Join Brooklyn text writer Jacque Jones for an evening focusing on congregational song. Jacque will talk about her hymn writing process and will introduce you to some of her work, as well as to the work of other current writers and composers. She will lead the group through the exercise of writing a short hymn, a tool which can be used in your churches with both youth and adults. Finally, she will discuss some resources that can help you choose hymns for worship. Come ready to sing!

Free Event for Brooklyn Chapter Members
$20 for Non-members

Jacque B. Jones has been writing in various forms all her life and she took up the challenge of writing hymn texts in 2003. Jacque has been an active member of The Hymn Society in the US and Canada since 2003, having served as its president from 2014 to 2016. She is a member of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, NY, and is actively involved in worship leadership. Jacque is proud to say that she was the Brooklyn Chapter’s Person of the Year in 2014. A native of Texas, Jacque attended Baylor University and The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a BFA in theatre. She and her husband live in Brooklyn Heights, and they have 3 adult children.

Jacque’s hymn text collection Songs Unchanged Yet Ever Changing was published in 2015 by GIA. Hymn texts are included in the collections Assembled for Song, Assembled for Song 2, Come, O Holy House and Worship, and in the hymnals Glory to God, Community of Christ Sings, Worship 4, Voices Together, and Hymns for a Pilgrim People, as well as being available through GIA UnBound. She has three anthems published: Remember (with Tony Alonso), Newborn Child Now Sleeping (with Mark Stockert), and All Will be Well (with Richard Clemmitt).

The American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter invites its members and friends to our 2024 Epiphany Banquet. Relax and socialize after the Christmas liturgies have passed!

$65 per person, includes family-style antipasti and pizzas, choice of 3 entrees (chicken, fish or steak), fruit, dessert, coffee/tea and unlimited soda and wine.  Cash or check at venue.

Please R.S.V.P. HERE

Members of the Brooklyn Chapter are invited to our annual Homecoming Pot-luck.
Come join your colleagues for a casual evening of fellowship, food and fun!

This is a FREE event to all members!

Please use the button below to R.S.V.P. and indicate what you will be able to bring to the pot-luck

Thomas Hobson Williams

Brooklyn Chapter Member and Past Dean
will be playing a a recital on the Fisk organ at Transfiguration Church
as part of the series A Little Midday Music

Offertoire L’Éclatante — Michel Corrette (1707-1795)

Trio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 525 — Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro

From Pièces dans différent styles, Book 10, Op. 40 — Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
Canon

From Pièces dans différent styles, Book 14, Op. 70
Rêverie

Toccata in D Minor — Alphonse Mailly (1833-1918)

Suggested Donation $6

The Brooklyn Chapter of the AGO invites you to a workshop on Improvisation by NCOI winner Dr. Kalle Toivio. Dr. Toivio will give us tips to improve our improvisational skills. The workshop will end with a free improvisation by Dr. Toivio.

Refreshments will be served after.

FREE for Brooklyn Chapter Members

$20 for Non-members

$10 for Students and Seniors

Featuring performances from Chapter members

Dr. Stephen Danziger
Dr. Michael Kaminski
Paul Richard Olson
Gregg Patruno
Yilun Wang
Dr. John A. Wolfe

Following the recital we will have the Installation of Officers and Executive Board Members for our next program year and a reception with light refreshments.

Join us for an opportunity to hear local artists creating art on a great instrument in a great space! We hope to welcome you at this event.

Reserve your FREE tickets through Eventbrite

HERE

This event is free and open to the public.

The Brooklyn Chapter presents an organ recital by
The Winners of the 2021 Scholarship Competition

Featuring Richard Gress and Alexander Leonardi

These young artists return to Brooklyn to share their talent and skills. This event is a fundraiser for the annual George Mathison Memorial Scholarship Competition hosted by our Chapter. There will be light refreshments afterward. Stop by for an evening of fine organ music and an opportunity to congratulate the artists on their accomplishments.

$20 Suggested Donation

The Brooklyn Chapter of the AGO is hosting the annual

George Mathison Memorial Scholarship Competition

Cash awards, plus the opportunity to perform in the Competition Winners Organ Recital.

Application Form Click HERE

Application Deadline - February 18, 2023

Polyphonic Practice in a Monodic World: 
Strategies for Survival in Church Music
by Preparing for AGO Certification Exams

Presented by Eric Birk, FAGO
Organist and Choirmaster
Christ and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, New York City

If you are considering taking one of the AGO certification exams, come to this workshop to learn tips to help you succeed and have questions answered by an AGO certified musician. This is a great opportunity to gather information and gain confidence!

