Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 545  

Gabriel Rhys Simerson is Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ivy, where he plays the 2005 Schoenstein organ and is tasked with building the music program of adults and children. Gabe’s discipleship of the Schoenstein craft began at St. Paul’s, K Street in DC, where he studied with Jeffrey Smith and received his fundamental formation in church music. He previously served parishes in Northern Virginia and hails from greater New Haven, CT. 

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV 663 

Florence M. Jowers is retired from teaching at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC, and currently serves area churches as a substitute organist.  She is one of the founders of Bach Around the Clock while she was Director of Music at Christ Lutheran Church, Staunton.  Florence is a graduate of Stetson University and the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music and School of Music.

C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788)
Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf, BWV 617  
Sonata in A:  III. Allegro  W. 55/4

Roger Daggy (BM, MM, Northwestern University) is Director of Music/Organist at First Presbyterian Church in his hometown of Waynesboro.  His previously held positions include Director of Music/Organist at Calvary Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC, and Organist at the Parish of St. Matthew in Pacific Palisades, CA.  Mr. Daggy is thankful to have played services and concerts in the UK, Europe, and the U.S.

Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major (WTC 2, No. 7), BWV 876   

Matthew Thomas is Music Minister of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, Harrisonburg, VA.  Matt grew up in Franklin and Hendersonville, TN, and graduated in piano performance from Belmont University.  He lived in New York City where he worked and performed for nineteen years and attained a graduate degree in composition and organ performance from City University of New York–Hunter College.  He comes to Virginia after serving as Music Director of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Williamstown, MA.

O Mensch Bewein dein Sünde gross, BWV 622 

Alexander Johnson is Director of Music at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville and is also the co-director of the historically informed chamber group Ars Memoria. He is a Choir Master (ChM) and Colleague (CAGO) of the American Guild of Organists and serves on the board of the Charlottesville-Albemarle chapter of the Guild.

Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543  

Joel VanderZee studied engineering and music composition before completing a Master of Music in Organ Performance at Western Michigan University.  He later earned a Fellowship Diploma from the Royal Canadian College of Organists.  Joel is the assistant organist at Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, and previously served as Music Director and Organist at Grace Episcopal Church, Keswick.  He works for Taylor and Boody Organbuilders in all aspects of the trade.

ABOUT THE AGO

The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is the national professional association serving the organ and choral music fields. The Guild serves approximately 250 chapters and 10,000 members throughout the United States and abroad. The mission of the American Guild of Organists is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.

Founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization, the Guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music. Under the leadership of the National Council, a network of volunteer committees and officials at the regional, district, and local levels directs the activities of the Guild.

The AGO National Headquarters is in New York City, where a full time staff supports and coordinates education, publication, administration, and development activities of the organization. For purposes of administration and representation, the Guild is divided into seven geographical regions, and each chapter is assigned to one of them.

The AGO and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America (APOBA) share a mutually beneficial association, a collaboration that has existed since 1975. For several decades this relationship has been strengthened by financial contributions from APOBA and its members in support of the AGO and its Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) program. The AGO has responded with generous provisions for bringing news from APOBA and its members to the organ public.