News Bulletins
News Bulletins

AGO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS WELCOMES ASSOCIATED PIPE ORGAN BUILDERS OF AMERICA TO NEW YORK CITY

Representatives of APOBA member firms at the Interchurch Center in New York City, home of AGO National Headquarters. Inscribed in the marble wall behind them, “There is one body and one spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call.”


 


May 25, 2006

AGO National Headquarters was pleased to host the Annual Meeting of the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA) in New York City, April 28–29, 2006. In addition to their business meeting, presentations, and discussion regarding the recent European directive threatening to limit the use of lead in pipe organs, the group visited three new installations on Park Avenue: Brick Presbyterian Church (Casavant), St. Bartholomew’s Church (new five-manual console, built by Harris Precision Products), and Our Savior Roman Catholic Church (Schantz).

Founded in 1944, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America is a professional association of North American firms engaged in building traditional pipe organs. Members of APOBA are a select group of organbuilders who have passed stringent membership requirements. These requirements include a commitment to principles and guidelines restricting the use of electronic voice technology in pipe organ building. As friendly competitors, APOBA members join together to become acquainted, share technical and managerial information, and address industry-wide issues. They seek to foster the highest standards of integrity and quality in pipe organ building.

The AGO and APOBA share a mutually beneficial association, a collaboration that has existed since 1975. For several decades this relationship has been strengthened by financial contributions from APOBA and its members in support of the AGO and its Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) program. APOBA embraces The American Organist Magazine as its official journal.


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.