News Bulletins

May 15, 2008

NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) has designated 2008–2009 as the International Year of the Organ (IYO) and is partnering with organizations worldwide to celebrate the King of Instruments. The celebration will commence with the AGO National Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., June 22–26, 2008, and will conclude with the AGO Regional Conventions in the summer of 2009. Major support for the International Year of the Organ is provided by Platinum level sponsor Kuhn Orgelbau; Gold level sponsors Rodgers Instruments, Schantz Organ Co., and Walker Technical Co.; and Silver level sponsor Reuter Organ Co.

More than two hundred Organ Spectacular (OS) concerts are planned on Sunday, October 19, 2008. The award winning Ornament of Grace by Bernard Sanders for organ and C instrument, and Stephen Paulus’s Blithely Breezing Along for organ, commissioned by David and Cindy Vogels, will be featured works on Organ Spectacular concerts. These concerts will be presented by the AGO’s local chapters throughout the U.S. and abroad, as well as by partner organizations including: American Public Media’s Pipedreams, the American Theater Organ Society, Organ Historical Society, and Royal Canadian College of Organists. Separately, the governors of Michigan, Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin have each issued official proclamations declaring that their states will be honoring the organ during this IYO celebratory year.

All AGO chapters and other organizations producing concerts during the IYO are encouraged to submit a complimentary listing of their events on the AGO Web site. This official list of IYO/OS activities will be constantly updated and will be published in the October issue of The American Organist Magazine.

AGO chapters, independent concert organizers, organbuilders, academicians, and others hosting IYO/OS events are invited to adapt for their own use any of the one dozen IYO/OS logo designs available for downloading from the AGO’s Web site.

To provide further support for the IYO and OS, the AGO is developing a comprehensive Media Relations Handbook specially designed for AGO Chapters. The Handbook is being produced in cooperation with the Phelps Group, an award-winning international public relations firm. The publication will be available at the IYO/OS booth at the 2008 AGO National Convention and will be discussed in depth during a convention workshop sponsored by the AGO Committee on Professional Networking and Public Relations. The text and model forms will also be available online at the AGO’s Web site.

Complete information regarding the International Year of the Organ and Organ Spectacular is available online at www.agohq.org/os. For information about corporate sponsorships, please contact AGO Executive Director James Thomashower, 212-870-2311 (ext. 4300) or e-mail jet@agohq.org. For general information and inquiries about program listings, please contact IYO/OS Project Coordinator Harold Calhoun, 212-870-2311 (ext. 4318) or e-mail os@agohq.org.

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.