The purpose of the American Guild of Organists is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ an choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members.
Model Contract for Church Musicians
42nd Annual Patron Recital
Andrew Dewar
Our next Patron Recital will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2006. Our artist will Andrew Dewar, winner of both the First Place and Audience Prizes at the 2005 St. Albans International Organ Competition in England. He has taken prizes in an international organ performance competition every year since 2001 when he won the Plymouth National Young Organists' Competition in England (Landau an der Isar 2002, Berlin 2003, Schramberg 2004).
Andrew is Organist at both the churches of St. Franziskus and St. Johannes in Stuttgart, where he is studying with Prof. Ludger Lohmann at the Musikhochschule. Previous to his work in Germany, he was Organ Scholar at Wells Cathedral in England where, as a student at the Wells Cathedral School earlier he had studied with Rupert Gough and David Sanger, and improvisation with David Briggs and harpsichord with David Ponsford.
Andrew Dewar performs frequently throughout Europe and has recently released his first solo CD on the German label Edition Hera. His professional career began at age nine when he was appointed organist at his local parish church in Yeovil, England.
ST. ALBANS INTERNATIONAL ORGAN COMPETITION
The Competition and its accompanying Festival were founded in 1963 by Peter Hurford OBE and it is considered the longest established event of its kind in the world. It brings artists, musicians and other performers from around the world for the festival, and attracts tourists from far-flung areas as well as a large audience from the United Kingdom. Musical events during the festival range from orchestral, chamber and choral concerts to jazz and cabaret.
At the heart of the festival is the organ competition which brings eminent judges from various parts of the globe, and attracts as competitors the most talented young organists of the day. Early rounds of the competition take place in St. Saviour's Church in St. Albans where competitors play a replica of the type of organ played by J.S. Bach. Many past winners of the competition, including Gillian Weir, Lynne Davis, and David Briggs (winner in improvisation), have gone on to have international performing and recording careers.
The competition and festival are presented by the International Organ Festival Society, of which Peter Hurford is president and former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath is a patron. General Manager of the Society is Ken Chaproniere, and the Artistic Director is Andrew Lucas who is also Master of the Music at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban.
Membership in the American Guild of Organists
Membership is open to all and is available through local chapters such as the West Texas Chapter. Meetings are held featuring performances, lectures, seminars, and discussions on a wide variety of topics. For more information or to become a member of our Chapter, email our Treasurer:
Edith Hardy, CAGO, SPC
or write to:
West Texas Chapter AGO
Additional West Texas Chapter Officers
Sub Dean Dr. James L. Queen, ChM
For more information about Salaries for organists and choir directors visit the
Salary Guidelines
webpage at AGO National Headquarters.
Substitute Organists Available
Edith C. Hardy, CAGO - 432-697-6745
Jean Koonce - 432-756-3214
Dustin Tatro - 432-339-9486
Ronald F. Thomas - 432-550-0339
Jordan Williams, SPC - 432-682-3405
Ciphers Chapter Newsletter Archives
Organ Stoplists
Midland - First Presbyterian, Moller 1991
Midland - First United Methodist, Schantz-Range 1999
Odessa - First Presbyterian, Casavant 1985
Odessa - First United Methodist, Ross King 1997
Odessa - St. John's Episcopal, Moller 1977
San Angelo - Emmanuel Episcopal, Reuter 1969
San Angelo - First Christian, Ross King 1983
San Angelo - First Presbyterian, Dan Garland 1991
San Angelo - First United Methodist, Moller 1949
Favorite Links
San Angelo Music Teachers Association
AGO National Headquarters Website
The Choral Public Domain Library
Southern Music Company, San Antonio, Texas - Which offers a 10% DISCOUNT to AGO members
University Music House, Columbus, Ohio
Raleigh Ringers Handbell Choir
38th Annual Patron Recital - November 2002
Chapter Treasurer - Edith Hardy, CAGO, Patron Chair - Rebecca Sawyer, Patron Recitalist - Dr. Robert Glasgow, Chapter Dean - Jack Martin, SPC, and Chapter Secretary - Nancy Henderson
Please sign our Guestbook
This page last updated July24, 2006.
PO Box 7761
Midland TX 79708-7761
