Delaware
American
Guild of
Organists
2023-2024 Programs
September 23, 2023
Organ Crawl
10:30–noon
9-rank restored Hook & Hastings organ at
St. Peter’s RC Church, New Castle
Dutch Treat Lunch at Jessop’s Tavern
October 15, 2023
Installation of Officers
4:00–5:00 pm
Christ Church, Christiana Hundred.
Chapel of the Christ Child
Dutch Treat Dinner at Brandywine Brewing Company with AGO Mid-Atlantic Regional Councillor Wayne Wold
November 11, 2023
Every Organist a Composer
9:30-noon
workshop by Jack Burnam and friends at
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Newark
Link to Facebook recording
January 6, 2024
Twelfth Night Party
2:00–4:00pm
at home of Joanne Hench
13 Fall Brooke Rd., Newark
January 27, 2024
January Jumpstart
9:00-4:00
sponsored by Philadelphia chapter
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
Pre-Registration required.
February Triple-Header
Feb. 4 - 3:00pm – Delaware Choral Arts presents Margaret Bonds’ “Credo” followed by refreshments and discussion of the text by W.E.B. Dubois, led by David Christopher. Newark UMC, 69 East Main St., Newark
Feb. 17 - 4:30pm – Delaware Choral Arts presents Margaret Bonds’ “Credo” followed by refreshments and discussion of the text by W.E.B. Dubois, led by David Christopher. Dover Presbyterian Church, 54 S. State St., Dover
Feb. 24 - 9:30–11:30 – “Intentional Diversity and Inclusion in Music and Liturgy,” by David Christopher at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 200 2nd Street, Lewes, DE. Dutch treat lunch to follow at Crooked Hammock, 36707 Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes
April 14, 2024
AGO Hymn Festival
1:30-4:00
with massed choir
at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
June 2, 2024
AGO Picnic
4:00–6:30
games and swimming at home of Julie Allport
360 Fremont Rd., Nottingham, PA
2020-2021
September 19 at 7:00 p.m. Zoom
Our opening event will be on Zoom, with a members mini-recital, and a visit from the dynamic Elizabeth George, the new AGO Director of Member Engagement and Chapter Development. Members will receive a link to join.
October 24 at 10:00 a.m. Zoom
Visit Old Swede’s Church for a tour of the Hendrickson House, church, and burial grounds. Terry Gaus-Woollen will show us the Austin organ, which was built as a demonstration instrument for an AGO convention!
February 27, 10:30 a.m. Zoom
Organ repertoire by black composers
Led by Marvin Mills
March 20, 10:30 a.m.
Zoom Virtual Brunch
Hang out with colleagues, bring your coffee, tea, brunch
April 10 10:30 a.m. Zoom
West Point Cadet Chapel Virtual Organ Crawl
hosted by Craig Williams and Lee Dettra
June 6 at 6:00 p.m. (Canceled)
Annual Banquet - A catered dinner will be followed with a talk by the
Rev. Victoria Sirota, “Too Deep for Words: Working Together in God’s Holy House.”
This is an event for AGO members and the clergy with whom they work.
Newsletter Archive
2019-2020 Programs
September 14, Saturday 6:00 p.m.
Hanover Presbyterian Church, Wilmington
Season-opening potluck dinner and member's recital.
A chance to renew acquaintance with friends, exchange music,
and meet with our regional councilor, Wayne Wold.
October 19, Saturday 10:30 a.m.
Chelsea Tavern; 821 N. Market St., Wilmington
Fall Brunch. Come share an informal Saturday brunch with friends and colleagues!
November 9, Saturday 10:00 a.m.
Immanuel Church, 50 Market Street, New Castle
Led by David Herman, members will present new organ music to the group gathered.
Do you have music you think your organist friends don’t know about and would
love to play? Come play for us so we can learn from each other!
January 11, Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
January Jumpstart, Abington Presbyterian Church
A Joint venture with the Philadelphia and surrounding area chapters.
March 21, Saturday 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church; 701 College Ave. Newark
"How to Sing for Life" led by Suzanne DuPlantis.
Many of our choir members have become older before our eyes, yet we love them
and want them to keep singing. Suzanne will help. Bring your choir members with
you as all of us form a workshop choir together.
April 18, Saturday 10:30 a.m.
Chelsea Tavern; 821 N. Market St., Wilmington
Spring Brunch. Informal time to share with colleagues and friends.
Talk, eat, share stories.
