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About Us

About

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.

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Our Story

The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 14,700 members in approximately 300 chapters throughout the United States and abroad.

Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music.

Under the leadership of the National Council, a network of volunteer committees and officials at the regional, district, and local levels directs the activities of the Guild. The AGO National Headquarters is in New York City where a full time staff supports and coordinates publication, administration, and development activities of the organization. For purposes of administration and representation, the Guild is divided into nine geographical regions, and each chapter is assigned to one of them.

The American Guild of Organists and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA) share a mutually beneficial association, a collaboration that has existed since 1975. For several decades this relationship has been strengthened by financial contributions from APOBA and its members in support of the AGO and its Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) program. The AGO has responded with generous provisions for bringing news from APOBA and its members to the organ public.

History

In 1942, Dr. Frank B. Jordan arrived in Des Moines to become the new dean of the College of Fine Arts at Drake University. It wasn’t too much later he helped organize the first chapter of the American Guild of Organists in Des Moines. An early focus was developing the skills of local church organists. Another focus was raising funds for student scholarships. Every few years, the chapter sponsored a guest recitalist who played a benefit concert and judged a competition of student performers from colleges and universities in Central Iowa. The local winner advanced to regional, and potentially, national competitions.

 

Our chapter planned and hosted the 1961 regional convention of the American Guild of Organists. Under the leadership of Russell Saunders, Drake University, and Bob Burns, First Methodist Church, the convention featured famous organ instructor Arthur Poister of Syracuse University and the music of J. S. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein.

 

Another major project was the Pipe Organ Encounter in 1999. Dr. Carl Staplin and Dr. Naomi Rowley spearheaded a music camp at Drake University for thirty-four organ students ages 11-19. Seventeen instructors provided daily lessons in area churches leading up to a final concert featuring the student performers.

 

The Central Iowa Chapter of the AGO again hosted a regional convention in 2011. Des Pipes, Des Pedals, Des Moines was marketed to the local community as an organ festival, leading to four consecutive evenings of standing-room-only audiences. They heard a hymn festival led by Aaron David Miller, concerts by Jan Kraybill and Christopher Houlihan, and the Brahms Requiem performed by the Des Moines Choral Society. The planning committee was headed by Central College’s Mark Babcock and Dr. Davis Folkerts arranged a day trip to Pella which included a silent film accompanied by the Barton Theater Organ at the Pella Opera House.

 

Of course, in between the major events we continue to hold many, many monthly chapter meetings. Workshops, training, chapter recitals, masterclasses, materials for professionals and amateurs, fellowship – this is the heart and soul of the Central Iowa Chapter and the reason members faithfully participate in AGO year after year.

Past Deans

Mark Koskamp

2023-present

Dr. Miriam Zach

2020-2023

David Blumer

2018-2020

Deanna Snyder

2016-2018

Michael Stefanek

2014-2016

Ann Gerdom

2012-2014

Meet the Team

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Dean

Mark Koskamp

Mark Koskamp spends his weekends at Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Indianola, Iowa, where he serves as organist and directs the adult choir.  He studied math and music at Central College in Pella, Iowa and now works at the Principal Financial Group in Des Moines.  He has served as treasurer and dean of the Central Iowa Chapter of the AGO and was on the steering committee of Des Pipes, Des Pedals, Des Moines, the ten-state regional AGO convention held in 2011.  Mark was inspired to study music by his grandmother, herself a church organist.  His keyboard teachers have included Norma Faust, Max Daehler, Julia Amada and Davis Folkerts.

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Sub-Dean

Ryan Frederick

Ryan's explorations in organ music began with lessons from Mrs. Jana Nelson at the age of 15, with occasional lessons from Mrs. Nelson's teacher, Dr. Carl Staplin of Drake University. Ryan attended Iowa State University, spending a year as a music student before completing a degree in Business Management with minors in Finance and Music in the Fall of 2008. Throughout his undergraduate studies he was an organ student of Dr. Lynn Ziegler. He currently undertakes lessons seasonally with Dr. Joby Bell of Appalachian State University, and is the current Sub-Dean of the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, having previously served as that organization’s secretary.

He has well over 20 years of organ and choral experience in small and medium-sized churches in rural areas, having been organist and choirmaster at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle, Iowa, organist and bell choir director at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa (while undertaking his undergraduate degree), organist at Orient United Methodist Church (both prior to and after his college studies), organist at Faith Lutheran Church in Winterset, Iowa, and is now organist and choirmaster, bell choir director, and director of music at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. He resides on his family's farm near Orient in Adair County with his wife Jen and son Thomas, and operates Frederick Real Estate Services as a real estate broker and residential real estate appraiser licensed in the state of Iowa.

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Treasurer

Dr. Miriam Zach

Miriam Zach, Ph.D. is a musicologist, author, organist, harpsichordist, Iowa native, and since 2016 the Charles and Mary Sukup Endowed Artist in Organ at Iowa State University, and Director of Music/Organist at St. John’s By the Campus Episcopal Church in Ames, Iowa stjohns-ames.org She can be heard on National Public Radio recorded in Princeton University Chapel. After completing degrees at Northwestern University and University of Chicago she taught music in Germany at the Universität Bielefeld, and served as organist for the Church of England. In 1990 she studied Olivier Messiaen’s organ music in Paris, and has performed most of his organ works in Europe and the United States. For 20 years (1996-2016) she taught music history, and Honors music and health at the University of Florida. She is past Dean of the Gainesville, Florida Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and University of Florida Professor of the Year 2000-2001. She continues to research architecture and music, teach music and health, organize annual international festivals of women composers (iwclib.org), and enjoy playing Baroque chamber music (alachuaconsort.com).

