Twin Cities chapter AGO (American Guild of Organists)

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Twin Cities chapter AGO (American Guild of Organists)

The mission of the American Guild of Organists is to enrich lives through organ and choral music. The Twin Cities Chapter was organized in 1910 by George H.

Fairclough as the Minnesota Chapter. Their first public program was held at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in St. Paul on March 15, 1911.

10/24/2026

St. Olaf College Music Dpeartment presents two ‘not to miss’ organ events in October – Vincent Dubois and Pipescreams

St. Olaf College
Boe Memorial Chapel
1520 St. Olaf Avenue
Northfield, MN 55057

Thursday, October 29 at 8:00pm
Vincent Dubois will present a public class on improvisation. Free and open to all.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from Vincent Dubois, one of the world's leading organists, acclaimed internationally for his artistry and celebrated as a titular organist of Notre-Dame de Paris. He is widely recognized for his extraordinary ability to create music spontaneously through improvisation.

Friday, October 30 at 8:15pm
St. Olaf College organ studio will present “Pipescreams” Halloween organ recital. Free and open to all.
Faculty, staff, students, and the wider community are welcome to attend this Music Department recital, the ever-popular Halloween Organ Recital—Pipescreams! Complete with spooky music, fun costumes, and a raucous atmosphere, this event is always entertaining and a crowd favorite!

10/24/2026

Roseville Lutheran Church presents Remembering the Saints: A performance featuring Duruflé’s Requiem

Sunday, November 1 at 3:00 p.m.

Roseville Lutheran Church
1215 Roselawn Avenue West
Roseville, MN 55113

Roseville Lutheran (RLC) welcomes conductor Bradley Ellingboe, organist Louise Bass, vocal soloists Robin Joy Helgen and Andrew Kane, an 80-voice choir comprised of the RLC choir plus other local singers, 14 piece string orchestra and harp in an All Saints Day performance of Duruflé’s Requiem. This piece is universally celebrated as one of the most moving and exquisite religious masterworks of the 20th century. Critics laud it for its theme centering on rest, light, and comfort. The program will also include a congregational hymn and two choral anthems – "The Souls of the Righteous" by Thomas Pavlechko and "This Host in Shining Robes" by John Helgen, accompanied by organist Andrew Jacob from Augustana Lutheran Church in West Saint Paul.

This will be the inaugural performance of RLC’s new 59 rank J.F. Nordlie Opus 63 pipe organ. The instrument is approximately 80 percent complete and fulfills all of the stop requirements called for by the composer.

Bradley Ellingboe has led a wide-ranging career in the world of singing, including accomplishments as a choral conductor, soloist, composer, scholar and teacher. As a choral conductor he has led festival choruses in 35 states and 14 foreign countries. As a bass-baritone soloist he has sung under such conductors as Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, and Sir David Willcocks. Ellingboe has over 140 pieces of music in print. For his scholarly work in making the songs of Edvard Grieg more accessible to the English-speaking public, he was knighted by the King of Norway in 1994. Ellingboe retired in 2015 after serving on the faculty of the University of New Mexico for 30 years, where he was Director of Choral Activities, Professor of Music and Regents Lecturer. He is a graduate of Saint Olaf College and the Eastman School of Music and has done further study at the Aspen Music Festival, the Bach Aria Festival, the University of Oslo and the Vatican.

Louise Bass studied organ performance at Indiana University and Oklahoma City University, where she was a finalist in the Ottumwa (Iowa) National Organ Competition. Bass has also studied extensively in Paris with renowned organist Susan Landale. She travels frequently as an accompanist for vocal and instrumental musicians, and has performed at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, St. James Cathedral in Chicago, and for the American Guild of Organists. Bass also served as adjunct instructor of music at the University of New Mexico, and as artist-in-residence at Piedmont College, playing organ for the Piedmont College Singers and various faculty and student performances.

