Indianapolis Chapter, American Guild of Organists

06/08/2026

Save the date! This upcoming free concert will benefit the new Indianapolis Internship in Liturgical Music program.

These internships train and pay local musicians and enrich the music traditions of two Indianapolis churches—Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Meridian-Kessler) and St. Mary Catholic Church (Lockerbie-Downtown).

Event details will be shared later this summer. BUT FIRST, get it on your calendar!

06/08/2026

60th Indianapolis Early Music Festival June - July 2026.
Join them as they celebrate 60 years of bringing Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music to life. Mark Cudek, Artistic Director. For more information, click link below:
https://www.indyearlymusic.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawST9ihleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeu1VSCoNnML6D87AJUf6h3P__mJiUnYJ0bHwIAFYrQwoLe0e4V8LKbwGiO9I_aem_rg8cGaaWgqltEvn1tzqOxQ

Indianapolis Early Music Renaissance Elizabethan Baroque

06/08/2026

The Indianapolis Chapter extends its warmest congratulations to Addie Yoder and Cheryl Keckler who recently retired after thirteen years of dedicated service as Organist and Music Director at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Carmel.

Together, they built a thriving musical life in their congregation leading the chancel choir, handbell choir, seasonal programs, and weekly worship with patience, skill, and genuine care for every musician in their charge. They had a particular gift for drawing out
potential in those who doubted themselves, and their influence extended well beyond Sunday mornings. We wish them both a richly deserved and joy-filled retirement!

Addie Yoder continues to serve as the Archivist for the Indianapolis AGO!

06/05/2026

Exciting news!

Following a nationwide search, Cathy Brigham has been selected by the National Council to serve as the AGO's next Executive Director.

06/05/2026

Loraine Cox, a former long-time member of the Indianapolis AGO chapter, has passed away.

I've listed her obituary below. The family invites you to please join them any time this Sunday, June 7 between 2 and 4 pm for a remembrance of Loraine at Leppert Mortuary (Nora), 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis.

May Loraine’s soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/indianapolis-in/loraine-cox-12913610

Loraine Loomis Cox went home on June 2, 2026 at the age of 94 in Indianapolis. She was born May 2, 1932 in Freeport, IL to A.P. and Myrtle Elva Leishman Loomis and grew up in Forrest, IL. Loraine graduated Phi Beta Kappa from DePauw University in 1954 with a B.A. in Elementary Education.

While at DePauw, she met and married H. Keith Cox. Loraine was predeceased by Keith in 2011 after an amazing union of 58 years.

She began her teaching career in Brazil, IN, later teaching in the IPS system. Her full-time stint as a mom began with Charles Edward and later Rosemary (Cox) Mayes. Loraine continued as an educator, teaching piano and organ for Hendricks Music. She also loved her career as a church organist, playing throughout Indianapolis beginning in 1975 and finally retiring in 2020. She was an active member of the American Guild of Organists and a member of the American Theatre Organ Society (Central Indiana Chapter American Theatre Organ Society). She will be remembered for her love of music, her sense of humor, and the cards that she loved to send to remember family and friends.

Loraine is survived by her two children, Ed and Rosemary, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of the flowers Loraine was allergic to, she requested donations to the Salvation Army.

Her daughter would like to extend thanks to all of the remarkable people at Marquette Manor for the exceptionally loving care provided.

Celebrate the life of Loraine Cox, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Leppert Mortuaries – Nora.

05/20/2026

🎼Coming up Sunday, May 31 at 4 p.m.— Echoing Air, Inc., a chamber ensemble dedicated to exploring and presenting music featuring singers with Baroque instruments! In “Celebrating the Psalms,” the group will explore the rich musical setting of psalm texts by Baroque and Renaissance composers.

More info: https://cccindy.org/eventcalendar/echoing-air-celebrating-the-psalms/

05/15/2026

Some history about the AGO in Indiana!
(courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society)

The Indiana Chapter AGO was chartered in 1919, at the DePauw University Institute of Music in Greencastle. The original officers were Van Denman Thompson (Dean), Carrie Hyatt Kennedy (Sub Dean), Ida Burr Bell (Secretary), Myra S Gordon (Treasurer), Edna Cogswell (Registrar), and Dean Armstrong (Librarian). In 1956, this became the Indianapolis Chapter, after other chapters popped up all over Indiana, including chapters and branches in DePauw, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indiana University, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie, the St. Joseph Valley, the Wabash Valley, and the Whitewater Valley.

05/12/2026

Thank you to Daniel Schwandt for an inspiring hymn festival to end our 25-26 season! Also thank you to Susan Powell, narrator, and our hosts, the Episcopal Church of All Saints and Ryan Brunkhurst, organist and choir director.

05/11/2026

Hope you can join us tonight! 7pm. No tickets required and event is free.

The Indianapolis AGO invites you -
HYMN FESTIVAL WITH DANIEL SCHWANDT
at the Episcopal Church of All Saints, Indianapolis
Monday, May 11, 2026, 7:15 p.m.

The Indianapolis AGO is delighted to close our 2025–2026 chapter year with a Hymn Festival featuring Daniel Schwandt, one of the most gifted and engaging leaders of congregational song in the country today. This event will be held on Monday, May 11 at The Episcopal Church of All Saints (1559 Central Ave, Indianapolis IN).

ABOUT DANIEL SCHWANDT
A rising talent among leading church musicians, Daniel was installed as Mount Olive’s fourth cantor in 2025 (Mount Olive Lutheran Church • Minneapolis, Minnesota). Known as a thoughtful and engaging voice in the organ world, he is also recognized for his work as a choral conductor, teacher, performer, composer, and advocate for congregational singing. A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, he studied at St. Olaf College and the University of Notre Dame, and has served congregations in the Twin Cities, Chicago, and Indiana, as well as on university and seminary faculties. He regularly performs concerts, hymn festivals, and leads organ and church music workshops around the United States, including performances at national conventions of the Organ Historical Society and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.

His compositions are published by Augsburg Fortress, MorningStar Music, and GIA Publications. As a collaborative musician, Schwandt frequently performs in continuo groups and is an enthusiastic and skilled leader of congregational singing. He also maintains several pipe organs and a personal collection of historic American reed organs.

Schwandt holds a Bachelor of Music from St. Olaf College and graduate degrees in organ and sacred music from the University of Notre Dame. His primary organ teachers have included George Damp, John Ferguson, Douglas Reed, Craig Cramer, and Kola Owolabi.