About Us
The Holland Area Chapter of the American Guild of Organists was formed in September of 1985. We are made up of around 30 organists, music directors, church musicians, and organ enthusiasts. Our programs are open to all, and we seek to support one another professionally and provide avenues for organ music to thrive in the Holland area.
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.
The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 20,000 members in 330 chapters throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. 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.
The AGO National Council is committed to membership recruitment, retention, and growth within our organization. During the Year of the Young Organist, July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022, any individual under the age of 30 can become a member or renew her/his membership for free as part of this program. Events and new initiatives will be held throughout the year. Click here for more information.
Our next meeting, Monday, October 25th, will be at Third Reformed Church in Holland. The topic is one we had hoped to pursue last year..."The Aging Voice." It strikes close to home for some of us, and if not now, you will all be there someday. Our speaker is Linda Dykstra from Hope College. If the topic isn't enough to interest you, please come for the fellowship. I do feel strongly that we need each other in these times which seem harder than usual. Also feel free to bring/invite any of your choir members who may have an interest in this topic. ALSO NOTE THAT THIRD CHURCH REQUIRES MASKS OF ALL VISITORS.
Our next very special program will be on Monday, November 22nd. Composer/Organist Brenda Portman, from Cincinnati, Ohio, will be presenting a workshop on "Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Composers for the Organ. It will be at Hope Church in Holland at 7:30. Please make every effort to attend this and please bring other organists who may not be members of our chapter. The Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids chapters will be our guests for this highlight of our year.
Schedule of Guild Events - 2021 - 2022
| Monday September 20, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. |
Hope College Annual Donia Organ Recital - Nicole Keller |
Hope College Miller Concert Hall | Holland |
| Monday September 27, 2021 | 6:00 p.m. |
Potluck and members recital |
Christ Memorial Church | Holland |
| Monday October 25, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. |
Aging Voices - Linda Dykstra, retired Hope College voice professor |
Third Reformed Church | Holland |
| Monday November 22, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. |
Brenda Portman – Significant 20th and 21st Century Composers for the Organ |
Hope Church | Holland |
| Monday January 10, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. |
Annual Epiphany party |
Linda Fulton's house | |
| Monday February 21, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. |
South side Holland organ crawl, ending up at the First Reformed Church's music library |
Starting location TBA | Holland |
| Monday March 21, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. |
Larry Visser's Music |
Second Reformed Church | Zeeland |
| Monday April 25, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. |
Music for organ with other instruments |
TBA | |
| Monday June 20, 2022 | 6:00 p.m. |
Annual members picnic |
Judy Koeman's house |
If you have events for this page, please email Rick Van Oss, or newsletter editor Paul Dalman.