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Secretary

Dr. Stephen Smith

Dr. Stephen Smith (B.Sc. University of London), M.Sc. (Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources) and Ph.D. (Evolution of Maize, University of Birmingham, U.K.) grew up on a farm in eastern England. He came to the US in 1977 to conduct plant genetics research. In 2015, Smith completed a 35 year scientific research career with Dupont Pioneer. He has received the Henry A. Wallace Award for Revolution in agriculture and DuPont’s highest scientific recognition, the Lavoisier Medal for scientific achievement. During his tenure at Pioneer he served on intellectual property committees of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and the International Seed Federation (ISF). Smith recently served as an expert witness for the US Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding a case of misappropriation of US corn genetics by foreign nationals. He is a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America and in 2017 and 2018 was made an Honorary Member of ASTA and of the ISF respectively, in recognition of services rendered. Smith is currently an affiliate Professor and visiting scientist in the Departments of Agronomy and Seed Science at Iowa State University, USA. 

His involvement in music making began at the age of 7 as chorister in school choirs and through studentship participating in the Haydn Nelson Mass, the Faure and Verdi Requiems, the Sea Symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams and The Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar. Smith's passions are organ music of all genres, choral and orchestral works. He has served on Committees and Boards of the Des Moines Symphony for the past 15 years, including as President of the Symphony Association (2008-2010) and of the Foundation Board (2019-2020). Smith is currently enrolled as a student in organ with Dr. Miriam Zach. Smith also serves on the Board of Living History Museum in Urbandale, Iowa. 

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Member At-Large

John Devlin

John has over 30 years service as pianist/organist at Laramie Christian Church, Marshalltown First Methodist, Marshalltown Presbyterian, and Hope United Methodist Church, Marshalltown with over 50 years service as piano teacher within the East Marshall school district. John served 12 years as the producer of Saturday Night Arts Concerts that feature the wealth of talent in central Iowa. Concerts feature a variety from Classical to Broadway, to folk, jazz, religious, or literature. John was a member of Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance, Founder of the annual Bach-In-A-Day festival in Marshalltown, Board member of Central Iowa Choral Society, and has served as a CIAGO member at large for 2 years. John started his education in piano at the University of Denver. He obtained his B.Music and B.A. in Piano Performance and Instrumental Music Education from the University of Wyoming and an M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Iowa. In his spare time John creates pottery imbeded with botanics to create a fossil embossed vessel or sculpture.

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Member At-Large

Bobby Stinnett

Robert L. (Bobby) Stinnett, adjunct instructor of organ at Drake University, is from San Angelo, Texas. He received his Bachelor degree from Texas Christian University where he majored in Music Education (BME) and minored with an organ concentration. Upon moving to Iowa, he received his Masters from Drake University. At Drake, he majored in Organ Performance and received the Church Music Certificate. His teachers include: Peg Dunn-Angelo State Univ.,  Emmet G. Smith and Michael Bedford-TCU, Marilyn Mason- Univ. of Michigan, and Carl B. Staplin-Drake Univ. Mr. Stinnett has been a recitalist in Texas, Michigan and Iowa. He also has served in various AGO capacities in Texas, Michigan, and Iowa. He is a past dean of the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He served in the past as a part of the teaching faculty for the Pipe Organ Encounter (POE), an educational summer workshop for young organists.
Having taught music education for 34 years. Bobby is recently retired from Des Moines Schools as a K-5 Music Specialist. He continues to serve as organist/accompanist, director of Children’s choir/Bell Choirs for Urbandale United Church of Christ in Urbandale, Iowa. He has also served locally as organist/pianist for Temple B’nai Jeshurun. Bobby teaches private piano and organ students locally as well.

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Member At-Large

Sohee Lee

Organist/Associate Director of Music at Plymouth Congregational Church, Des Moines, and accompanist of Des Moines Vocal Ensemble(DMVAE) from August 2022. Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering at University of Seoul, Korea; Master of Church Music (Organ focus) at Presbyterian Seminary in Seoul, Korea; Master of Music in Organ Performance and Artist Diploma in Organ Performance at University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati Ohio where she also earned 2nd prize in the Strader Organ Competition. Sohee has appeared as a soloist with ensembles such as the Presbyterian University Choirs, Collegium Cincinnati, and University of Cincinnati Wind Symphony. She has served churches in Cincinnati Ohio, Memphis Tennessee, and in South Korea as well as being employed as an organ builder apprentice for the Casavant Frères Organ company on the Bansuk Church, South Korea project.

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Member At-Large

Juli Bey

For nearly 30 years Juli Bey has been a professional church musician and keyboardist. She holds a degree in music from Central College. Juli has been a collaborative accompanist at Grinnell High School since 2013. Currently Juli also teaches piano at the Grinnell School of Music and is the Organist and Handbell Choir Director for Westminster Presbyterian Church (Des Moines, Iowa).

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Member At-Large

Christopher Arp

Christopher is the Organist and Choir Director at Swedesburg Lutheran Church where he oversees the Orgelmusik concert series and plays the 1928 Bennett/2023 Karstens Pipe organ.  He is a Spanish teacher at Regina Catholic in Iowa City, Iowa.

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