10/12/2026

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church presents Tricks and Treats with the Mighty Organ

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
900 Stillwater Road
Mahtomedi, MN 55115

Monday, October 26, 6:00 p.m.

Pre-Halloween Family Organ Concert

On Monday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. resident organist Bill Chouinard will present the 22nd annual "Tricks and Treats with the Mighty Organ" all-ages concert in the Sanctuary of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi on Minnesota's largest pipe organ. The one hour performance, with added special lighting and video effects, is designed with young listeners in mind, and children are invited to come in a non-violent costume and join in a parade inside the room.

The program will also include the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Bach, and all are invited to come early for a pay-as-you-are-able pizza supper served beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the adjoining Fellowship Hall. An offering will be received with a special "trick" and refreshments and treats for all will be served afterwards. St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Road in Mahtomedi, is located about 1 mile north of Hwy 36 on Hilton Trail, just east of the 694/35E (exit 52B) junction.

More information is available at www.saintandrews.org or by calling 651-426-3261.

10/03/2026

MOUNT CALVARY MUSIC SERIES PRESENTS A HYMN FESTIVAL with David Cherwien

OCTOBER 25 AT 4PM

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
301 County Road 19
Excelsior, MN 55331

David Cherwien presents a “The Gift of Reformation” Hymn Festival at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 19, Excelsior, MN. We will celebrate and sing great hymns of the Christian church supported by a mass choir from churches in the area featuring the 1994 Schantz pipe organ. Free/donation with reception to follow. https://pipeorgandatabase.org/instruments/39202

In one sentence, a hymn festival led by David Cherwien is best described as a thoughtfully planned worship experience where congregational singing, theology, scripture, and artistic church music come together to deepen faith and celebrate the church’s song.

All are welcome. General Attendance Sign-up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0544AEA82CA20-65808531-hymn

David Cherwien, served as Cantor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis from 2001-2024, continuing the tradition of creative hymn singing begun and sustained by predecessors like Paul Manz. From 2001 until 2023 he also served as Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir. Prior to those he has served church music positions in Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle, and Berlin, Germany. He is a nationally known conductor, composer and organist. Recognized for his contributions to the field of church music and liturgy, he is often called upon to serve as clinician and hymn festival leader across the country.

He has composed and published a considerable amount of music for the church with several publishers. During his time with the National Lutheran Choir he served as editor of the National Lutheran Choir Series of choral music published by Morningstar Music Publishers and produced many recordings – including the “Hymns We Love To Sing” series, still available on Spotify or ITunes. He is a founding member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and has served in its leadership in a variety of capacities, including as National President from 1993 to 1997.

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Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Minnesota, is a Christ-centered community dedicated to making, building up, and sending out faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The congregation’s mission is lived through four ministry pillars: Grace, Inclusivity, Love, and Service. Known for its welcoming spirit, vibrant worship, strong music ministry, and commitment to community engagement, Mount Calvary strives to be a place where people of all ages can grow in faith, build meaningful relationships, and experience God’s grace. [mountcalvary.org]
The congregation is also committed to inclusion and justice. As a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation, Mount Calvary intentionally welcomes people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions into the full life of the church. Through its Called to Justice ministries, including the Reconciliation and Advocacy Council for Equity (RACE), the church works to promote racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for marginalized communities, reflecting its belief that all people are created and loved by God.

10/02/2026

Church of the Annunciation and Rodgers Classic Organs of Minnesota co-host Paul Fey

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7:30pm

Church of the Annunciation
525 W. 54th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55419

A joyful celebration of Organ music from Leipzig, Germany to the Vatican to the Twin Cities!

Come and enjoy An Evening with Paul Fey on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 7:30pm at the Church of the Annunciation in South Minneapolis. The concert is co-hosted and sponsored by Annunciation and Rodgers Classic Organs of Minnesota.

