Support AGO

The San Diego Chapter’s Patron Drive   

Dear Ago Colleagues:

How did you start playing the organ? Was it a kindly piano teacher who saw your talent? Was it someone at church who put you on the organ bench? Whom did you look to for guidance and inspiration as you were starting? Back when I was a kid, there were few paths to the organ. In the past twenty years, a new avenue of access and encouragement for young people has opened up: the AGO Pipe Organ Encounter!

These week long camps for teens between twelve and eighteen years old have created a whole generation of new organists across the nation. In fact, the cycle has come full circle as POE alumni have started appearing on POE faculty rosters. Including our own Chelsea Chen.

Pipe Organ Encounters are an opportunity for talented young keyboard students to have full contact with our beloved instrument with encouraging teachers showing them the way to play, with exceptional performers inspiring them with the best of organ literature, and with engaging chapter volunteers providing warm support behind the scenes. The San Diego Chapter is preparing to host our fifth POE this coming summer. We are among just a few AGO chapters in the nation who can lay claim to such a commitment to organ education. What a remarkable achievement for us!

I am not sure you realize that our chapter is considered a national model for organ education. Did you know that our Education Committee wrote the Early Organ Education Syllabus now featured on the national AGO website’s Education Page? Did you know that our Education Committee members regularly present workshops at regional and national conventions answering questions about how “we do things here” in San Diego? Did you know that other chapters send their representatives to our POE’s to learn how to plan their own? How exciting to be a part of something so successful!

I hope you will join me in supporting next summer’s Pipe Organ Encounter. As with all things financial, the need is great, despite the current financial climate. Costs for housing and transportation have risen fifteen per cent since our last event. And now, we must pay for a background check for every volunteer.

We need your financial help so that we can create another magical week where talent meets opportunity, where youth engages musical heritage, where fingers find joy. As a special incentive this year, members of our chapter’s Board of Directors will match every dollar you give up to $1500. Friends, we need to raise at least $3,000 to insure the financial success of our Pipe Organ Encounter. Please give generously to this year’s Patron Fund. Your entire donation will ensure the continuation of a program with a proven track record.

Your chapter leaders stand ready to answer your questions and receive your donation.   Click here for the form.

To great music and new organists,

Dr. Christopher Cook