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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.
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September 7 Gathering
Chapter members met for afternoon desserts and open console at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. 80th Season events, 2025-2026 budget, membership demographics, and more were discussed.
Pictured (left to right): Carolyn Payne, Janet Ahrend, Henry Bauer, Nisha Coulter, Jenelle Scott, Ed Hurd, and Floyd Czoski. Not pictured: photographer Randy Darst.
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Lukas Hasler Residency
September 22 and 23, 2025
Our 80th anniversary season began with an exciting and inspiring two-day residency with Lukas Hasler. His talent and enthusiasm energized everyone!
Monday, September 22, Lukas immediately launched into discovering all the colors of the cathedral organ and registering for his recital. That evening, he presented a masterclass with chapter members for an audience of 45. Lukas was presented with our version of his "No BWV 565" t-shirt. His insightful comments gave everyone present much to think about and, most importantly, permission to try new ways of approaching our playing and interpretation of the musical notation. Many thanks to member participants Scarlett Thomsen, Maria Truong, Jonathan Truong - CAGO, and Joseph Schubert, PhD for diligently preparing and performing.
Tuesday, September 23, Lukas' recital was superb. His choice of literature was perfect for the organ, and his technical mastery was dazzling. The audience of 157 was treated to the first public performance of Lukas' organ transcription of Schumann's "Romance in F-sharp Major, opus 28." Many thanks to the clergy and staff of St. John's Cathedral for hosting and assistance with publicity, ushering, reception preparation, and more!
We are already looking forward to the next visit by Lukas Hasler. Thank you for coming, Lukas!
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Lukas Hasler - A Portrait
Did you miss purchasing one of Lukas' CDs after his recital? Click the CD image to be taken directly to his website merchandise page and order yours. Recorded in June 2019 at Heilandskirche Graz.
- Prélude et Fugue en Si majeur - Dupré
- Einleitung
- Première Évocation - Hasler
- Trio super "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" (BWV 664) - Bach
- Präludium und Fuge über das Thema B-A-C-H - Liszt
- Duxième Évocation - Hasler
- Fantasie in g-Moll (BWV 542) - Bach
- Fuge in g-Moll (BWV 542) - Bach
- Troisième Évocation - Hasler
- Präludium in Es-Dur (BWV 552) - Bach
- Fuge in Es-Dur (BWV 552) - Bach
- From Austria with Love - J. Strauß, Sr.
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Sunday - October 5, 2025
3:00 p.m.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
Do you dread Sunday morning services or recitals? Do you often feel like you are not ready?
During the service or performance, do you play a crack, then see red, and the rest of the performance is a blur because you have gone into "automatic mode," playing from muscle memory alone?
As a performing musician himself, Dr. Robert Riggs shares strategies for coping and managing adrenaline spikes, commonly known as performance anxiety.
Join us! You'll be glad you did...
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Sunday - November 9, 2025
3:00 p.m.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
Performers are invited to play in the King of Instruments member recital. Join organists Joseph Schubert, Mark Haberman, Henry Bauer, and Phineas Pope by using this form. Thank you!
Poster and social media image assets are available at the bottom of the event webpage. Help us spread the word about this inspiring event!
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Organ Academy 2026
Organ Academy 2026 registration is open. Academicians registered:
4
NEW This Year
- Age 10-22
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Limited to 12 students
Fees:
- Age 10-High School - $100
- College age up to 22 - $250
Information and registration links are available on the academy webpage.
Help us spread the word about this program on your social media pages, posters in your choir room, and sharing with your students. Street Team image assets are downloadable at the bottom of the academy webpage.
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Will you help us continue this program for organ students?
The chapter's most important educational activity is the Organ Academy; it is vital for the future of our profession.
Organ Academy is also the largest budgetary line item. We were blessed by and grateful for the generous support gift given by Andrew and Elizabeth Law, but those restricted funds are nearly depleted. We have enough to cover expenses for only six 2026 organ students.
Please help us continue this program for young people. Click the button to sponsor an organ student! Thank you!
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Welcome Kristina Komarov!
New Spokane Chapter Member
Kristina Komarov grew up in Spokane and has been involved with local music from a very young age. She has great memories of studying piano and several other instruments at Holy Names Music Center.
Kristina studies piano with Dr. Jody Graves and Scott Rednour, while pursuing her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Eastern Washington University (EWU).
Kristina works as a collaborative pianist and loves performing with her chamber group, The Tempest Trio. She has performed as a concert soloist with EWU’s orchestra and has been featured several times on KPBX Spokane Public Radio. In addition to teaching, she works as a church pianist and often accompanies high school choirs for solo and ensemble contests, as well as competitions.
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AGO Promotional Literature
New membership handout cards are available. Share with anyone who might like to be involved in our chapter activities.
- Pick up a few at our next event
- Receive handout cards from board member who lives near you
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Click HERE to join or renew your membership
Thank you to J.W. Arnold at AGO HQ for providing the beautiful localized artwork!
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Music Librarians Needed
We need your help!
Our chapter's organ music library has moved to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Lifetime Member Dr. Janet Ahrend has donated more of her personal library! Plus, additional scores are arriving daily. This large and valuable collection of scores and texts needs organization by a team of librarians!
Are you willing to help us bring logical order to this amazing treasure of scores and books? Please reply to this email with your interest and availability. Thank you!
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A native of Hangzhou, China, Zeru Wang, DMA, holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Missouri-Columbia. His teachers have included Christopher Taylor and Peter Miyamoto. Apart from appearing in the masterclasses of Frederic Chiu, Richard Goode, Sergei Babayan, Alessio Bax, Julian Martin, Marina Lomazov, Julio Elizalde, Gabriel Chodos, and Corey Hamm, he also studied with Peter Serkin, Yoon Hi Moon, Douglas Humphreys, Natalya Antonova, Bruce Brubaker, and Sean Duggan during several prestigious summer festivals.
Dr. Wang is a prize-winner of many international and national piano competitions, including the World Piano Teacher Association International Piano Competition, the Joyeux International Piano Competition, the Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music, and the MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition. In addition to the 2021 Beethoven Competition held by the University of Wisconsin, he was selected as the winner of the 2015 Missouri University (MU) Concerto Competition and the 2015 MU Emerging Artist Competition.
Click on the image for full information.
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