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This article explores the history and contributions of women organists in Latin America. The author, Emma Whitten, uses archival documents to reveal the tradition of women playing the organ in convents during the 17th century in New Spain. The establishment of music schools in the 18th century provided more opportunities for women to study organ playing and composition. Today, women organists in Mexico and South America continue to advocate for the organ as performers, composers, restorers, and educators. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Opus 161 is the newest addition to the outstanding collection of pipe organs at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. The Fisk continuo organs join their larger siblings, built with a wealth of musical and historical understanding but ultimately as instruments for organists to make music. Continuo organs are voiced to let the organist collaborate with singers and other instrumentalists and are less space-specific than a permanent-installation instrument. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers advice to organists on navigating the lifelong journey of learning and development after graduation. It mentions that depending on desires for future as a professional organist, one have the options of being a music director at a church, performing concerts at the local level, teaching music courses at a local college or music school, directing school and community choirs, teaching private lessons, and accompanying choirs and singers.

The concert organs are an encyclopedic offering of national styles and time periods, while the practice room and studio instruments provide an unmatched foundation for sound pedagogy and repertoire discovery. Widely regarded as having one of the world's most distinguished organ collections, Oberlin College is home to 32 instruments. Oberlin is deeply grateful to our donor and the talented team at Fisk for bringing this project into being and helping to create a resource that supports the great heritage of performance at one of the nation's leading centers for all-undergraduate organ instruction. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents the discussion on the schools reopening after pandemic including university music schools adopting new technologies integrating into the future teaching.

The article profiles the winners at the 2007 American Guild of Organists (AGO)/Quimby Regional Competitions for Young Organists. Raymond Nagem obtained his degree in music and psychology at Yale University. Noah Wynne-Morton is a student of Paul Jacobs at the Juilliard School. Mark Edwards started taking piano lessons when he was 11 years old.

The article features the Conservatory of Music at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. It describes the academic-gothic exterior of the building in which the university's original pipe organ is installed. In 1992, electronic organ substitutes were installed as part of the facility's $6.4 million renovation. The stage tone openings at its Mees Hall include an architectural grill utilizing motifs from the hall and proscenium arch designed by Schantz staff architect Eric J. Gastier.

The article offers the author's insights on the purpose and responsibilities of being a member of a guild. Topics discussed include the moral of the short story "The Little Red Hen," organ lessons when she was a teenager, and the music scholarship given to her by organ teacher Felix Molzer from New Jersey. Also mentioned the responsibilities of guild members including to support the local chapter, encourage music students, and share the importance of attending local concerts.

The article reports on Mercer University's acquisition and dedication of a Giuseppe Englert Memorial Organ for the organ teaching studio in McCorkle Hall, Townsend School of Music. It discusses the history of the organ, its restoration by French organ builder Robert Martin and its inauguration in April 2013. The organ is considered an example of neo-Classical organ building from the shop of Victor Gonzalez.

The article discusses the visit of close to 50 members of the New York City chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) to the Juilliard School for a tour of the Flentrop studio organ and the Schoenstein studio organ on October 26, 2010, both of which are in their new homes after an extensive renovation of the main building of the school.

The article reports on the recent William Schuman Scholar's Chair at the Juilliard School, in the U.S., an annual award to honor a faculty member or performer for his or her achievements in the arts. It also reports that the 2007 Schuman scholar, Paul Jacobs moderated a panel discussion entitled "A Broader View of the King of Instruments," which was held on April 10, 2007, together with veteran critic and composer, Samuel Alder.

Several corrections to the original scores and reconstructed improvisations of Jeanne-Angèle-Desirée-Yvonne Joulain that were published by the Conservatory of Music in Lille, France are presented.

The article offers update on enrollments of organ majors as compiled by the Higher Education Arts Data Services, an organization that conducts detailed research studies for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 2013-2014. Topics covered include the sources of annual reports relating to organ majors enrolled and information about the new Web site of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). Also shown are charts illustrating enrollments of organ performance majors by degree.

