September 30, 2002

FREDERICK SWANN, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS, WILL BE HONORED IN NEW YORK CITY WITH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR AWARD NEW YORK CITY — FREDERICK SWANN, president of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) will be given the Performer of the Year Award by the New York City AGO Chapter during Mr. Swann’s final public performance in Manhattan on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at the Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City. He will be the 14th recipient of the prestigious award, instituted in 1978. The recital begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, and admission includes a gala reception following. General admission tickets are $20; discounted tickets for students and seniors are $15. FREDERICK SWANN, a resident of Palm Springs, Calif., is organist emeritus of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., where he was director of music/organist (1982–1998). Mr. Swann subsequently served as organist-in-residence at the First Congre-gational Church in Los Angeles, Calif. (1998–2001). He is currently organ artist-in-residence at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, Calif. Prior to his appointments in California, he served concurrently as director of music/organist at the Riverside Church (1957–1982) and chairman of the organ department at the Manhattan School of Music (1972–1982) in New York City. Mr. Swann retired in 2001 after 60 years as an active church musician, but continues to concertize throughout the United States and abroad. During the 2001–2002 season, Mr. Swann performed more than 40 recitals throughout North America and in two European tours, including special appearances at the great organs of St. Benedict Monastery in São Paulo, Brazil; Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris; St. Paul's Cathedral in London; and at the Passau Dom. A complete listing of his 2002–2003 recitals can be found at <www.concertorganists.com> and in a full-page announcement in the September 2002 issue of THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine (p.57). Frederick Swann is internationally known as a church musician, recitalist, adjudicator, recording artist, and teacher. He holds degrees in music from Northwestern University and Union Theological Seminary. An active member of the AGO for more than 50 years, Mr. Swann has held numerous local and national offices. His term as AGO president began in July, 2002. The New York City AGO Chapter’s PERFORMER OF THE YEAR AWARD is given to an individual in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements and contributions to organ performance. Nominees are selected by the executive board and presented to the general membership for a vote. Past award recipients include Robert Noehren (1978), Catharine Crozier (1979), Gillian Weir (1981), Jean Guillou (1982), David Craighead (1983), Marie-Claire Alain (1984), Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini (1985), Thomas Murray (1986), Simon Preston (1987), Marilyn Mason (1988), Robert Glasgow (1997), John Scott (1998), and Jon Gillock (1999). 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 purpose 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. The American Organist Magazine, the official journal of the AGO, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, reaches an audience of more than 24,000 each month. The official Web site of the AGO is <www.agohq.org>. 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>.