Welcome!

​Welcome to the web site of the District of Columbia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Our city and its surrounding areas boast a lively pipe organ culture, to which our Chapter members contribute significantly.

We invite all who love the pipe organ and its music to explore this website for opportunities to attend AGO-sponsored events as well as concerts in our churches and concert halls. All are welcome, no matter if you're an official AGO member or not. Our mission is to share the glories of the "King of Instruments" with everyone.

Perhaps you found this site because you are interested in becoming a member of the Chapter. We would be delighted if you would join our ranks. The Membership Form link offers a simple way to proceed. We also welcome you to become a dual member with us and your home chapter.

Thank you for visiting us. We hope that you will join us for one or more of our seasonal events.

Upcoming concerts

Recitals are free unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 12:15 pm: The Howard Gospel Choir will sing at St. John's-Lafayette Square.  Founded in 1968, the group is the first collegiate gospel choir of its kind. Free; about 35 minutes.

Friday, Feb. 3, 12:15 pm: New York City organist John A. Wolfe performs works of Ned Rorem, Roy Belfield and Felix Mendelssohn. National City Christian Church.

Saturday, Feb. 4, 6 pm: Music director David Swenson performs works by Bach, Clerambault and Durufle at St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, 727 5th St NW.
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​Sunday, Feb. 5, 5 pm: Choral Evensong with prelude beginning at 4:40 by Jacob Reed, PhD candidate at the University of Chicago. The choir will sing works by Whitlock, Joubert and Martinson. Christ Church Episcopal, 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria.

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 12:10 pm: Harpsichordist Paula Maust, faculty member at the Peabody Institute, performs selections from Elizabeth Turner’s 1756 Six Lessons for the Harpsichord, which is one of the earliest published collections of keyboard music by an Englishwoman. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW.

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7:30 pm: Peabody Conservatory Organ Department recital sponsored by the Northern Virginia AGO chapter at Immanuel Chapel of the Virginia Theological Seminary, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Performers will be DMA candidates Midori Ataka and Justin Weilnau, Graduate Performance Diploma candidate Anderew Johnson and MM candidate Robert Baird. Repertoire will include Bach, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Reger and Wammes.

Friday, Feb. 10, 12:15 pm: Organist Glenn Little (Stafford, VA) performs an entire program of works by African American composers, including Nicholas Bowden, Eurydice V. Osterman, David Kidwell, Adolphus Hailstork, Carl Haywood, Calvin Taylor and Florence B. Price. National City Christian Church.

Friday, Feb. 10, 7 pm:  Tedde Gibson will accompany Buster Keaton's silent film "Go West" on the pipe organ at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, McLean. Local wine shop Vienna Vintner will curate wines thematically appropriate for the concert.
This event is free; a free-will offering will support the music department. Ample parking is available at 1724 Chain Bridge Rd.

Sunday, Feb. 12, 4 pm: David Swenson plays a recital at the Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy Ave. NE.

Free lessons through POI

The Potomac Organ Institute (POI) is a program sponsored by the DC, Northern Virginia and Potomac AGO chapters to provide a year of free lessons to accomplished piano students who wish to learn the organ. If you know of a promising piano student with potential for beginning organ study, please contact Peter Crisafulli at peter.crisafulli@allsaintschurch.net and/or Carolyn Booth at clbmuscmkr@aol.com.