The AGO National Council is following closely the news of recent allegations of inappropriate behavior by an organ teacher toward his students at institutions of higher education. Council members have reached out to the students to offer their concern and support. The academic institutions are conducting independent investigations about the allegations toward their faculty member, and the results of those investigations will help determine any further action on the part of the Guild. As a reminder, all AGO members agree to abide by the Code of Ethics, which requires “responsible conduct toward those whom we serve” and to “avoid any sort of abusive behavior, whether verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or other.” Read the … [Read more...]

In June 1990, professor of music and composer Dan Locklair sat down with former AGO president Searle Wright, FAGO, at First Congregational Church in Binghamton,New York to conduct an extensive interview for The American Organist. The transcript of their talk was published in the September 1992 issue. Dan recently unearthed the recording (on two cassettes), transferred the audio to CDs, and sent them to me for the archives at AGO Headquarters. Since 2018 is the centenary of Searle Wright’s birth, we would like to share the audio of this fascinating interview, in which Wright discusses a wide range of topics, from his early development as both a classical and theater organist, work as a musician in New York City (including the first U.S. … [Read more...]