The traditional Pipe Organ Encounter
- Is a 4-5 day event organized by a local AGO chapter under the sponsorship of the national organization. It introduces participants to the world of the pipe organ.
- Is a national program sponsored by the American Guild of Organists. Students are admitted to POEs on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of attendance at prior POEs, and regardless of state or country of residence, as long as they meet the following eligibility guidelines: Students should be aged 13-18, be interested in the pipe organ, and have piano or organ proficiency ranging from intermediate to advanced.
- Provides an opportunity for students to have individual and group instruction in the basic rudiments of pipe organ technique and service playing.
- Provides a general overview of organ literature, history, pipe organ construction and design, improvisation and other related topics.
- Provides an opportunity for participation in ecumenical worship, so as to experience the role of the sacred musician.
- Most of all, provides a unique opportunity for participants to meet and interact with peers who have similar interests.
Click HERE for information on how to apply to attend a Pipe Organ Encounter 2016 event.
2016 Pipe Organ Encounters
Cedar Valley POE 2016 brochure 
June 26-July 1, 2016
CEDAR VALLEY CHAPTER
Wartburg College, Waverly, IA
Director: Dr. Karen Black
100 Wartburg Blvd.,
Waverly, Iowa 50677
319-352-8275
Email
Cedar Valley POE website
July 10-15, 2016
SPRINGFIELD CHAPTER
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Director: Lad Pfeifer
Cathedral of St. Michael,
260 State Street
Springfield, MA 01103
413-452-0845
Email
Springfield POE website
July 17-22, 2016
LEXINGTON CHAPTER
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Director: Zach Klobnak
500 W Main Street
Danville, KY 40422
641-891-1666
Email
Lexington POE website
July 24 – 29, 2016
ATLANTA CHAPTER
Agnes Scott College, Atlanta, GA
Director: Nicole Marane, DMA
Peachtree Road UMC
3180 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
678-429-7585
Email
Atlanta POE website
July 25-30, 2016
UTAH VALLEY CHAPTER
Salt Lake City, UT
University of Utah
Co-Director: Lori Z. Serr
259 North 400 East
Mapleton, Ut 84664
801-489-8222
Email
Utah Valley (Salt Lake City) POE website
August 7-13, 2016
PALO ALTO PENINSULA CHAPTER
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Director: Rani Fischer
PO Box 582
Menlo Park, California 94026-0582
650-793-4849
Email
Palo Alto Peninsula POE website
Pipe Organ Encounter Scholarship Assistance
PLEASE NOTE: The 2016 Scholarship Application period is now closed. Scholarship assistance for 2016 POE attendance may be available from local chapters of the AGO or religious or educational organizations in your area. Click HERE for ideas on fund-raising for POE students.
Need-based scholarship aid is available to cover full or partial registration fees for attending a POE (POE, POEA, or POETech only, not POE+). Funds are limited, and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarship applications are reviewed monthly beginning in February. The application is available Jan. 15 through April 15 each year and asks questions of both the student and her/his parent(s), and also requires a letter of recommendation from the student’s organ or piano teacher. Before applying for a scholarship, application to attend a POE must be submitted. All three forms (application to attend, student scholarship application, teacher recommendation form) must be submitted before the POE Scholarship Committee can review a student application. The application deadline for 2016 POE events was April 15, 2016 (12:00 midnight (EST) the close of that day). Please note that while April 15 is the last day one may apply for a scholarship, it is possible that all scholarship funds could be depleted before that, so students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. As stated above, scholarship awards are based on financial need. Links to online application forms for 2017 events will appear here in January, 2017.
Pipe Organ Encounters is an educational outreach program of the American Guild of Organists. Major funding for Pipe Organ Encounters is provided by the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America. Additional support is provided by the American Institute of Organbuilders and the Jordan Organ Endowment. Permanently endowed AGO scholarships are provided in memory of Charlene Brice Alexander, Robert S. Baker, Seth Bingham, Michael Cohen, Virgil Fox, Clarence Dickinson, Philip Hahn, Charles N. Henderson, Alfred E. Lunsford, Ruth Milliken, Bruce Prince-Joseph, Ned Siebert, and Martin M. Wick; and in honor of Anthony Baglivi, Philip E. Baker, Gordon and Naomi Rowley, Fred Swann, Morgan and Mary Simmons, and the Leupold Foundation.