The author discusses the developments in the higher education sector in the U.S., particularly on the enrollments of organ majors as recorded by the Higher Education Arts Data Services. He claims that the data services is an organization that carries out detailed research studies for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Based on NASM studies, the number of organ majors enrolled in degree programs in the fall of 2012 declined to 434 from 437.

The author discusses the opportunity to introduce organ study to young people in their communities. She started in October 2004 with the establishment of the Asbury Organ Academy in Delaware, Ohio including recruitment through her local church music colleagues and securing the support of her congregation. Since then, she have taught 16 students and learned how to offer a quality instructional program.

The article announces the appointment of French organist Christophe Mantoux as professor of organ at the Conservatoire Regional de Paris and the Pole superieur de Paris/Boulogne-Billancourt.

The article offers information on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs for organists in Great Britain. Among the many options for CPD include attending a day-conference on a topic of interest and participating in a weeklong intensive course over the summer. The author also suggests signing up for a course that someone else organizes, or designing a personal program of study. Schools that offer CPD courses include the Royal College of Organists and the Royal School of Church Music.

The article offers information on the celebration of the inaugural season of the Ascension Organ Academy in Greenwich Village, New York City on June 20-24, 2011.

The author discusses the possible relationship between the perception that artist-teachers are unreliable and what it means to have an artistic nature in the first place. He observes how those in the arts teach idioms and techniques that they themselves believe and practice. Scenarios in music instruction are given where students are apt to better achieve greater learning. The author asserts that in their efforts to deal with budgetary problems, music schools have lost the ability to give students freedom to learn deeply.

The article provides information on the trends in the enrollments of organ majors in the U.S. from 2009 to 2010. According to the author, the data presented are based on the annual reports submitted by 31 institutions that offer doctoral degree programs, 61 institutions that offer master's degree programs, as well as 94 National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) member institutions. He adds that the data showed a decline in the number of students when compared to the figures for 2008 and 2009.

The article focuses on examinations and professional certificates for organists. It points out that examining organists is a priority of the Royal College of Organists (RCO), American Guild of Organists (AGO) and the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) while the two main diplomas namely Associateship and the Fellowship remain the most sought after organ qualifications. It notes that official examinations inspire an organist's intensity of his purpose and provide a discipline necessary in a musical performance.

The article reports on the commissioning by the Saint Thomas Choir School in New Yor City of composer Joel Martinson to compose an Introit for Evensong to be performed in the Girl Chorale chorister course from July to August 2009. Martinson serves as director of music for the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, Texas and is known for his distinct style and sensitive setting of text. The commission is in honor of choral music patron Margarete Peterson and is a gift from Forrest Warren, also a music enthusiast.

The author recommends opportunities for organists and church musicians who are seeking education and refreshment in Canada for summer 2009. The Montreal Summer Organ Academy in Quebec will hold a convention featuring international recitalists and instruments. Also, the Mount Royal COnservatory Summer Organ Academy is recommended for young achievers. Another source of information suggested is the Royal Canadian College of Organists National Report, which contains a list of academies and study seminars.

The article presents updates on events and programs involving chapter members of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in Palomar, California. A masterclass for 22 students was conducted by Keenan Boswell, a student at the Juilliard School, on January 10, 2009. Boswell played a recital in Oceanside for chapter members and the public the following day.

The article presents updates on events and programs involving chapter members of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in Austin,Texas. Members attended the fifth annual midwinter workshop at the Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin on January 24, 2009. Presenters included chapter members Russell Schulz, Kathleen Thomerson and Jesse Eschbach, who also performed a recital to conclude the workshop.

The article focuses on issues related to the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). It cites the music competition to be held at the Annual Festival of New Organ Music (AFNOM) alongside its main exhibitions to be held in London, England in August 2009. It previews the Toronto International Organ Festival to be held from June 28 to July 2, 2009.

