Committee on Professional Certification
Ms. Kathleen Thomerson, FAGO, ChM, Director
13030 Nutty Brown Road
Austin, TX 78737-9383
kthomerson@austin.rr.com
512-288-2370 (W)
512-301-4077 (H)
Dean W. Billmeyer, DMA, FAGO
University of Minnesota
School of Music, Ferguson Hall
2106 Fourth Street South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
S: 612-624-3307
Fax: 612-626-2200
dwb@umn.edu
Kenneth J. Grinnell, Jr., MSM, FAGO, ChM
First Congregational Church
508 Union St.
Manchester, NH 03104-4890
Church Phone: 603-625-5093
Church Fax: 603-625-9107
kgrinnell@fccmanchesternh.org
Walter Hilse, PhD, FAGO
326 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
H: 212-765-8905
Jeffrey Smith, DMA, FAGO
Grace Cathedral
1100 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
C: 415-749-6331
Fax: 415-749-6301
jeffreys@gracecathedral.org
The American Guild of Organists was chartered in 1896 by the Board of Regents, University of the State of New York, to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification. Through the Professional Certification Committee the Guild offers the following certificates:
Service Playing Certificate
Colleague (CAGO)
Choir Master (ChM)
Associateship (AAGO)
Fellowship (FAGO)
To order Educational Resources for Certification:
To obtain detailed requirements for each examination, contact National Headquarters by email, fax, mail or telephone. To order Educational Resources for Certification, click here.
2010 Examination Dates
Service Playing Test:
October 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010
Colleague Examination:
November 13, 2009; May 14, 2010; November 12, 2010
Choir Master Examination:
June 2, 2010
(morning and afternoon)
Associateship Examination:
June 3 and 4, 2010
(paperwork section both mornings; organ playing one of the afternoons)
Fellowship Examination:
June 3 and 4, 2010
(paperwork section both mornings; organ playing one of the afternoons)
Click here for Exam Locations
Click here for Certification Chart
Application Deadlines
Service Playing Test:
March 1 is the final application date.
(Applications for SPC tests scheduled between October and February should be received at least 4 weeks prior to the scheduled test date.)
Colleague Examination:
September 15 for the November CAGO exam; March 1 for the May CAGO exam.
Fellowship, Associate, and Choir Master:
1 April
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AGO Exam Updates
AGO exam updates for candidates, including clarifications and notices. Three consecutive updates are available:
2006 | 2007 | 2009
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Requirements for 2010
Detailed Professional Certification Requirements in Adobe Acrobat Reader Format
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Some Tips on the Repertoire
For the AGO Choir Master Exam, by Alfred Fedak
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New Repertoire for the
2008-09 CAGO Exam Cycle
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AGO Certification
Professional Certification explained. A chapter guide for promotion, preparation, and participation.
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The Examinations and Academic Regalia
of the American Guild of Organists
by Agnes Armstrong
First published in The American Organist, July 1996 |
2010 Examination Fees
Service Playing Certificate Test
$80
Colleague
Both Sections $130, Single Section $100
Choir Master
both sections $205, single section $150
Associateship
both sections $205, single section $150
Fellowship
both sections $205, single section $150
Surcharge for nonmembers of the AGO
$100
To request an application for an examination, contact National Headquarters by email, fax, mail or telephone.
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