FREE to Brooklyn AGO members

$20 for non-members

The Brooklyn Chapter of the AGO invites its members to the Valentine’s Day Banquet at Enoteca on Court. Dinner includes family-style appetizers, choice of entree, dessert, wine and American coffee. Drinks may be purchased separately.

Come socialize with your fellow Chapter members!

$65 per person, plus Tip

Payable by check, cash or Zelle to treasurer@brooklynago.org

Reserve a spot HERE

The Brooklyn Chapter of the AGO presents
Pedals, Pipes & Pizza!

Children and youth in grades 3-6 who have had some experience with the piano are invited to come hear, play and explore the pipe organ. Participants will be able to learn how a pipe organ works through building with the interactive Orgelkids model. Students will observe professional organists setting up registrations on a pipe organ and demonstrating the different sounds of the stops. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the instrument themselves.

Pizza lunch is included and will be served outside in the garden.

FREE! Reserve a spot HERE

The Office of LIturgy of the Archdiocese of New York presents

Organfest! 2022

Featuring a Keynote Presentation and Concert by

Dr. Peter Latona, DMA

Director of Music, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC

Breakout Sessions will be presented by

Clara Gerdes Bartz

Jared Lamenzo

Sarah Jane E. Starcher Germani

Fr. George Hafemann

Mark Pacoe

Fee $45 (includes lunch)

Students $25

Concert only $20 (2:15 PM)

Register HERE

The Brooklyn Chapter of the AGO presents

A Workshop on Multicultural Hymn Playing

Attendees are invited and encouraged to share and demonstrate their own cultural hymn playing styles. EVERYONE is a teacher at this workshop.  The organ is available to all and attendees are invited to bring along instruments common to their cultural styles.

Presenters include Davian Alleyne, Raymond Trapp and Ellen Wright.

This is a FREE event.

Holy Apostles Episcopal Church invites you to attend

the Inaugural Larry Trupiano Concert by Paolo Bordignon

celebrating the newly restored Pipe Organ

In its inaugural Larry Trupiano Organ Concert Series, Paolo Bordignon of St. Bartholomew's Church, NYC, will be performing along with trumpeter, Kevin Cobb. The program includes works by Bach, Mendelssohn and Vierne. The organ incorporates pipes by Carl Barckhoff and Hillgreen-Lane, with additional modification and additions by Mann & Trupiano of Brooklyn, NY. Attendance is by donation.

Donations are requested for this event.

As per the venue's protocol, the audience will be required to wear masks.

The Brooklyn Chapter of the AGO presents
A Virtual Roundtable: Navigating Church Bureaucracy

The goal is for participants to gain a better understanding of ways to create successful relationships between musicians, clergy, and parish administration whilst navigating a variety of “roadblocks” to our goals of creating successful and uplifting music programs. 

Topics will include:

• Communication with clergy, parish staff and congregation

• Contract negotiation

• Finance/Budget allocation

• Selection of liturgical music

• Organ/Instrument maintenance

Participants are encouraged to bring questions and/or solutions that they have encountered.

Video call link:
https://meet.google.com/cmb-nroj-thh

This is a FREE event.

Members of the Brooklyn Chapter are invited to our annual Homecoming Pot-luck.
Come join your colleagues for a casual evening of fellowship, food and fun!

This is a FREE event to all members!

Please use the button below to R.S.V.P. and indicate what you will be able to bring to the pot-luck

Featuring performances from Chapter members. Following the recital we will have the Installation of Officers and Executive Board Members for our next program year and a reception with light refreshments.

Join us for an opportunity to hear local artists creating art on a great instrument in a great space! We hope to welcome you at this event.

Member performers include:

Gregory Jack
Lana Krakovskiy
Gregg Patruno
Maria Rayzvasser
Yilun Wang
Dr. John A. Wolfe
Ellen Wright

This event is free and open to the public.

Paul Richard Olson will be featured in recital to benefit the Brooklyn AGO Scholarship Fund on Sunday, May 15 at Grace Church Brooklyn Heights at 4:00 pm.

He will be performing works by Langlais, J.S. Bach, a setting of the Te Deum Laudamus with chant by Guillaume Nivers and other selected composers.

Paul is currently in his 30th year as Organist and Choirmaster at Grace Church. He is a native of the Pacific Northwest where he holds degrees in music from Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Oregon. Additional post graduate studies are from the University of Washington, the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, and Eton (UK).