The article announces that James Russell Brown, organ and harpsichord instructor, has been renamed director of organ and aerly music program at the Music Institute of Chicago.

The article provides information on the enrollments of organ majors in the U.S. from 2006 to 2008, based on data compiled by Higher Education Arts Data Services for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). There was an increase in every academic level enrollment figures for organ majors from the fall of 2005 to the fall of 2006 before declining in the fall of 2007. An online list of all college and conservatory programs where organ is taught is being offered by the American Guild of Organists (AGO).

The article announces the International Summer School program of the Mount Royal College Organ Academy under the artistic direction of Simon Preston that will run from July 20-29, 2008. The program will offer intensive, short-term studies for organ students and professionals. According to the article, instructions will be conducted in small groups and individual lessons will be given. The faculty for summer 2008 includes David Higgs, John Butt, Neil Cockburn and Simon Preston.

The article reports on the three-day church music conference, which was cosponsored by the AGO Region IV chapter in Tallahassee, Florida and Florida State University's college of music. More than 100 guest musicians, speakers, and conferees were involved at the conference. Patrick Evans, associate professor of sacred music at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, was the keynote speaker of the event. Workshops, lectures and discussion forums were also conducted.

The article reports that Parisian organist-composer Jean Baptiste Robin has been added to the roster of organists represented in North America by Phillip Truckenbrod Concert Artists. He has served in various faculties of organ academies such as in Texas and Ohio. His discography includes organ music by Louis Marchand.

The article presents news briefs of interests to organists. The Bridge: Worldwide Music Connection database of the New England Conservatory was equipped with customizable search. Wayne Marshall and David Briggs engaged in an organ concert at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, England. Temple Beth El has installed its fifth Allen organ in its new temple northwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The article presents an update on the Royal Canadian College of Organists. The annual Sacred, Secular and Silly musical variety show was held at Bridgetown Baptist Church in Nova Scotia. A potluck dinner meeting hosted by president Marguerite Clarke took place in Brantford, Ontario in September 2005. Saint Luke's Anglican Church in Ottawa hosted a program for children which included a performance of "A Sweet for Mother Goose."

The article highlights the Church Music Institute concerts held at the School of Music Building of the University of Michigan from June 25 to 27, 2006. The performers at the event include organist Michele Johns and tenor David Troiano. Moreover, the compositions featured at the event include "Ave Maria Gratia Plena" and "Magnificat du premier ton."

The article considers the future and some of the challenges facing the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Since its inception, the College has enjoyed good reputation. Its examinations and diplomas are highly respected, its conventions draw musicians from across Canada and its borders. Nevertheless, the College serve only a small portion of the organists' community. As it approaches its centennial, the College need to redefine, to confirm and enlarge its engagement with the wider musical community.

The article reports on the appointment of David Cameron as president of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO) in July 2006. Cameron is a fellow of both the RCCO and Trinity College of London, England. He has been director of music at Chalmers United Church in Kingston, Ontario since 1966. He chaired the RCCO national Endowment Fund.

The article focuses on the East Carolina University (ECU) School of Music in Greenville, North Carolina. Professors Ludger Lohmann and Gillian Weir, who have been appointed to the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professors of Music for the 2006 to 2007 period, will join ECU organ and sacred music faculty in a year marked by extraordinary concerts, recitals and master classes. The school offers the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in organ performance and sacred music studies.

The article relates the author's experiences in visiting Russia. An overview of his organ performances in Russia is provided. He stated the reason for the lack of prejudice toward organ and organ music in Russia. A description of the organs used in the performances is presented. He described the students in the organ class of the Gnessins Academy of Music.

The article presents several dates and deadlines related to the Royal Canadian College of Organists, including the deadline for nominations for Honorary Awards, the dates set for the National Council meetings and the College Examinations application deadline.

The article deals with the International Summer School of the Mount Royal College Organ Academy which offers studies for organ students and young professionals. It states the faculty-to-student ratio at the academy. A description of music instruction at the academy is provided. It presents the application requirements.