to attend their concerts, to be a one-person cheering section! Another young person, Clinton Pratt, a piano teacher and performer in Cincinnati, wrote an article in “The American Music Teacher” April/May 2008, called “Being Connected”, about why he is a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), an organization somewhat similar to the AGO. Some reasons he mentioned for belonging to MTNA were that “the local association is really what keeps me connected to other teachers. Not only do we have recitals and auditions for our students, we also have workshops, demonstrations and discussions for our own enrichment. . .”
When he met non-members who had excuses why they didn’t join, his opinion was that “we NEED it [the organization], and . . . if you are an independent piano teacher, you are doing a disservice to yourself, your students and other piano teachers by not being involved. Would you expect to go see a health professional who never talks to other doctors, has no access to new research and can’t recommend a specialist, therapist or pharmacist? NO WAY! We expect them to be a part of their community and to be continually learning. . “ From his reasoning, one could draw the same conclusion that organists ought to join the AGO.
Finally, my story about the most valuable treasure of all which I found through being an AGO member: You have the opportunity to meet some of the most talented, unique and well-educated musicians in the world, people who are successful in their fields and can become your mentors and teachers. I have been a member for 33 years, and people I’ve met through the AGO include my 5 teachers and friends (all but Dale are now former teachers): Three of my friends, two of them teachers–Dale Krider, Ted Gustin, and Kenneth Lowenberg–had the unique experience of being students at the College of Church Musicians at Washington National Cathedral in the late 1960’s, where professors included such people as the great American composer, Leo Sowerby.
Teachers and friends I have met through AGO membership include (1), (2) Jim Kreger and David Erwin, well-known organist/directors who were my 2 conducting teachers for years–each is a graduate of Westminster Choir College; (3) Ted Gustin, my good friend in whose choir I sing occasionally; Ted is a graduate of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and earned the FCCM (Fellow, College of Church Musicians) at the College of Church Musicians at Washington National Cathedral, DC. He is the Organist/Choirmaster at a Lutheran church and plays on a weekly basis at 3 other churches, also playing military funerals when called. Ted plays the organ with panache and is a wonderful accompanist. I immensely enjoy his interpretations of choral music from the British masters such as William H. Harrison, T. Tertius Noble, Eric Thiman, Sir John Stainer, and C.V. Stanford, to Renaissance composers such as Tomas Luis de Victoria, to name only a few, and we even sing in French and Latin. Ted has a vast knowledge of all good quality church music. He makes choir practice fun, yet expects rapt attention and the best singing from each choir member. He is always kind, sometimes humorous, and never seems dictatorial.
(4) Dale Krider, Organist/Choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in College Park, Maryland, my current organ teacher since 2002 (and 1978-82): Dale is a graduate of Peabody Conservatory and earned the FCCM (Fellow, College of Church Musicians) at the College of Church Musicians at Washington National Cathedral, DC. He is an excellent teacher with some highly successful students. Dale passed the Fellow Exam of the AGO, the highest level certification test. He is an expert organist and tells you exactly what to do with each piece by Bach or any composer, he knows everything. He is tactful and practical with all levels of students and is always encouraging, he is almost saint-like! He knows how to bring out the best in each student.
(5) Kenneth Lowenberg, Minister of Music Emeritus of Chevy Chase
Presbyterian Church, thrilled me when I heard his organ playing at my family’s church, Chevy Chase Presbyterian, when I was 22. He was also organist at my wedding several years later. (hearing him was one of my “introductions to the organ”; another “introduction to the organ” was when I was “blown away” at age 18, hearing Dr. John Carruth, in recital at the College of Wooster in Ohio, play a prelude and fugue of J.S. Bach on the pipe organ there! I had never heard a pipe organ before.) I studied organ/improvisation/composition with Ken Lowenberg for about 8 years and was amazed at his creativity and immense talent as a composer and performer, on piano and organ. He has 28 published anthems by such well-known publishers as GIA Publications, Selah Publishing Co., Morning Star, Hope, Hinshaw, and AMSI. Many of his anthems are astonishingly beautiful! I have sung them in several choirs of which I’ve been a member.
Ken graduated from Northwestern University with a B.Mus.Ed., and earned a M.Mus. in Composition at the University of Southern California. He earned the FCCM (Fellow of the College of Church Musicians) at the College of Church Musicians at Washington National Cathedral in the late 1960’s. Ken passed the Fellow Exam of the AGO, the highest level certification test.
People under 45 (and everybody else, too), please consider becoming a member of the American Guild of Organists. There’s a whole world waiting for you there.
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 am You are right; people should join the AGO. Nothing can beat personal contact. In spite of the Internet, etc., the human being has a constant need for companionship.