Welcome to the San Jose Chapter of the American Guild of Organists!

  • We have met our goal of $500!

  • $500 of your donations will be matched by a micro-grant from the American Guild of Organists Headquarters.

  • Our budget this year anticipates a shortfall of about $1,500, so meeting this challenge will make a big impact. But more donations would be very welcome.

  • Please donate now on our Donation Page or by sending a check payable to San Jose Chapter AGO to Colin Whitby-Strevens, Treasurer, San Jose Chapter AGO, 14500 Fruitvale Ave, Apt 6153, Saratoga, CA, 95070.

  • Full details here. A hearty “Thank you” to all of you who donated and helped us meet our goal..

Explore the world of organ music with us!

We are a membership-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the art of organ music and its education. Founded as both an educational and service organization, we seek to promote understanding and appreciation of organ and choral music. Our chapter regularly hosts events like recitals, workshops, and masterclasses, and our annual Frasier Scholarship competition. Explore our website to learn more about us. We hope to see you at our next event!

Chapter Blog

Featured
Christmas Music Exchange
Christmas Music Exchange

Members and visitors enjoyed a Christmas Music Exchange, where several members played their favorite Christmas pieces, followed by an open organ console, an exchange of music, and sandwiches and delicious cookies. Many thanks to Joyce Rhodes for so graciously hosting us.

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Just Add Feet!
Just Add Feet!

Just Add Feet! at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto, was a great success. The participants all had a good time and couldn't wait to get their fingers on the organ keyboard. We had 17 attendees, even though 29 signed up. That actually worked fine so that each person got enough attention and time on the console.  All the evaluations were very positive at the end.  

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San Jose Chapter Annual Gathering
San Jose Chapter Annual Gathering
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Orgelkids Kit at Music Teachers’ Association of California Convention
Orgelkids Kit at Music Teachers’ Association of California Convention

We took our OrgelKids kit to the Music teachers Association of Calfonnia’s Convention in San Jose. Great fun had by all!

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Annual Meeting, Open Console and PotLuck
Annual Meeting, Open Console and PotLuck

Chapter members elected the slate of chapter officers for the upcoming year, enjoyed each others playing in the open console session, and finished a delicious and varied Pot Luck.

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Stephen Price Masterclass on Creative Hymn Playing
Stephen Price Masterclass on Creative Hymn Playing

Stephen Price gave an inspiring masterclass on Creative Hymn Playing to a joint meeting of the San Jose and Peninsula chapters. After taking us through about five hymns, giving suggestions for the introduction and how to play each verse, he tutored six “students” with his encouraging and helpful advice and comments.

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Jörg Reddin recital
Jörg Reddin recital

Jörg Reddin of Arnstadt, Germany, who is the most recent successor as Kantor to the exact same job JS Bach held, delighted the combined Bay Area chapters of the American Guild of Organists and friends in a concert of much early Bach, written in Arnstadt, pieces by Bach's great uncle Heinrich Bach, some Fracobaldi and not one, but two Toccata-Fugue pairs from different eras of Bach's career.

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Frasier scholarship winners recital
Frasier scholarship winners recital

Sisters Ruth (age 25) and Elizabeth (age 16) Kamas are recent winners of the San Jose Chapter AGO's annual Frasier scholarship. They collaborated to present an exciting and varied program on the tonally colorful 1986 3-manual Balcom and Vaughan organ at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church.

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Pedals, Pipes & Pizza
Pedals, Pipes & Pizza

Our Pedals, Pipes & Pizza event at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church on Saturday morning, Feb. 8, was a resounding success.  We welcomed 14 piano students (ages 8-16), along with many of their parents, for an engaging, educational and inspiring morning of organ music and activities.  

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San Jose Organ Crawl
San Jose Organ Crawl
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Recording of Dick Coulter’s memorial service
Recording of Dick Coulter’s memorial service
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Dick Coulter
Dick Coulter

Our Chapter Dean and beloved colleague, Dick Coulter, passed away on Thanksgiving day morning after a five month struggle with numerous illnesses.

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Mike Cala
Mike Cala
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Christmas Music Exchange
Christmas Music Exchange

Chapter members introduced each other to favorite holiday season organ music at this fun event.

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Dr Elena Paradies - modern day technology for teaching pre-college organ students
Dr Elena Paradies - modern day technology for teaching pre-college organ students

Dr. Elena Paradies gave a fascinating illustrated presentation on teaching pre-college organ students using modern day technology at the Chapter’s October 2024 meeting.

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AGO Achievement Awards
AGO Achievement Awards

Clara Chan received her AGO Achievement Awards for Organ Console, Manual and Pedal, Registration, Harmony, and Transposition at the Chapter’s October 2024 meeting.

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OrgelKids Kit First Build
OrgelKids Kit First Build

We assembled and played our own organ from our new OrgelKids kit!

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Annual Meeting 2023-2024
Annual Meeting 2023-2024

We elected our new Dean and Sub-Dean at our Annual Meeting, held in Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church.

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Introducing middle school and high school students to the organ at the Chapter’s Pedals, Pipes and Pizza events.

Featured Organs

Organ Listing
Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church
Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

Balcolm and Vaughan (1986)

Mission San Jose
Mission San Jose

Rosales Organ Builders (1989)

St. Luke’s, Los Gatos
St. Luke’s, Los Gatos

Visscher Associates (1991)

St. Joseph Cathedral-Basilica
St. Joseph Cathedral-Basilica

Odell Organ Company (1886)

Organs seeking new homes

Upcoming Event

Events
Pedals, Pipes and Pizza
Feb 7
Pedals, Pipes and Pizza

Piano students ages 8-18 are invited. to this fun and educational event to learn about the organ and try their hands at playing one. Please view the full event details for the registration link (registration required) and further information.

Admission free. Donations welcome.