Oct. 31, 2008
NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) and Yale University are partnering to produce the 15th AGO NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ORGAN PEDAGOGY, March 11–14, 2009. The conference, designed in cooperation with the AGO Committee on Continuing Professional Education, will be hosted by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, an interdisciplinary graduate center dedicated to the study and practice of sacred music, worship, and the arts. The four-day conference will be held at the Institute, in the Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, as well as other locations at Yale University and in downtown New Haven.
Demographic, cultural, and theological shifts in recent years have had a great impact on Christian worship in North America. This conference will explore these factors, and participants will discuss the many opportunities and challenges involved in the field of church music today. These proceedings will be of interest and value to church musicians and those who train them.
The keynote address will be given by Martin E. Marty. The conference will include plenary sessions led by Marva Dawn, Quentin Faulkner, Robert Rimbo, and Don Saliers; master classes on teaching by Lorraine Brugh (global music), David Heller (hymn-playing), Mark Miller (Gospel accompaniment), Thomas Murray (choral accompaniment), and Bruce Neswick and Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra (improvisation for church musicians). Church music curricula will be presented by Michael Bauer, Lorraine Brugh, Craig Cramer, Peter DuBois, and Janette Fishell. Preceding the pedagogy conference there will be a three-day symposium on preaching and music: Listening Is Performing, Performing Is Listening, March 8–10.
Complete conference information, including online registration, is available at www.agohq.org. For further information, please contact the Yale Institute of Sacred Music at 203-432-3220 or e-mail albert.agbayani@yale.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.
