Pedals, Pipes and Pizza
Piano students ages 8-18 are invited. to this fun and educational event to learn about the organ and try their hands at playing one. Please view the full event details for the registration link (registration required) and further information.
Admission free. Donations welcome.
Walter Mitby Frasier Scholarship recital
Walter Mitby is the 2025 recipient of the Chapter’s Frasier Scholarship. His program (details TBD) is expected to last about an hour. His recital will be followed by an informal reception.
Improvisation Master Class with Wolff Von Roos
Save the date for a masterclass in improvisation in various styles.!
Wolff Von Roos (the Musical Caped Crusader) is Performing Organist at Pipe Organs of Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City and Director of Music & Organist at Grace Church in Newark
A joint San Jose Chapter AGO, Palo Alto/Peninsular Chapter AGO, San Francisco Chapter AGO and Campbell United Methodist Church event.
Jazz Organ Concert by Wolff Von Roos
Concert with the San Jose State Jazz Ensemble, followed by a reception.
Program and ticket information TBD.
Favorites from the Console - San Jose Chapter Recital
A recital featuring chapter members performing their favorite organ works.
Vincent Dubois Recital
Vincent Dubois, Organist Cathedral Notre-Dame, Paris, returns to give another recital. Details to follow.
San Jose Chapter Annual Meeting and Potluck
Save the date for the San Jose Chapter’s Annual Meeting and Potluck.
In a short ceremony we’ll be swearing in our officers for the 2026/2027 year followed by a potluck supper. We’re also hoping to have an open console with an opportunity for chapter members to introduce favorite organ pieces to each other.
William Visscher Organ Recital
William Visscher recital. Works by Titlouze, Bach, Buxtehude, Pachelbel, Langlais, Hampton and Phillips. Admissionn free.
Concert and Evensong
Concert (3:15pm) and Evensong (4:00pm) followed by reception.
Concert: Women composers of the Baroque
Evensong: Music of Melissa Dunphy and Kerensa Briggs
Schoenstein Open House
Please join us for an Open House at our Benicia plant. Guests will be able to see and hear our opus 187, a large organ for Coral Gables, Florida. This is a two-story, multiple-location instrument that contains many of our hallmark design elements: double-expression, enclosed 32-foot pipes, and galvanized steel wind lines.
Christmas Music Exchange
A fun event for American Guild of Organist members and friends to introduce each other to our favorite holiday season music. Come to listen or to play!
What To Bring:
🌲 Cookies to trade if you like to bake.
🌲 Extra scores to give away or swap.
Admission free, donations welcome.
A San Jose Chapter AGO event.
Lumière
The San Jose Symphonic Choir sing a program of Fauré, Duruflé and Ray, including the Duruflé Requiem
(Event canceled - The Spooky Concert with Angela Kraft-Cross)
Regrettably, this event has been canceled.
Organ Crawl in Palo Alto
A joint event between the San Jose and Palo Alto Chapters. Planned stops: All Saints Episcopal, St. Mark’s Episcopal, St. Bede’s Episcopal, and First United Methodist Church. This event is free for our chapter members.
Concert and Choral Evensong
3:15pm Concert by the Cygnus Argenteus Consort
4:00pm Choral Evensong with the St. Luke’s Choir (Dr. Joy-Leilani Garbutt, Director)
Free-will offering
Reception to follow
Sook Hyun Kim Recital
Sook Hyun Kim is currently serving as the Cathedral Organist at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California.
Suggested donation $25
Aidan Yau Student Recital
Aidan Yau is a 16-year-old student of Dr Angela Kraft-Cross. He will play a program of pieces by Guillain, Franck, Widor, Alain and Duruflé.
Friendly Neighbors: Mexico, United States, Canada
Margaret Kvamme will perform a program entitled “Friendly Neighbors: Mexico, United States, Canada” featuring composers from these three countries. See details for programme. The pieces are short, the atmosphere will be casual, so feel free to show up in your afternoon activity attire, and bring the kids.
San Jose Chapter Annual Gathering
An informal gathering to open the new season and welcome new members. Come and meet your Executive Committee!
A San Jose Chapter American Guild of Organists event.
Organ Build Workshop
Find out how an organ works by building and playing a fully functional instrument from a kit of parts. Free and fun event for the whole family! See the video on our home page for further information on this fascinating kit..
