Last week, alumni, friends, and family of Dr. James Kibbie gathered in Ann Arbor to celebrate 42 years of excellence in the field of performance, recording, and teaching. For many years, Dr. Kibbie has been a co-member of the Ann Arbor and Detroit chapters. He has attended events, adjudicated scholarship competitions, given masterclasses, and played recitals. In April, the Board of the Detroit AGO voted unanimously and enthusiastically to make Dr. Kibbie a Lifetime Member of the Detroit AGO. This is an honor given to members who have significantly supported and promoted the work of the Guild. Dr. Kibbie joins the ranks of other Detroit AGO Lifetime members such as Ron Kressman, and Dalos Grobe. A date and time to present Dr. Kibbie with this honor will be announced when available.

Chapter Events

Chant Boot Camp

Saturday, October 21

10:00-11:30 am

St. Matthew Catholic Church 6021 Whittier Avenue, Detroit

So much of our repertoire is based on Gregorian chant, but how many of us actually know how to read chant notation? Chant expert and Detroit AGO member, Joe Balistreri will make the complex seem simple! Coffee, cider and donuts will be served.

Solo Organ Music of Women Composers

Saturday, November 11

10:00 am

Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit

4800 Woodward Avenue

Dr. Sarah Simko presents a fascinating lecture/recital on the contributions of female composers. Discover new works you can incorporate into your repertoire.

Event Recap

Submitted by Nathan Costa

The Detroit Chapter of the AGO opened its 2023-24 program year with “Music of Hildegard of Bingen: Chants and Improvisations” at University Presbyterian Church in Rochester Hills, MI on Monday, September 18, the day following Hildegard’s traditional feast day. The event featured chants sung in UPC’s beautiful wood-paneled space by Serafina, a women’s vocal ensemble specializing in music written by and for women; each chant was followed by organ improvisations by Jackson Merrill, chapter board member, and David Stultz on the II / 27 Reuter (2010), with new installations in 2022. Serafina also performed two contemporary compositions based on chants by Hildegard, Robert Honstein’s O lucidissima apostolorum turba with cello and organ accompaniment and Nancy Grundahl’s Caritas abundat. Dr. Sarah Simko, secretary of the chapter, offered musical and biographical context in a brief lecture to begin the program, and executive board members were installed during the evening. 

Would You Like to Play the Area's Largest Residential Organ?

Once again, the original-condition 1919 Aeolian organ in Meadow Brook Hall will be featured during the annual Holiday Walk from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Meadow Brook Hall is a National Historic Landmark. It is the 88,000 sq.ft. former home of Alfred and Matilda Dodge Wilson, and is on the campus of Oakland University.

In past years Detroit Area organists have generously joined in volunteering to man the console and provide holiday music for the hall's visitors. Around the end of October, interested organists will be contacted to set up schedules. If you have an interest in playing this historic instrument and would like to be added to the contact list, please contact Pete Townsend at ptownsend@comcast.net so your name can be added to the email list. If you have an interest in a short practice or trial session prior to then, please also contact Pete.

Job Postings

Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit is seeking a Director of Music Ministries

Click Here for More Details

Christ Lutheran in Sterling Heights is seeking a music director

Click Here for More Details

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist in Detroit is seeking an organist

Click Here for Details



Ascension of Christ Lutheran in Beverly Hills is seeking an organist/choir director

Click Here for Details

Christ Lutheran Church in Warren is seeking and music director/organist

Click Here for More Details

First Presbyterian of Brighton is seeking a pianist/accompanist

Click Here for More Details