IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the national American Guild of Organists changing website providers, this website will be decommissioned in the coming months, no later than Summer 2024. We invite you to follow our public Facebook page for upcoming events and updates.
Last updated May 9, 2024.
Welcome!
Greetings from the Wilmington (North Carolina) Chapter! Founded in 1989, the Wilmington Chapter currently has a growing membership. While the majority of its members live in the greater Wilmington area, the chapter spans a large geographic area that includes southeastern North Carolina and portions of eastern North Carolina.
The Chapter meets monthly September through June. Each meeting includes a program which often is a concert performed by chapter members for the community, a lecture on a topic of interest or a guest artist recital. Many meetings feature a catered meal. The Wilmington chapter prides itself on presenting many concerts and events for the greater community. Many years, chapter members present a Hymn Festival for the Church Year, and a members’ organ recital. In past years, chapter members have also formed the AGO Chamber Choir which performs a concert of the works of a major composer with chamber orchestra.
Historic Wilmington, North Carolina, is located on the Southeastern coast of North Carolina and is home to many fine pipe organs. Builders represented include Austin, Bozeman, Casavant, Estey, Goulding & Wood, Noack, Pilcher, Schantz, E. M. Skinner, Taylor and Boody, and Visser-Rowland.
For more information on the Wilmington Chapter, please contact Justin Smith, Membership Coordinator, at Email.
The mission of the American Guild of Organists is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.
The vision of the American Guild of Organists is to engage, support, and uplift every organist.
Newsletter
Greetings from the Dean
Happy May! We have no Chapter activities this month, so please relax and enjoy all the graduations, concerts, Mother’s Day celebrations, etc.
And please mark your calendars for our end-of-year social at the home of Julia Walker-Jewell. The date is Sunday, June 2nd. Details regarding dinner, time, and directions to her home will be sent separately, later this month.
Our April event was a wonderful success! Brendan Conner and Kira Garvie played an excellent, creative, very moving program on the Goulding & Wood organ at St. Paul’s Episcopal. The intent was a musical journey through the liturgical year. Various settings of chorales for Advent, Christmas and Lent were chosen and beautifully played by Kira. Widor’s tenth organ symphony, based on the two Easter chants Haec Dies and Victimae Paschali Laudes, was masterfully played by Brendan. The performers asked that all applause be withheld till the end, and of course there was a thunderous standing ovation by the 68 AGO members, parishioners and friends in attendance!
It was an honor to have Elizabeth George from AGO headquarters with us for the recital and reception. Elizabeth is Chief Membership Officer, and a delightful person whom we all enjoyed meeting and chatting with. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your visit to our Chapter!
I want to call your attention to some very special part-time opportunities. The job descriptions for Hebron Presbyterian Church in Staunton, VA, and for Church of the Good Shepherd here in Wilmington, are included below. Good Shepherd is a tiny but very active and welcoming congregation which treasures music and singing. The preaching is wonderful, affording the organist an opportunity for spiritual as well as musical growth.
The position in Staunton, VA is with a church directly across the street from the Taylor and Boody national headquarters and workshop. Maintenance of their beautiful T&B two-manual mechanical-action organ is ongoing and free. It is an absolute pleasure to play such a fine instrument. If you can’t move to Staunton, where there are several other T&B’s to practice on and lots of hiking in the Shenandoah Valley to enjoy, please spread the word about this wonderful opportunity. Let’s do what we can to find them the perfect organist!
I wish you all a wonderful, celebratory May. And may you enjoy the warm beach weather to come!
Blessings,
Nancy Novelly, Dean
Chapter members with Elizabeth George, (fourth from right), Chief Membership Officer of AGO, following the Robert Winston Memorial Organ Concert on April 28th.
Thanks to all the voting members who cast ballots in the recent officer election. We have 44 voting members and 29 of those cast ballots. There was overwhelming support for the officers elected. Congratulations officers and thank you for your willingness to serve! Thanks also to Martha Hayes who rotates off the board after serving four consecutive years as a Member-at-Large. The following officers will serve July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025:
Dean: Nancy Novelly
Sub Dean: Bill Weisser
Secretary: Bob Norem
Treasurer/Membership Coordinator: Justin Smith
Members-at Large: Kira Garvie, Barrett Ingram (Chaplain), Julia Walker-Jewell
Elizabeth George, Chief Membership Officer, included her recent visit to Wilmington in her May Chapter Leadership Newsletter!
2024 National Convention
June 30 – July 4
San Francisco, CA
https://www.sfago2024.org/
(from AGO Headquarters)
An invoice is created for your next membership year. “Renew Dues and Subscriptions” appears on your ONCARD menu. Your status changes to “invoiced not paid” on your chapter’s member roster. A renewal notice is sent from headquarters, either by email or postal mail depending on your preferences.
Two Months Before Your Expiration Date
A second renewal notice is sent from headquarters, either by email or postal mail depending on your preferences.
One Month Before Your Expiration Date
A third renewal notice is sent from headquarters by postal mail.
Two Weeks Before Your Expiration Date
Chapter officers receive notification of all members who have not yet renewed.
Bill Due Date
AGO dues payments are due on the last day of the month before expiration.
Expiration Date: Always the First of the Month
A membership expires, and a two week grace period begins at the time of expiration.
Two Weeks After the Expiration Date
The grace period ends and memberships are marked canceled. If a payment is received after this date, delivery of The American Organist may be delayed.
Chapter Events 2023-2024
June 2, 2024: Dinner & Social,
Sunday evening at Julia Walker-Jewell’s home
Time and details TBD
Local Events
Click on the following links for the most current concert information!
Membership
Membership in the Wilmington AGO is open to all who possess a love of organ and choral music. For more information on becoming a member, please contact Justin Smith, Membership Coordinator, at email. You may also join online by visiting https://www.agohq.org/oncard-login/.
Placement
Organist/Choirmaster
Church of the Good Shepherd
Wilmington, NC
Retired, but still want to play the organ? This opportunity may be just right. At Church of the Good Shepherd, we are looking for an organist to play 2 Sundays a month. The job also includes being a choir master to a small choir. We have a 3 manual digital Allen organ and a George Steck 5’7” grand piano. Church of the Good Shepherd is an Episcopal Church at the corner of 6th Street and Queen Street in Wilmington. We would also consider full time position.
If interested please contact Alice Evans, senior warden, at Church of the Good Shepherd.
Mobile no 910-232-8057 and text.
Email [email protected]
Rose Hill Methodist Church
The church musician/pianist plays the piano and or other related instruments (in his/her skill set) for all worship services and special services such as Ash Wednesday. This position is part-time.
Specific Responsibilities
1. Plays for weekly and special worship services directed by the church.
2. Assist the pastor in selecting music for the worship services.
3. Maintain reporting of CCLI related licensing requirements from various worship services.
4. Help the congregation in singing the worship music.
5. Plays for funerals upon request if available.
6. Plays for weddings upon request if available.
Supervision
The Church Musician works with the minister to provide music for worship services, and is supervised by the SPRC.
Click here to read about the new church building.
Certification
For more information about certification, please visit http://www.agohq.org/certification or contact the Dean at Email.
Contact Us
Dean: Nancy Novelly – Email
Subdean and Program Coordinator: Bill Weisser – Email
Secretary: Bob Norem – Email
Treasurer and Membership Coordinator: Justin Smith – Email
Member at Large: Martha Hayes – Email
Member at Large and Chaplain: Barrett Ingram – Email
Member at Large: Julia Walker Jewell – Email
Links
AGO Southeast Region Facebook Page