Suggested donation is $20

You are invited to hear the graduate recital of one of our members. She will perform the following program:

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 - 1707)
Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV149

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', BWV 663

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major, BWV 564

Cesar Franck (1822 - 1890)
Fantasia in A major

Rachel Laurin (b. 1961)
Douze Courtes Pieces pour orgue Op. 43
10. Rondo
5. Moto Perpetuo

Olivier Messiaen (1908 - 1992)
"Dieu parmi nous" from La nativité du Seigneur

Yilun Wang is a graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music currently finishing her Master's Degree in Classical Organ. Prior to studying organ, she earned her Master's Degree in Classical Piano from the Manhattan School of Music and her Bachelor's Degree in Piano from Central Conservatory of Music, the top music school in China. Yilun has been playing for more than 20 years, has founded a quintet ensemble and published albums in China, and has performed across China and Europe, including the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Bach House in Köthen, the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, etc. She aspires to continue learning and become a well-rounded organist. Her organ teachers have included Walter Hilse, Andrew Henderson, Raymond Nagem, and Katherine Meloan.

a BKAGO Presentation

The program will include:

J.S. Bach, Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major
Maurice Duraflé, Suite pour orgue
Louis Vierne, Symphonie No. 6

Dr. Michael Kaminski is Director of Music Ministries at Saint Francis Xavier Church, Senior Adjunct Instructor of Fine Arts at Saint Francis College and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Organ at Brooklyn College, all in Brooklyn, New York.   He has earned the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Catholic University of America. His concerts have taken him to thirty-eight states, Canada and Mexico. He has performed at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the Morelia International Organ Festival and the International Organ Festival in Guadalajara.  He has been heard on the National Public Radio program, Pipedreams, Radio Mexico as well as numerous regional radio broadcasts. Dr. Kaminski is a member of the Music Commission of the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Free-will offerings will benefit the Clare Cecilia Society.

The Brooklyn Chapter is pleased to offer a free workshop, Organ Literature 101, presented by past dean Dr. John A. Wolfe.

This will be an introduction to historically-informed performance of classic pipe organ literature. The workshop will focus on the topics of articulation, registration, rubato, score-reading and more, as they pertain to historic masterpieces of the pipe organ repertoire.

One goal of this workshop is to offer suggestions for selecting leveled organ literature to meet your needs.

The Brooklyn Chapter is pleased to offer a free workshop, Organ Literature 101, presented by past dean Dr. John A. Wolfe.

This will be an introduction to historically-informed performance of classic pipe organ literature. The workshop will focus on the topics of articulation, registration, rubato, score-reading and more, as they pertain to historic masterpieces of the pipe organ repertoire.

One goal of this workshop is to offer suggestions for selecting leveled organ literature to meet your needs.

The American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter & St. Philip’s Episcopal/Anglican Church Present:

An Organ Recital by David Hurd

A Freewill Offering Will Be Collected
All Proceeds Will Benefit the Brooklyn AGO’s George Mathison Memorial Scholarship Competition Fund

David Hurd is widely recognized as one of the foremost concert organists, sacred music composers, and church musicians in the United States, as well as for his innovative, enthralling, and ever-evolving improvisation abilities. Now Organist and Choirmaster of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York, he is a greatly sought-after composer of dozens of hymns, choral works, and organ works. He was named Composer of the Year in 2010 by the American Guild of Organists. A typical recital program by Dr. Hurd will feature works of Bach or Krebs, his own compositions, and a thrilling improvisation.

The American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter Presents:
PEDALS, PIPES & PIZZA!

Children and youth in grades 3-6 who have had some experience with the piano are invited to come hear, play and explore the pipe organ. A pizza lunch will be served. FREE!

Reserve a place with an email message to dean@brooklynago.org

The Cooperative Choral Reading Workshop is an opportunity for organists, choral conductors and singers to explore and share lesser-known gems of the choral literature in a casual social setting. Volunteer singers are welcome to attend and the event is FREE.

Those interested in participating should contact event organizer Nick Martellacci at nm11201@aol.com.

The American Guild of Organists Brooklyn Chapter invites its members and friends to our 2020 January Banquet.

$55 per person, including salad, antipasto, pizza, choice of three entrees, cake and American coffee. Cash bar. There will be a vegetarian option and members may bring guests.

Please make checks payable to AGO Brooklyn Chapter and mail to:

John A. Wolfe
476 W. 141st St., Apt. 71
New York, NY 10031

For more info please contact Chapter Dean John A. Wolfe at dean@brooklynago.org.