Upcoming Events
05
AUG
Noon Recital with Michael Olson at
First Lutheran Church
12:45 PM -
1:15 PM
619 Broadway N.
Fargo, ND 58102
Join the RRVAGO members for the weekly noon recital at First Lutheran. The pews are open with social distancing measures in place, and we ask that you wear a mask if you will be physically present. If you would like to watch virtually, a Facebook Livestream will also be available and archived to our Facebook page.
History of the Red River Valley Chapter of the AGO
The Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists traces its roots to the Fargo Moorhead Area Music Club, which was founded in 1894. This club began featuring organ music in public recital by 1898. Nearly 20 years later, the interest in pipe organs within the club became so great, that a subsidiary group within the club named the "Pipe Organ Group" was organized on February 9, 1917.
The Pipe Organ Group's first meeting was held later that month and the first officers were Clara Pollock, Chair; and Ivy Conant, Secretary.
Throughout its nearly 30 years of existence, the Pipe Organ Group presented countless public organ recitals, mostly featuring local organists, but sometimes guest organists. It provided an array of other such programming for their membership and the public. At one time, the POG was raising money for the installation of a city-owned/municipal pipe organ in Fargo, which ultimately didn't materialize.
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By 1945, the small, but well-established and busy Pipe Organ Group was approached by the American Guild of Organists as to their interest in becoming a chartered chapter of the Guild. It just so happened that the national Warden (President) at the time, S. Lewis Elmer, had a daughter (Mary Vassel) who belonged to the Fargo Moorhead Area Music Club and was well acquainted with the Pipe Organ Group.
Throughout the early months of 1945, a series of meetings and a luncheon attended by Mr. Elmer himself convinced the small but mighty Pipe Organ Group to change the course of their organization for the next 8 decades and beyond as they voted to officially join the American Guild of Organists. On April 9, 1945, the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (RRVAGO) was granted a charter from AGO National.
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The 18 charter members of the RRVAGO included L. Viola Anderson, Joseph Black, Laura S. Campbell, Leif I. Christianson, Edith M. Cleveland, Dorothy M. Deems, Vincent J. Dodge, Mabel H. Hartwell, Esther C. Krueger, Viola M. Moen, Betty L. Mark, Clara A. Pollock, Gertie A. K. Lobben, Hazelle A. Stalheim, Rose M. Teichmann, Myrtle V. Steen, Ruth P. Wright, and Ruth H. Berge (who transferred her membership from the national headquarters).
A Fargo Forum newspaper clipping from February, 1917, detailing the first meeting of the Pipe Organ Group of the Fargo Music Club. For nearly 30 years, this small, but mighty group presented countless recitals and programs featuring the pipe organ to the Fargo-Moorhead Community. At the time of its organization, the Pipe Organ Group was said to be the first organization dedicated to the pipe organ ever to be organized in the state of North Dakota.
A Fargo Forum newspaper clipping from April, 1945, detailing the events that led up to the transition from the Pipe Organ Group to the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
The first officers of the chapter were Dorothy Deems, Dean; Leif Christianson, Sub-Dean; Betty Mark, Recording Secretary; Vincent Dodge, Treasurer; Edith Cleveland, Corresponding Secretary; and Laura Campbell, Program Chair.
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Throughout its existence, the RRVAGO has presented the Red River Valley with many programming opportunities centering around organ and choral music, including hymn festivals, concerts, recitals, workshops, social gatherings, and much more.
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Many nationally and internationally renowned organists have given recitals as guest artists of the chapter, including Diane Bish, Chelsea Chen, David Cherwien, Felix Hell, Christopher Houlihan, Paul Jacobs, Olivier Latry, Paul Manz, Marilyn Mason, Fred Swann, and others.
On April 9, 1945, eighteen people from Fargo-Moorhead gathered and organized the Red River Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This list of the names of these charter members comes from the first entry of the original corresponding
secretary’s book.
​Among the most notable of the chapter's accomplishments includes hosting the North-Central (FKA Region VI) AGO Regional Convention in June 2001, in Fargo, ND.
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Over the years, membership in the RRVAGO has ranged from 12 to 111, with averages in the 20s for the past 15 years.
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Regular programming, chapter and executive committee meetings are all still regularly held at various churches throughout the F-M Area.
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