May 31, Sunday 6:00 p.m. (TBD)
Saints Andrew & Matthew; 719 Shipley St. Wilmington
Annual banquet with featured presenter Rev. Victoria Sirota speaking on the
vocation of the church musician
"Too Deep for Words: Working Together in God's Holy House"
With an uncanny ability to name that which lies at the heart of the church musician’s craft, Rev. Sirota speaks to us with knowledge combined with pastoral care.
2021-2022 Programs
September 12 at 4:00 p.m.
Annual Picnic
Picnic at Tony Thurman's house with installation of officers by Regional Councilor Wayne Wold. Members bring chairs and blankets to sit on.
November 6, 10:00 a.m. Social /10:30 a.m. Program
Organ as a Second Language
Three brief classes for the newer organist and pianist-organist
Hymn playing - Registration - Easy Literature
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Bear DE
January 9, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Twelfth Night Party [cancelled]
at the home of Joanne Hench Reitz.
Celebrate the new year at this festive traditional event with organist friends.
January 15, 9:00 - 5:00 p.m.
January Jumpstart [cancelled]
A day of workshops presented by the Philadelphia Chapter and surrounding chapters.
David Cherwien, Susan Palo Cherwien, Renée Anne Louprette, and Eileen Hunt. A hymn festival, master class, organ recital, choral reading sessions, and more.
at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
February 19, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday Brunch
Join friends and colleagues for social time and good food.
Metro Diner, located in the Omega Shops, 4601 Ogletown Stanton Rd.
March 19, 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza
An interactive experience for young organists
to learn about and play the pipe organ, with pizza and social time at the conclusion.
First and Central Presbyterian Church, 1101N. Market St. Wilmington - beginning 8:45
Grace United Methodist Church, 900 Washington St. Wilmington - ending at 1:00
April 30 at 10:00/10:30 a.m.
Singing for Life with Suzanne DuPlantis
Many of our choir members have become older before our eyes, yet we love them and want them to keep singing. Suzanne will help. Bring your choir members with you as we all form a workshop choir together.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 701 College Ave. Newark
June 5, 6:00 p.m.
Annual Banquet
A catered dinner will be followed with a talk by the
Rev. Victoria Sirota, “Too Deep for Words: Working Together in God’s Holy House” This is an event for AGO members and the clergy with whom they work.
Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew
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September 22, 6:00 p.m.
Silverside Church, North Wilmington
Season-opening potluck dinner. A chance to renew acquaintance with friends, exchange music, and a short program to enhance the evening.
October 20, 10:30 a.m.
8th and Union Kitchen
Come share an informal Saturday brunch with friends and colleagues!
801 N Union St., Wilmington. Parking in the lot or on street.
November 10, 10:00 a.m.
First and Central Presbyterian Church, Wilmington
A program about the organ music of Wilbur Held, led by David Schelat.
David studied with Held, who in his long life left a wealth of music that is
both accessible and of high quality.
January 12, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
January Jumpstart at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church
Carson Cooman will be the featured artist; other presentations by local musicians and members. Join us for a day of learning, music-making, and a worship service at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Register online. http://www.agophila.org/Pages/agophilachapterevents.htm
March 16, 10:00 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church, Newark
Choral Reading Session. Chapter members will introduce new and noteworthy anthems, including some easier works suitable for small choirs.
Sat. April 27, 10:30 AM
8th and Union Kitchen
Spring Brunch. Informal time to share with colleagues and friends.
Talk, eat, share stories.
June 2, 6:00 p.m. (TBD)
Christ Church Christiana Hundred, Wilmington
Annual banquet with featured speaker Edward McCall, the new CEO of the
Organ Historical Society. Preceding the program, Christ Church will hold a
5:00 Choral Evensong service that all are invited to attend.
Reformation Event 2017
On Saturday morning, 7 October 2017, the Delaware Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will host a program marking the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation.
The day’s schedule includes a brief service of morning prayer in a style known to Martin Luther and his sixteenth-century Wittenberg contemporaries followed by a presentation—“The Reformation at 500: What does this mean?”—that explores the meaning of the Reformation for congregations today, particularly for assembly song and music.
The event concludes with an ecumenical hymn festival led by area musicians, choirs, and pastors. The festival features texts, tunes, and arrangements by women and men from the ninth century through the present day, as well as hymns found in Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Methodist hymnals.
All are welcome to attend free of charge, either for the entire morning or just for a portion of the program. For more information, please write to info@delawareago.org or visit https://www.facebook.com/DelawareAGO/.