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Who We Are and What We Do
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.
Chartered in 1952, the Central Hudson Valley Chapter covers Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, and Rockland counties in the Hudson Valley region of New York State. Our members come from Kingston and Rhinebeck in the north to West Point and Suffern in the south and west.
Chapter events happen monthly from September through July. Our programs have included organ crawls, lecture/recitals, choral reading sessions, presentations on employer/employee relations, picnics, improvisation classes, a workshop on Digital/Computer-Aided E-Music, handbell workshops and the annual members' recital. Our chapter members have a wide range of skills and experiences, and we try to have events that will be helpful or interesting to as many members as possible.
We welcome musicians of all skill levels and those who play on all instruments, including pipe organs, electronic organs and theatre organs. Click here for more information about becoming a member of the Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
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A Statement for Juneteenth
June 19 is celebrated by millions of Americans as Juneteenth, the commemoration of the day when news that slavery had been abolished finally reached Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was initially issued. That two-year delay feels like a foreshadowing of the continued struggle by Black Americans for full acceptance into white-dominated society. For 155 years, despite huge leaps in the right direction, our country still denies African-Americans many civil rights and continues to violate their human rights.
The mission of the American Guild of Organists in general and the Central Hudson Valley Chapter in particular is to foster a thriving community, which must include not only all musicians, but all humans, regardless of color. Our vision is to engage, support, and uplift. We must demonstrate our unwavering support for each other's professional advancement and success, in music as well as in other endeavors.
We stand in solidarity with the countless thousands of people around the world who are protesting systemic racism against the African-American community. It is our turn to step up to the challenge. We must listen to diverse voices in crafting solutions to our problems. We must reach out to find new partners to help us chart the best path forward. We must engage.
To this end, we propose the following actions to be taken by our chapter as a whole and by individual members:
1. Feature programs focusing on music by Black composers, and routinely include music composed by African-American composers (as well as music by other under-represented groups.
2. Commission choral or organ music by black composers.
3. Personally invite persons of color to participate in our own church music programs.
4. Revisit a past PipeDreams program from February 5, 2001, entitled "African-American Organ Composers." This can be found at https://pipedreams.publicradio.org/articles/africanamericancomposers.shtml
5. Seek out young music students of color and encourage them to pursue organ study, conducting, and/or composing.
6. Educate ourselves, our members, and our students about music written by and performed by Black musicians, including sharing online links to performances and articles. One resource for this is "Music by Black Composers," (MBC) which was founded in 2001 as a project of the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, a long-standing, anti-racist organization in classical music. MBC’s mission is to help rectify historic and ongoing racial injustices in the classical music sphere. Information on MBC can be found at https://www.musicbyblackcomposers.org/.
These proposed actions pertain specifically to us as musicians, but each of us is called to action on a daily basis in every aspect of our lives. Where we see injustice, we must speak out against it. When we catch ourselves speaking or acting, perhaps by long unconscious habit, in a a way that degrades another person or group, we must repent and train ourselves to avoid stereotypes. Only then can we truly be "a thriving community of musicians."
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How to Join
Welcome!
We invite you to become a member of the Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Click here to begin the process of starting or renewing your membership in our chapter.
If you have questions regarding the application process or any other aspect of membership, please contact the Membership Coordinator, Susan LaGrande, at 845-235-7203 or
send a message.
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Chapter Scholarship Program
Background: The Margaret Pecoraro Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to support and encourage young organists, in memory of chapter member Margaret Pecoraro, who died in November 2002. Born in Mainz, Germany, in 1931, Margaret was a church organist by the age of 12. She graduated from the Church Music Institute of the Diocese of Mainz as an Organist and Choir Master in 1941. She also obtained her degree as a Piano Teacher. In 1958 she came to the United States and married; she played the organ and gave piano lessons for many years while raising her family. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2001, she continued to play regularly until a few months before her death. Margaret is remembered as an exacting teacher who was at the same time encouraging and compassionate.
Purpose: The purpose of the scholarship program is to recognize and encourage talented young organists by providing financial assistance in the following ways:
Tuition for a Pipe Organ Encounter or other AGO-sponsored educational program.
Modest stipends to assist in the cost of organ lessons or attendance at workshops and conferences.
Study materials and supplies, including organ shoes, for qualified applicants
These and other needs may be addressed at the discretion of the board.
Eligibility Requirements: To qualify for scholarship awards, a candidate:
Must be 30 years old or younger.
Must be studying organ or piano in a school program, or with a private teacher.
Must be a member of the Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (if not already a member, membership will be included in the scholarship grant).
Anyone may apply for scholarship funds, but preference will be given to chapter members first and then to students residing or studying within the Northeast Region of the American Guild of Organists. Funds are awarded throughout the year, on an “as-needed” basis, at the discretion of the executive board of the Central Hudson Valley Chapter, AGO.
Selection Criteria: Selection of recipients is based on such factors as personal characteristics, skill development, regular attendance to lessons and practice, essay evaluation, and reference from the applicant’s teacher.
Scholarship Award: Award amount $100+. Final amount and number of awards to be determined annually by The Margaret Pecoraro Memorial Scholarship Selection Committee and CHVAGO Board. Payable directly to recipient. Applicants may reapply annually for consideration.
Application Criteria: Application must include the following:
Completed application with signature(s).
Essay
Teacher's recommendation form, in sealed envelope clearly labeled as follows: "Recommendation for [Applicant's Name]."
Selection Process: The received application will be distributed to the members of the Scholarship Committee and the Executive Board, who will approve or decline the application and decide the amount to be awarded. The results of the vote will be included in the official minutes of the board meeting. The applicant should expect a response within 30 days.
For more information about The Margaret Pecoraro Memorial Scholarship, please contact Susan LaGrande at 845-235-7203 or CHVAGOboard@gmail.com. Please click here for a PDF copy of the Scholarship Application Form.
Updated 8/11/2023
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AGO Achievement Awards
In early 2020 the chapter was pleased to present the first-ever AGO Achievement Awards to three young organ students, pictured here with their teachers, who have completed requirements in the following subjects: Registration 1, The Organ Console, Harmony 1, Manual and Pedal Technique, and Transposition. Newly launched by AGO headquarters, the AGO Achievement Awards program is designed to assist and encourage early-level organists as they improve their skills. The process provides a simple way to involve new organists in chapter activity, and to encourage them to continue their education through AGO certification.
If you are an organ student, or if you are a teacher of organ students, this program is for you. There are no age requirements; even organists with considerable practical experience but lacking formal training may benefit from studying and qualifying for these awards. The program is free, but you must become a chapter member to apply.
For more information, please click here or contact Susan LaGrande at 845-235-7203 or
send a message.
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