Message from the Dean
Welcome to the Gainesville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists! We are a small, personable chapter located in North Central Florida and welcome all to our events.
For additional information about membership and materials, contact Registrar/Treasurer Stephanie Smith (mornsun381@gmail.com). To reach our chapter members about an upcoming event, or for program ideas, contact Sub-Dean Mitch Rorick (marorick@gmail.com)
The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields, and its mission is ‘to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ,’ with a particular vision ‘to engage, support, and uplift every organist.’ To these ends, your AGO board has been hard at work, meeting and planning events for the coming months.
There is plenty to musically see and do in Gainesville…come out, bring a guest, and even better, bring a potential new AGO member!
Laura Ellis, DMA
Dean
Chapter Events 2023-24
Opening Potluck Dinner
- Tuesday, September 19, 6:30 p.m. (Gather), 7:00 p.m. (Meal) at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Hymn Festival led by James Marriott, Asst Professor at Concordia Seminary, Austin, TX
- Thursday, November 2, 7:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church
Music of the Seasons concerts
- Tuesday, November 28, 12:15 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (CANCELLED due to heating and organ issues!)
- Tuesday, December 5, 12:15 p.m. at First United Methodist Church
- Tuesday, December 12, 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church
Spring Celebration Series
- Sunday, April 7, 4:00 p.m. at Gethsemane Lutheran Church
- Sunday, April 14, 4:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Palatka (Stephanie Smith in recital)
- Saturday, April 27, 4:00 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church
UF Sacred Music Workshop, May 5-7
AGO Closing Banquet and Young Artist Recital
- Sunday, May 5, 6 p.m., Banquet at the Friends of Music Room
- Sunday, May 5, 7:20 p.m., Recital at the University Auditorium
Non-AGO Sponsored Organ Events in Town
- Friday, October 27, 7:20 p.m., UF Organ and Carillon Studios present their annual Halloween Spooktacular at the University Auditorium
- Friday, December 1, 7:20 p.m., UF Organ Studio Recital at the University Auditorium
- Sunday, March 3, 4:00 p.m., James O’Donnell at First Presbyterian Church
- Sunday, March 17, 4:00 p.m., Simon Thomas Jacobs at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
- Friday, April 19, 7:20 p.m., UF Organ Studio Recital at the University Auditorium
Membership
For information on joining the Gainesville Chapter, please contact our registrar, Stephanie Smith at: mornsun381@gmail.com
Contact Us
Dean: Laura Ellis, lellis@arts.ufl.edu
Sub-Dean: Mitch Rorick, marorick@gmail.com
Secretary: Hye Jin Park, hyejin6971@gmail.com
Treasurer, Registrar: Stephanie Smith, mornsun381@gmail.com
Newsletter, Webmaster: Mitch Rorick, marorick@gmail.com
Member-At-Large: Lawrence Hartley, larry.hartley@gmail.com
Member-At-Large: Ruth Lewis, RALewisMusic88@gmail.com
Member-At-Large: David Malone, dmaloneinutah@gmail.com
Member-at-Large/Historian: Willis Bodine, wbodine@arts.ufl.edu
Local Job Postings
If you have a job posting, please contact Sub-Dean Mitch Rorick (marorick@gmail.com).
Other Musical Happenings . . .
There are many musical events happening in the greater Gainesville area. We invite you to check out the following links for more information:
University of Florida Organ Studio
University of Florida Sacred Music Workshop
