Message from the Dean
Welcome to the Gainesville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists! We are a small, personable chapter located in North Central Florida and welcome all to our events. We are all looking forward to a return to a full 2021-2022 season! Our Music of the Season concerts will be live-streamed from downtown Gainesville churches, we’re planning a zoom party in the fall, and plans are in place for an innovative Spring Celebration!
For additional information about membership and materials, contact Registrar/Treasurer Stephanie Smith (mornsun381@gmail.com). To reach our chapter members about an upcoming event, or for program ideas, contact Sub-Dean Mitch Rorick (marorick@gmail.com)
The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields, and its mission is ‘to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ,’ with a particular vision ‘to engage, support, and uplift every organist.’ To these ends, your AGO board has been hard at work, meeting and planning events for the coming months.
There is plenty to musically see and do in Gainesville…come out, bring a guest, and even better, bring a potential new AGO member!
Laura Ellis, DMA
Dean
Chapter Events 2020-21
G’ville AGO Zoom Party:
Celebrating Transitions – honoring Mark Coffey upon his retirement from First Presbyterian Church
Tuesday, October 12, 7:30PM
Conversation Provided, BYOP (Bring your own Popcorn!)
UF Halloween Spooktacular
Friday, October 29, 7:20PM at the University Auditorium
Music of the Season Concerts
**For viewing by live-stream and in-person
Tuesday, November 30, 12:15PM at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Tuesday, December 7, 12:15PM at First United Methodist Church
Tuesday, December 14, 12:15PM at First Presbyterian Church
A Coffee Chat with David Higgs
Saturday, January 8, 10:30AM at First Presbyterian Church
David Higgs Organ Concert
Sunday, January 9, 4:00PM at First Presbyterian Church
Closing Banquet and Recital
Social, Sunday, May 1, 5:30PM
Friends of Music Room, University Auditorium, University of Florida
Recital, Sunday, May 1, 7:20PM, Artist TBA
Membership
For information on joining the Gainesville Chapter, please contact our registrar, Stephanie Smith at: mornsun381@gmail.com
Contact Us
Dean: Laura Ellis, lellis@arts.ufl.edu
Sub-Dean: Mitch Rorick, marorick@gmail.com
Secretary: Hye Jin Park, hyejin6971@gmail.com
Treasurer, Registrar: Stephanie Smith, mornsun381@gmail.com
Newsletter, Webmaster: Mitch Rorick, marorick@gmail.com
Member-At-Large: Lawrence Hartley, larry.hartley@gmail.com
Member-At-Large: Ruth Lewis, RALewisMusic88@gmail.com
Member-At-Large: David Malone, dmaloneinutah@gmail.com
Member-at-Large/Historian: Willis Bodine, wbodine@arts.ufl.edu
Local Job Postings
If you have a job posting, please contact Sub-Dean Mitch Rorick (marorick@gmail.com).
Other Musical Happenings . . .
There are many musical events happening in the greater Gainesville area. We invite you to check out the following links for more information:
University of Florida Organ Studio
University of Florida Sacred Music Workshop