Paul will be showcasing Annunciation's 1962 Wicks 30-rank pipe organ and the 2020 Rodgers 4 manual Infinity organ. Come listen to Paul utilize this versatile organ in a great acoustical space with a combined 150 ranks.

Admission is Free Will with all proceeds going to the recovery efforts at the Church of the Annunciation. Suggested $20 minimum, but give what you can.

09/27/2026

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi presents 30th Anniversary Concert by Encore Winds Symphonic Concert Band

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
900 Stillwater Road
Mahtomedi, MN 55115

Sunday, October 4 at 3:00PM

Encore Winds Symphonic Concert Band at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church October 4, Sunday at 3PM – a 30th Anniversary Concert by Encore Winds Symphonic Concert Band led by Peter Haberman, with guest soloist and Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Charles Lazarus and organ soloist Bill Chouinard and the 108-rank 1927 Casavant-2001 Schantz pipe organ at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church (900 Stillwater Road) in Mahtomedi, MN.

Organ and band will join forces in the sonic block-buster Pebble Beach Sojourn by Ronald Nelson, and a newly commissioned score by University of Minnesota professor Dean Sorenson. Free/donation.

https://saintandrews.org/event/encore-wind-ensemble-30th-anniversary-concert/

09/14/2026

Lumen Christi Catholic Community presents Bach-and-Forth with Christopher Kachian, guitar, and David Jenkins, organ and harpsichord

Christopher Kachian, guitar, and David Jenkins, organ and harpsichord, present a concert of chamber and keyboard music by the father-and-sons team of Johann Sebastian, Carl Philip Emmanuel, and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach.

Saturday, September 26, 7:00 PM. Free

Lumen Christi Catholic Community
2055 Bohland Avenue, St. Paul

Program:
Trio Sonata for Organ No. 4 in E minor, BWV 528
Fantasie in A Minor, F. 23, WFB
Sonata for Organ No. 3 in F Major, Wq 70,3
Trio Sonata for Organ No. 6 in G Major, BWV 530

Featuring the 56-rank 1985 Schantz organ in the Lumen Christi sanctuary.

Christopher Kachian, guitarist, has performed in the UK, Ireland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, France, Sweden, Russia, Africa, Cuba, Costa Rica, Japan, China, and throughout North and South America, as recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist. He has appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera, and numerous festival orchestras. He has been heard on Minnesota Public Radio, National Public Radio and American Public Media. Since 1984, Dr. Kachian has directed one of the largest guitar programs in the USA at the University of St. Thomas where he is professor of music.

David Jenkins, a parishioner of Lumen Christi Catholic Community, served over thirty years in music ministry on the faculty of the Saint Paul Seminary, and as an instructor in organ and harpsichord for the music department of the University of St. Thomas. Recently he served as adjunct instructor in organ and church music for the University of St. John’s/College of St. Benedict music department, and for the St. John’s University School of Theology. He earned a DMA in Organ Performance and the Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. In 1980-1981 he studied organ in Copenhagen under a Marshall Fellowship.

09/08/2026

The University of St. Thomas Chapel Arts Series presents Organ Spectacular with Aaron David Miller

Sunday, September 20 at 3:00pm

Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105

The University of St. Thomas Chapel Arts Series begins the season with an eclectic solo concert by Aaron David Miller in tribute to Emeritus Professor Gene Audette, featuring the 1987 Gabriel Kney pipe organ in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas (Cleveland at Ashland) on the St. Paul, MN campus. Free/donation.

Works by J.S. Bach, Franck, Miller, Reger, and more

09/04/2026

Saint Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis welcomes organist Emily Roth to perform on September 16, 2026, at 12:30pm following the 12:00Noon Mass.

