News Bulletins

August 3, 2004

NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) and the University of North Texas College of Music have partnered to produce the 12th National Conference on Organ Pedagogy at the University of North Texas, November 4–6, 2004. Organists and scholars will gather in Denton, Tex. for three full days of performances, lectures, and discussions focusing on the French organ world of the 17th and 18th centuries, matching instrument and repertoire with performers and experts from around the world.

The 2004 National Conference on Organ Pedagogy will celebrate the installation of the French Classic organ (IV/41) built by the Bedient Organ Co. in 1986, and relocated from Grand Rapids, Mich. to Denton in 2003. Program events include performances by Marie-Claire Alain, Michel Bouvard, UNT organ faculty members Jesse Eschbach, Lenora McCroskey, and Dale Peters, and the UNT Baroque ensembles under the direction of Lyle Nordstrom. Liturgy, performance practices, and the French organ culture will be the subject of roundtable discussions. Masterclasses, presentations, and lectures will be presented by Marie-Claire Alain, Robert Bates, Gene Bedient, Joseph Butler, Jesse Eschbach, David Fuller, Robert Gallagher, Elisabeth Gallat-Morin, Stephen Hefling, Marie-Christine Koop, Lenora McCroskey, Davitt Moroney, Lyle Nordstrom, and Catherine Turocy.

Registration information is published in the August and September 2004 issues of The American Organist Magazine. Complete conference information, including the specification of the Bedient organ and online registration, is available at http://www.music.unt.edu/organ. For further information about the conference, please contact Jesse Eschbach at 940-565-4093 or e-mail Jeschbac@music.unt.edu. #

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, it sets and maintains high musical standards and promotes the understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. The mission of the AGO is to enrich lives through organ and choral music. The Guild currently serves approximately 19,000 members in more than 300 local chapters throughout the United States and abroad. The American Organist Magazine, the official journal of the AGO and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, reaches an audience of more than 20,000 readers each month.

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.