Recital at the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland
Visiting from Wesel, Germany, organist Stefan Madrzak will perform music on the magnificent Conroy organ by Bach, Mozart, Duruflé, Tielman Susato, as well as an original composition of his own. Admission free. Donations are accepted at the door and will benefit the Cathedral’s music program.
Boomeria Lives On!
This season, we celebrate Boomeria at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. The church organ was specially built and installed for St. Andrew's by Preston Boomer in 1960.
Annual Meeting and Potluck
Save the date for the San Jose Chapter’s Annual Meeting and Potluck.
In a short ceremony we’ll be swearing in our officers for the 2025/2026 year followed by a potluck supper. We’re also hoping to have an open console with an opportunity for chapter members to introduce favorite organ pieces to each other. The theme is easy Summer music, so please bring something in this vein, copyright free (published before 1930) is encouraged.
Admission free, donations welcome.
A San Jose Chapter AGO event.
Music in May
The May 23rd concert at Peace United Church features guest artists organist Chelsea Chen and harpist Bridget Kibbey.
Creative Hymn Playing Workshop - Stephen Price Masterclass
Stephen Price (Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow, University of Washington) will give a Master Class on hymn playing and hymn arrangements. Organists or pianists who would like to coach with Dr. Price are invited to play during the class. All skill levels are welcome. To sign up, please email cathryn@churchintheforest.org. All are welcome to come and listen to the class.
Lunch and conversation will follow the class.
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 14103 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga,
Admission Free. Suggested donation $10.
A San Jose Chapter Event
Organ Recital by Rani Fischer
Organ Recital by Rani Fischer on the 1969 Beckerath pipe organ.
Admission free
Works by
Dieterich Buxtehude
Susanna Vung Jour
Amy Summers
Johann Sebastian Bach
Vincent Persichetti
Nicolas de Grigny
Fela Sowande
What’s Up, Bach? Happy Birthday, Bach!
Sixth in a series of recitals exploring the organ music of J.S. Bach.
Cathryn Wilkinson
Organist
Organ Recital & Choral Evensong
3:15 p.m. Organ Recital by James Parrish Smith
4:00 p.m. Choral Evensong (reception to follow)
Jörg Reddin Organ Recital
Organ Recital played by Jörg Reddin, Kantor/Organist of the Bach Kirche in Arnstadt.
Tota Pulchra Es: Chant-based Organ Music Honoring the Mother of God
Recital, Clara Gerdes Bartz, New York
Main Chapel, Free Admission, Reception following In-person Event
Featuring works by Henri Dallier, Marcel Dupré, Jean Titelouze, Flor Peeters, Sigfrid Karg Elert, Charles Tournemire, Jean Langlais, Olivier Latry, & Everett Titcomb
RSVP available at: Catholic Institute of Sacred Music
Organ Recital by Elizabeth Kamas (2024 Frasier Scholarship winner)
We are delighted to host a one hour recital played by the most recent Frasier scholarship winner, 16-year-old Elizabeth Kamas, joined by her older sister, Ruth (2019 Frasier winner). They will play a variety of classic music (including the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by JS Bach), showcasing the mighty Balcom and Vaughan organ. The concert will close with the theme from Star Wars for organ and piano duet. Also included is a spritely piece written by local composer and AGO member, Angela Kraft Cross.
The recital will be followed by an informal reception.
Admission free. Donations welcome.
A San Jose Chapter AGO event.
Valentine's Day Party
A Valentine's Day Party at the home of Catha and Ron Hall in Woodside.
What’s up, Bach? New and "New-ish" Bach for the New Year.
Next in the series of organ music by Bach
New and "New-ish" Bach for the New Year
Cathryn Wilkinson
Organist
San Jose Area Organs Tour
The San Jose and Palo Alto Chapters join to tour 3 - 4 San Jose area organs
Dick Coulter Memorial
Dick Coulter’s memorial service begins with 30 minutes of “prelude music" offered by Dick’s colleagues, followed by the memorial service. All are welcome to join the family for a reception in the parish hall after the service.
Mike Cala Celebration of Life
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Willow Glen United Methodist church, 1420 Newport Avenue, San Jose at 11:00 a.m.