Welcome!

Region IV of the American Guild of Organists covers the Southeastern United States and Bermuda, including the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. There are seven districts, 58 local chapters, and over 3,000 members. Our work supports the mission of the Guild: To promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members.

June 22, 2009

RCYO winners


The Region IV AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists announces the results of the competition, held on June 17, 2009 at Christ Church Episcopal Church, Bradenton, FL and hosted by the Sarasota/Bradenton Chapter. The judges were Bonnie Wolfgram, Dr. Robert Parrish and Dwight Thomas.

Pictured are competitors Kenneth Miller, Josiah Armes, Catherine Elliott, Kevin Neel and Christin Baker. (Not pictured are Justin Maxey, Christopher Ray and Nathan Stewart.)

The First Prize winner is Josiah Armes, of Lakeland Florida, representing the Jacksonville Chapter. Josiah is a graduate of Stetson University and is currently a graduate student at Yale University, studying with Thomas Murray. Josiah will perform a recital during the regional convention, to be held in Sarasota January 17-20, 2010. He will also perform as a Rising Star at the National Convention in Washington, DC next summer.

Second prize was awarded to Catherine Elliott, who had won the Nashville Chapter competition. Catherine is a student of Dr. Janette Fishell at Indiana University.

The other competitors were Christin Baker, (East Carolina Chapter), a student of Colin Andrews at East Carolina University; Justin Maxey (Atlanta Chapter), who studies with Dr. Peter Dewitt at Shorter College; Kenneth Miller (Charlotte Chapter), a student of Dr. Florence Jowers at Lenoir-Ryne University; Kevin Neel, an Indiana University student studying with Janette Fishell; Christopher Ray (Jackson Chapter), a student of Dr. Robert Knupp at Mississippi College; and Nathan Stewart (Knoxville Chapter), a student of Dr. John Brock at the University of Tennessee.

All of these young organists are to be congratulated for their achievements in this competition. Chapters are encouraged to feature these fine artists in upcoming programs. For information on how to contact any of these competitors for a recital, please contact Sarah Hawbecker.

June 16, 2009

Winthrop Organ Festival, August 13-16, 2009

Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, will host a festival of four concerts, lectures, workshops and a masterclass, all celebrating the restoration of the D.B. Johnson Memorial Organ, James F. Byrnes Auditorium Organ by Aeolian-Skinner, Op. 1257, 1955. The organ is the last of any large instruments tonally finished by G. Donald Harrison. Virgil Fox played the inaugural concert on November 2, 1955.

Alumni Recital
Thursday, August 13 - 7:30 pm

Richard Elliott, Mormon Tabernacle Organist
Friday, August 14 - 7:30 pm

David Lowry, Professor of Music Emeritus at Winthrop University
Saturday, August 15 - 2:00 pm

Robert Ridgell, Associate Organist of New York's Trinity Episcopal Church, Wall St.
Sunday, August 16 - 7:30 pm

For more information, contact Dr. David Lowry. Click here for the link to the Festival brochure.

June 9, 2009

Eight Young Organists to Compete June 17

The 2009 Quimby/Regional Competition for Young Organists for Region IV will be hosted by the Sarasota Chapter on Wednesday, June 17. The competition will take place at Christ Church, Bradenton, FL. The public is invited to attend.

The purpose of the RCYO competitions is to encourage younger organists to pursue excellence, to gain performance experience, and to receive recognition for their achievements. These competitions begin at the Chapter level and conclude at the nine regional conventions. The winner of each Regional Competition will be invited to perform as a Rising Star at the 2010 National Convention in Washington, D.C. The AGO/Quimby Regional Competitions are made possible by a generous grant from Michael Quimby, President, Quimby Pipe Organs. The eight organists competing on June 17 in Bradenton have won their respective local competitions in Atlanta, Charlotte, East Carolina, Jackson, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Nashville and Winston-Salem. The winner of the regional competition will also perform a recital during the regional convention in Sarasota, January 17-20, 2010.

2009 Charlotte Chapter Summer Recital Series

All programs are at 7:30 pm unless noted.

June 7
- Erica Johnson, Organ Professor, North Carolina School of the Arts
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, 28203

June 14
- Florence Jowers
First Baptist Church, 301 S. Davidson St., 28202

June 21
- Leon Couch
Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 E. Morehead St., 28204

June 28 - Jim Glass
First Presbyterian Church, 700 N. Main St., Lancaster, SC 29270

July 5 - Katie Ann McCarty
Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St., Davidson, NC 28036

July 12 - RSCM Evensong (4:00 PM) with Malcom Archer, director and Patrick Pope, organist
Myers Park Baptist Church, 1931 Selwyn Ave., 28207

July 19 - Student Recital featuring the Stigall Scholarship Recipient and Students of the Charlotte Chapter AGO
Myers Park Baptist Church, 1931 Selwyn Ave., 28207

July 26 - Thomas Fielding, Dean, Raleigh Chapter AGO
Davidson College Presbyterian Church, 100 N. Main St., Davidson, NC 28036

August 2 - Jonathan Ryan
Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 E. Morehead St., 28204

August 9 - Brennan Szafron
First Presbyterian Church, 1621 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054

August 16 - Robert Ridgell
Byrnes Auditorium, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 29733

August 23 - Adam Ward
Sardis Presbyterian Church, 6100 Sardis Rd., 28270

August 30 - Sacred Choral Festival Featuring the combined choirs of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Sardis Presbyterian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church and Myers Park Presbyterian Church
2501 Oxford Pl., 28207