Bangor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

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Dean’s Letter     Chapter Programs      Job Listings        Membership      Newsletters     Substitutes      Board Members/Contact Us

Welcome

Welcome to the Bangor, Maine, Chapter of The American Guild of Organists! Our members come from quite literally the upper two-thirds of Maine!  Due to our widespread geographic area as well as unpredictable road conditions for much of the year, we realistically plan for four events each year.  This includes a lively pot-luck supper get-together on a Sunday afternoon at a member’s home in September; an event in November; an event in February with snow date built in; and a Members’ Recital in May or June, followed by supper and our Annual Meeting.  We do a lot of car-pooling to cover the distances!  We also have planned the November and February events for daytime on a weekday.  This is intentional:  for most of us weekends are a bit hectic; in November and February there is far less daylight to travel in.  We are a diverse group:  some of us have been church musicians our whole lives and have been in our present jobs for years; others are very fine pianists learning how to play the organ and how to lead the folks in pews in song! Others are choral directors.  Still others just love to hear organ music. Please come to one of our events and introduce yourself.  You will be heartily welcomed!

Chapter Programs, News, and Local Events

The American Guild of Organists is thrilled to announce the first online OrganFest, which will take place July 20-24. Each evening’s broadcast will premiere a new work which had been commissioned for the 2020 National Convention in Atlanta, accompanied by interviews with the composers.

Other Chapter Features

Lending Library

Our chapter has a lending library. It is located in the Parish House of St. John’s Episcopal Church (234 French Street, Bangor), contains a large collection of organ music, organ-related books, etc., and is open to chapter members and the general public. The church office (and hence the lending library) is open from 9 am to 1 pm Monday-Friday, or at other times by appointment: call (207) 947-0156.

Newsletters

Our Newsletter is produced and delivered in electronic format (e-mail) as needed.
To post an event or job opening, to consult an up-to-date substitute list, or to be added to the mailing list, please contact:

Larry Philbrick, Newsletter Editor   Email

We’re Here for You

Do you have professional concerns? Are you looking for educational resources? Do you want to involve the chapter in an event or special service? Do you wish to learn more about organ playing and literature? The chapter, like the Guild as a whole, is here to help you. To reach us, see “Contact” section below.

Membership

All individuals interested in the organ and choral music fields are invited to join the American Guild of Organists. Membership is open to everyone, regardless of denominational affiliation, musical training, or ability.

For more information and membership materials, visit: www.agohq.org/membership

You are also encouraged to contact any of our board members:

Dean                Daniel Pyle (email)

Secretary         Michele Voss (email)

Treasurer         Joan Kroehler (email)

Job Listings

Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild’s National Website.

Substitute List – May 10, 2019

Sunday Services

Rev. Richard Hyman – Piano or organ

Email    992-3106

Clayton Smith

Email   974-9628

Michele Voss

Email   356-7230

Clayton Rogers – Also weddings and funerals

989-7628   carog1272@yahoo.com

Kay Lindstrom – Anywhere within 50 miles of Bangor.  (NEW CONTACT INFO)

Email   207 450 2031

Donna Runnels – Within 50 miles of Unity,  Maine.  Organ only.  Also funerals

Email   948-2171

Barbara Fenlason – Sunday services within 30 miles of Bucksport

469-3573  Email

Funerals and Weddings

 Joan Kroehler – Organ and/or vocal

Email   947-7804

Robin Barron

Email  205-1479

Matthew Mainster – Organ, piano, and accompanying. Primarily mid-coast through Bangor, but open to all Maine locations.

Email 227-9359

Clayton Rogers – Also weddings and funerals

989-7628   Email

Note: If there are any changes or additions to this list, please contact Larry Philbrick at Email.

Certification

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 (SPC)
Colleague (CAGO)
Choir Master (ChM)
Associateship (AAGO)
Fellowship (FAGO)

For more information on certification, visit: www.agohq.org/education

Contact Us/Board of Directors (2020 – 2021)

Dean                                        Daniel Pyle (email)

Secretary                                 Michele Voss (email)

Treasurer                                 Joan Kroehler (email)

Newsletter and Website          Larry Philbrick (email)

Links

The St. John’s Organ Society (Bangor)
www.hookopus288.org

Portland (Maine) Chapter, AGO
http://www.agoportlandmaine.com/

Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (Portland)
www.foko.org

The Organ Historical Society
www.organsociety.org

The Royal School of Church Music
www.rscmamerica.org

AGO National website
https://www.agohq.org/