“We are the largest organization devoted to a single musical instrument,” says Garrison”™s James Thomashower, executive director of the American Guild of Organists, or AGO, based in Manhattan.
Many of the AGO”™S 18,000 members belong to one of its 300 chapters. Organists in other countries have also opted for membership. An organist may belong to a chapter or be an independent member.
Thomashower directs a staff of nine and oversees a $2 million budget.
Educational programs and certifications in five categories are offered by AGO, which is particularly proud of its chapter-sponsored Pipe Organ Encounters program, with sessions running for four to six days for young people ages 13 to 18, with a ratio of one master organist to two youths. A web site, www.agohq.org provides extensive background on AGO programs.
The guild traces back to l896, when a group of church musicians formed the organization. A lavish weeklong centennial celebration took place in l996, with a central event held in St. Patrick”™s Cathedral in Manhattan and concerts and recitals throughout the city, many in other churches.
Materials used in a pipe organ ”“ wood or various metal combinations ”“ greatly affect the sound, Thomashower points out. “Technology poses many opportunities and challenges for our profession,” he says, speaking of digital electronic organs. “For a variety of reasons, some members are uncomfortable with digital instruments, preferring an acoustic, wind-driven sound. But, only 100 to 125 pipe organs are sold annually, whereas digital sales are many times that number.”
The challenges of technology extend to management of the guild”™s business operations. “Change rarely comes easily,” Thomashower reflects. “We are set up to accept dues payments on line. Some embrace it; some want no part of it. It does provide for cost efficiency, but we honor payments by check.”
The member organists face their own challenges, especially with weddings. “A couple may pick out music that is not appropriate for church, and the organist will tactfully have to point out that this is a sacred event,” Thomashower says. “Or, a bride selects a friend to be soloist, trying to do something nice, but playing with an amateur can often be a real challenge.
“The most glorious role for a minister of music is helping a congregation worship in song. They love what they do.”
Thomashower, who is not an organist, came to his post from a background of managing non-profits, first the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and later the National Society of Accountants, based in Virginia, where his title was executive vice president. “I was homesick for New York ”“ the Yankees, subways ”“ and scanned the papers. In l997 my wife saw an ad for my present post,” he recalls.
Thomashower was raised in Manhattan”™s upper west side and earned a bachelor”™s degree in English from Columbia in l973. While a student, he traveled abroad and met his wife, Penny Brickman, in Paris. “She was raised in Manhattan”™s upper east side, so we would have more appropriately met in Central Park,” he jests. She is a museum educator. They have a 17-year-old daughter, Sarah.
The couple lived in Philipstown when he was originally working in Manhattan. Upon their return from Virginia they found land near Graymoor and built there.
Thomashower is president of the Philipstown Reform Synagogue. “We don”™t have an organ,” he volunteers. “Right now we don”™t have a physical building and have used the facilities of the town”™s two Episcopal churches.” He has served on the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce board and has facilitated candidate debates.
Challenging Careers focuses on the exciting and unusual business lives of Hudson Valley residents. Comments or suggestions may be e-mailed to Catherine Portman-Laux at cplaux@optonline.net.
