Dayton Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

06/11/2026

Nicholas Koch always does fabulous work! What a beautiful organ this is 🎹🎶😍

06/10/2026

Our very own Jimmy Leach is visiting Spain and taking in incredible organ-related sights! Here are photos and a blurb of his, from 6/5:

"We went to the 9 a.m. Mass at the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos in Spain and met the new organist, Carmen Morales. She is the first woman organist since the beginning of the order in the 7th century. She improvises accompaniments to the chants as the monks sing seven services a day. They sing all 150 psalms every week!"

05/15/2026

Come listen to our academy students as they put on an end-of-year recital! This event will be our chapter season closer, and is on Sunday, 5/31 at 4pm at Christ Church United Methodist (Kettering).

Each student will share some of their recent repertoire as well as a hymn, so be prepared to sing! Following the recital will be the 2026 New Officer installation, as well as a delicious reception where we can converse with the performers and one another.

A huge THANK YOU to all of the academy teachers, as well as the D**O officers and board members who generously give of their time and talents in support of our group. They are a living embodiment of the AGO mission statement, which is to foster a thriving community of musicians who share their knowledge and inspire passion for the organ.

Church Church United Methodist is located at: 3440 Shroyer Rd, Kettering, OH 45429

(Photos from past academy recitals and Pedals, pipes and pizza events)

04/27/2026

This is sure to be a cool and unique evening! THIS Thursday, 4/30 at 8pm at Cedarville University (Dixon Ministry Center), Stephen Estep will be sharing traditional music by Bach, Shostakovich and Webern, and more modern works from the Beatles, Britney Spears and more. Stephen is a very talented and active member of the Dayton Chapter. Go support him if you can! Free admission.

Dixon Ministry Center is located at 251 N. Main St, Cedarville, OH.

Here is the event page for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/events/4426723987574315

04/27/2026

Oh my gosh, this looks awesome! The tickets are only $30. Get them while you can. So many talented musicians and dancers will be here, including famed local classical guitarist Jim Mccutcheon, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and others! Miami University ethnomusicology professor Dr. Thomas Garcia will provide a concert preview at 3pm.

Join us for ¡Canta y Baila! presented by The Bach Society of Dayton on Sunday, May 17 at 4:00 PM.
Featuring the incredible Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, alongside talented guest artists:
Jim McCutcheon, guitar
Aurelian Oprea and Youjin Na, violin
Edward Ferran and Carlos Ahrens, tenor
Experience a vibrant musical journey through Latin America!
Don't miss the Concert Preview at 3:00 PM with Dr. Thomas Garcia, Professor of Ethnomusicology at Miami University.
Secure your tickets now at bachsocietyofdayton.org or call 937-294-2224. See you there!

04/22/2026

Also Sunday! Dayton is so lucky to have so many amazingly talented musicians here. Join Jimmy and friends for a FREE program on Sunday at 3pm at Christ Episcopal Church (Dayton).

Trumpeter and singer Jimmy Leach plays and sings the great jazz standards of the 20th century. With a lyrical tenor voice and flawless trumpet technique, Jimmy brings to life the music of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Dorothy Fields, Duke Ellington, and other jazz gurus.

Free parking available in the lot adjacent to the church at 1st & Ludlow (metered parking also available and is free on weekends).
Building is fully handicap accessible

Event link: https://facebook.com/events/s/the-great-lady-concert-series-/1292110289651336/

04/22/2026

This Saturday 4/25 at 5pm, Kettering Seventh Day Adventist and Christ Church United Methodist are collaborating to bring us Britten's awesome cantata, Rejoice in the Lamb. Location will be at Kettering Seventh Day Adventist Church. Proceeds from this performance will support restoration of the KSDA church’s historic Casavant organ. The cantata's text is from the poem Jubilate Agno by Christopher Smart, who wrote it while in an asylum from 1759-1763. The poem depicts idiosyncratic praise and worship of God by different things including animals, letters of the alphabet and musical instruments.

Here is the event page:
https://www.ketteringadventist.org/news/spring-choir-concert

04/22/2026

If you are seeking a cool (free!) opportunity this weekend to hear a brass quintet and organ, you should come to Springfield to hear Lia Ferrell! Ferrell is playing at Covenant Presbyterian Church (201 N Limestone St, Springfield OH) this Sunday, 4/26 at 3pm. This program is free. Ferrell will be performing works by Handel, Durufle, Langlais and more! The brass quintet are members of the Springboro Wind Symphony.

Ferrell has given recitals across the United States and Europe, and studied with Jan Bender, Paul Manz, David Fienen, and Harold Vogel. She has a B.A. in music from Gustavus Adolphus College (St Peter, MN) and completed two years of graduate coursework focusing on Early Music in Germany. She is an accomplished harpsichord player and has played in Early Music ensembles.

Ferrell has served as organist at Trinity Episcopal Church (London, OH), St Paul's Episcopal Church (Oakwood, OH), High Street United Methodist (Springfield, OH) and is presently at Covenant Presbyterian Church (Springfield, OH).

Here is a link to the event page with more info: https://www.facebook.com/share/18ZBQeW1vh/

04/18/2026

Tomorrowwww

04/15/2026

THIS Sunday, 4/19 at 4pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dr. David Crean will present a free (open to the public) workshop on organ registrations and organ history. A double whammy!

Crean's discussion will commence in the Renaissance, and progress through to the modern era. He will examine Spanish, French, German and Italian organ traditions. He will explain how to take this amalgamation of traditions and condense it into a blended and thoroughly modern approach to registration.

Crean has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a conductor, teacher, recitalist, church musician, and radio personality. As an organist, he has concertized throughout the United States and Australia. He has held adjunct positions in organ, harpsichord, and music theory at Wright State University, Wittenberg University, The Juilliard School, and The University of Iowa. He is also a past Dean of the Dayton, Ohio chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

David has been the Midday Host and Music Director at Discover Classical WDPR since 2017, and was promoted to Program Director in 2025. He currently serves as Organist and Director of Music at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Dayton.

David grew up in New York, and received his D.M.A. from The Juilliard School, where he was the 2014 recipient of the Richard F. French Doctoral Prize for outstanding research in a dissertation. He also holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and The University of Iowa.

Please RSVP by Thursday to Matt Dierking if you want to join us for dinner afterward at Dublin Pub: [email protected]