The mission of the American Guild of Organists

is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge

and inspire passion for the organ.

- January 2026 -

Epiphany Gathering

Sunday - January 11, 2026

2:00 p.m.

Spokane Public Library - South Hill

Join us for a potluck lunch and networking. Catch up on stories from Advent and more.

Let us know what food you are bringing by reply to this email. The list is kept current HERE.

You're invited!

Prelude

Adagio from Symphonie No. 5

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)

Phos Hilaron

David Banney (b. 1968)

Preces & Responses

Richard Cook (1957-2007)

Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis

G minor - "Collegium Regale"

Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Postlude

Paean

Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988)

Organ Academy 2026 Sponsorships

Thank you to our generous donors/supporters who made us reach our $2,100 goal!

• Marlys Meece
• Dr. Janet Ahrend
• Dr. Courtney Clyde
• Rev. Mark Haberman
• Dr. Henry Bauer
• Scott Rednour
• Edward Hurd

The American Guild of Organists Young Organists (AGOYO) Virtual Conference is designed to foster community, professional development, and artistic excellence among young organists. This dynamic event features a diverse range of presentations, panel discussions, and performances showcasing the organ. Young organists have the opportunity to network with colleagues and established professionals. By providing a platform for emerging talent and academic exchange, the AGOYO Virtual Conference aims to advance the field of organ studies and inspire the next generation of organists.

Please take a look at the conference schedule HERE.

You must be under 30 to register for this event. AGOYO members register for FREE.

Learning How to Practice

Takes Practice

From Music Educators Journal

- Micah Killion and Robert Duke

Effective music learning depends on effective music practice. Although time spent with teachers is an important component of young musicians’ development, time spent alone practicing is perhaps even more consequential. Researchers and teachers have offered many prescriptions about effective music practice, yet observations of young musicians’ actual practice reveal that their behavior in the practice room is often quite unlike what teachers envision.

The most important aspects of effective practice are the thinking, perceiving, and decision-making that serve to organize how musicians spend their time. Help students focus their attention in ways that lead to the successful accomplishment of musical goals.

Read the full article HERE.

The Science Is Clear:

The Arts Make Us Healthier

From Arts Action News

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One of the most exciting new research frontiers is the study of the arts’ impact on the human brain. Studies show that when we attend an arts event, write poetry, or create art ourselves, measurable transformations take place: stress and anxiety decrease, life satisfaction and mental health improve, and cognitive decline is slowed. We become more creative—and less lonely. Remarkably, just 45 minutes of artmaking can lower the stress hormone cortisol by 25%. Research centers such as the Neuroarts Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University are exceptional sources for these research findings and their societal implications.

In many ways, the science is catching up to what the public has long understood. In Americans Speak Out About the Arts, one of the largest public opinion studies on the arts ever conducted, 71% of Americans said that arts and culture give them “pure pleasure” when experiencing or participating in them. 69% believe that “arts and culture have a positive effect on their overall health and well-being,” and 60% agreed that “the arts have helped me cope during times of mental or emotional distress.”

Momentum is growing in Congress as well. The House of Representatives has recommended funding NeuroArts research at the National Institutes of Health, and Americans for the Arts is advocating that this provision is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations. Stay tuned for action opportunities. In the meantime, take a dance class, sing in a choir, or pick-up a paint brush. You’ll be healthier when that day arrives!