Program:

Mv. I "Allegro" from Symphony no. 6 in g minor – Charles-Marie Widor

12 Variations on "Ah vous dirais-je, Maman" – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig BWV 656 – Johann Sebastian Bach

Mv. 2 "Choral" from Symphonie no. 2 – Louis Vierne

Berceuse – Louis Vierne

Monument – Brenda Portman

Emily R. E. Roth started taking piano lessons at age 6 and has continued to foster her love of music ever since. Continuing piano lessons throughout high school, her efforts led to receiving a scholarship from the Southeast Minnesota American Guild of Organists to study the organ with Lee Afdahl. She continued her study of music at the University of Iowa with Dr. Gregory Hand and later at the University of Minnesota with Dr. Dean Billmeyer and achieved her Masters Degree in

Organ Performance in 2023. During her time at the University of Minnesota, Emily joined the Young Women's Organist Cohort and later joined the Northrop Organ Advisory Board, dedicated to preserving and uplifting Northrop Auditorium's historic Aeolian Skinner Organ. Emily continues to utilize her love of organ music through performance and has been a featured soloist at several venues in the Rochester and Twin Cities area. She also continues to share her love of music through teaching and has recently joined the organ faculty at the University of Northwestern St. Paul. She is looking forward to continuing to find ways to uplift the organ and organ music as dean of the Southeast Minnesota American Guild of Organists. Along with her musical studies, her other interests include drawing, painting and performing popular music.

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Organ recitals at Saint Olaf will take place on the following dates this 2026-2027 season:

Wednesday, September 16, 12:30pm with Emily Roth, Dean of the Southeast Minnesota AGO
Thursday, October 29, 7:00pm with Olivier Latry of Notre Dame, Paris, France*
Wednesday, November 18, 12:30pm with Benton Schmidt, of the Saint Paul’s Newman Center, Fargo ND
Wednesday, December 16, 12:30pm with David Jenkins, former Dean of the TCAGO
Wednesday, January 20, 12:30pm with Joel Anderson, of Saint Olaf Catholic Church
Sunday, February 14, 2:00pm with Stephen Hamilton, concert organist**
Wednesday, April 21, 12:30pm with James Bobb of St. Olaf College
Wednesday, May 19, 12:30pm with Michael Kearney of Dordt University, Iowa
*This year, Saint Olaf is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the installation of the Lively-Fulcher organ. As part of these celebrations, we are expanding past our regular Wednesday noontime series to include two special concerts. Please join us on October 29 at 7:00pm for a special concert with the world-renowned organist Olivier Latry of Notre-Dame in Paris, France. Ticketing information: https://www.saintolaf.org/organ25.
In addition to Olivier Latry’s concert on October 29, there will be another special event on October 30 at 2:00pm, co-hosted by the TCAGO and Michael Barone of American Public Media’s Pipedreams, “A Conversation with Olivier Latry”

**The 25th Anniversary celebration will continue in February with another landmark performance of Marcel Dupré’s Le Chemin de la Croix (The Stations of the Cross) by Minneapolis-based concert organist Stephen Hamilton.
Specifications of the III/67 Lively-Fulcher organ: www.saintolaf.org/organspecs

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Saint Olaf Catholic Church is located at 215 South 8th St., Minneapolis, 55402. Free parking is available in the church’s lot on the corner of 8th Street and 3rd Avenue. Free parking may also be available in the Minneapolis Club ramp across 8th Street (voucher required from Saint Olaf reception desk, please call ahead to verify availability: 612-332-7471).

09/03/2026

TCAGO Opening Event and Annual Meeting

Sunday, September 13 at 3:00 p.m.

Zion Lutheran Church
241 Fifth Avenue North, Hopkins

All are welcome to attend the 50th Anniversary concert given by Celina Kobetitsch to celebrate the 36-rank 1976 Van Daalen pipe organ at Zion Lutheran Church in Hopkins. The event is free; donations will be accepted. Following the concert, the TCAGO Chapter Annual Meeting and installation of officers will be held.

RSVP https://tcago.wildapricot.org/event-6828109

Address

17205 County Road 6
Plymouth, MN
55447

Website

http://www.tcago.org/

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