REGIONAL COMPETITIONS FOR YOUNG
ORGANISTS RECEIVE MAJOR SUPPORT
Quimby Sponsorship Announced
Pictured from left to right:
F. Anthony Thurman, Michael Quimby, and John Obetz.
NEW YORK CITY — The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) is pleased to welcome our newest competition sponsor, Michael Quimby, president of Quimby Pipe Organs Inc. of Warrensburg, Mo. He has agreed to be the sole sponsor of the Regional Competitions for Young Organists and Rising Stars Recitals. This generous support represents the largest competition sponsorship in the history of the Guild, founded in 1896. It is a very tangible sign of a growing spirit of cooperation between our not-for-profit organization and the organbuilding industry.
The magnanimous agreement was reached last December in a meeting with Michael Quimby, AGO Councillor for Finance and Development John Obetz, and AGO Director of Development and Communications F. Anthony Thurman. Mr. Quimby will provide First and Second Prize Awards in all nine regional conventions, and support the Rising Stars Recitals at AGO national conventions. The competition will be known as the AGO/Quimby Regional Competitions for Young Organists, and the recitals as the AGO/Quimby Rising Stars Recitals.
“Michael Quimby, with his generous underwriting of the Regional Competitions for Young Organists and their performances as Rising Stars at AGO national conventions, exemplifies the commitment to our art and organization to which we all should aspire,” notes John Obetz. “He recognizes with all of us this fact: our future is in the hands (and feet) of our young artists. His generosity demonstrates the sincerity of his convictions, and great personal integrity. All of the AGO will long be benefited, and we are most grateful.”
AGO/QUIMBY REGIONAL COMPETITIONS FOR YOUNG ORGANISTS AND RISING STARS RECITALS
The Regional Competitions for Young Organists are designed for organists under the age of 23. Participants compete in two levels of this competition, beginning at the chapter level and ending at the regional level. The winners of each chapter competition advance to the regional finals, which are held in conjunction with AGO regional conventions in odd-numbered years. Second-place winners receive a cash award of $500. First-place winners receive a cash award of $1,000, are sponsored in a solo recital during an AGO regional convention, and are presented in a Rising Stars recital at the AGO national convention the following year.
QUIMBY PIPE ORGANS INC.
Quimby Pipe Organs Inc. (QPO) was founded by Michael Quimby in 1970 as a one-man service organization. The staff of QPO now numbers 14 full-time employees with more than 100 new and rebuilt organs throughout the United States. The guiding principle for the firm is to build organs of the highest quality, both tonally and physically, that are musical, expressive, and communicative.
In addition to his skills as an organbuilder, Michael Quimby holds degrees in Music Education and Music History and Literature with applied emphasis in organ performance from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, a history that has deeply influenced his philosophy in the design of church organs. Mr. Quimby notes, “At QPO, we feel a great responsibility to produce organs that will not only ‘do church’ but do it with style — an organ that will sit well behind the choir, will offer an organist many color alternatives for certain moments during the church service, and to have an essential grandeur and heroic nature that is appropriate to the worship setting.”
An organist himself, Mr. Quimby is keenly aware of the importance of continuing the tradition. “As a company of organbuilders, we are also aware of the importance of organists—organs aren’t much good without them! Quimby Pipe Organs Inc. is very pleased to help promote the art of the organ by sponsoring the Regional Competition of Young Organists and Rising Stars Recitals at AGO National Conventions.”
The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the AGO seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members. The Guild currently serves more than 20,000 members in 343 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad.
This information is submitted by F. Anthony Thurman, Director of Development and Communications at the National Headquarters of the American Guild of Organists and THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine. For further information, please contact Dr. Thurman by TEL (212) 870-2310, FAX (212) 870-2163 or E-MAIL fathurman@agohq.org.
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