Knoxville AGO

The KnoxAGO is an organization of both musicians and non-musicians that seek to engender a greater understanding and appreciation of organ and choral music

05/12/2026

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension will host a recital of music for trumpet and organ on Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. at 800 Northshore Drive.

Trumpeter James Leach of Dayton, Ohio, will be joined by organist Abe Wallace of Cincinnati for a program featuring works by Handel, Bach, Haydn, Ellington, Gershwin, and others.

The public is cordially invited.

04/17/2026

We enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Knoxville Chapter Members Recital on Monday, April 13, 2026, at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral. The program showcased an inspiring range of repertoire and talented performers.

Trey Ogle (Central Baptist Bearden) presented selections from The Kilgore Suite: Variations on Holy Manna by Charles Callahan, along with Jerry Westenkuehler’s Festival Piece on Nicaea.

David Asbury (Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church) performed Brahms’ Chorale Prelude on Herzliebster Jesu, Op. 122, No. 2 and Flor Peeters’ 3 Chorale Prelude Variations on Jesus Christ is Risen Today.

Sarah Warner Sperl (Second Presbyterian Church), joined by Gary Sperl on clarinet, performed two of Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies.

Scott Scheetz (First Presbyterian Church) offered Henry M. Dunham’s Pastorale in D-flat, Op. 24, No. 3and Fantasia in D minor, Op. 19.

Jason Overall (St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral) concluded the program with Lynn Trapp’s A Triptych for Organ on Two Chants of Salve Regina.

Thank you to all our performers and attendees who made the evening so special, and thank you to St. John’s for graciously hosting our recital and reception.

photos by: Kali Bargiel

03/03/2026

What an unforgettable evening for the Knoxville AGO at the Tennessee Theatre!

Our night began with an introduction to the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, presented by the theatre’s House Organist, Freddie Brabson. We learned about the history, mechanics, and incredible versatility of this historic instrument.

The evening continued with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour led by Senior Technical Director Tim Burns, giving us a special glimpse into the magic that happens beyond the stage.

Our organist participants were then invited to hop on the bench and take the Wurlitzer for a whirl themselves! 🎶 What a thrill to experience such an iconic instrument up close and personal.

A heartfelt thank you to the Tennessee Theatre for hosting us and providing such a memorable evening!

03/01/2026

On Friday, February 27, we had the privilege of hosting organist Kola Owolabi for a powerful recital at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The program featured an incredible range of works, including:

🎵 Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 547 – Johann Sebastian Bach
🎵 Fantasia in g (Musica Britannica, No. 9) – Orlando Gibbons
🎵 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV App B 49 – anon., attributed to J. S. Bach
🎵 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott – Friedrich Christian Mohrheim
🎵 Toccata settima (Toccate e correnti, Rome, ca. 1634) – Michelangelo Rossi
🎵 Canzona sexti toni – Christian Erbach
🎵 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ – Vincent Lübeck

Attendees also enjoyed joining their voices together for an audience hymn, “Lord, Hear the Voice of My Complaint” (Ich ruf zu dir), text by J. Agricola (1494–1566), translated by C. Winkworth (1827–78), from Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg (1535).

The program concluded with Psalm-Sonata No. 1 (2021 - Brenda Portman), featuring:

1. “How long O Lord, Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13)
2. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91)
3. “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth, burst into jubilant song” (Psalm 98:4)

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this memorable night of music. We are grateful to Dr. Owolabi for sharing his artistry and passion with our community!

📸 by: Kali Bargiel

02/14/2026

TAO - February 2026

First Presbyterian Church
Knoxville, Tennessee

B. Rule & Co.
New Market, Tennessee

01/07/2026

Greeneville lost a wonderful man this morning.
Mr. Jim Winfree, who was the accompanist for Tusculum Community Chorus for many years, passed away at home this morning under Hospice care.
He was able to play his beloved organ at St. James Episcopal one last time for the Christmas Eve service. Such strength of will is hard to imagine!
Jim, You will be missed!

01/06/2026

What a night to remember! 🍷🎶

The Knoxville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists recently hosted a truly unique evening where organ music and wine came together in perfect harmony. Guests enjoyed a recital of Hans Uwe Hielscher’s California Wine Suite (Op. 40), beautifully performed by AGO members, with a curated wine tasting paired to each movement of the work.

The suite guided listeners through eight musical “tastings,” each inspired by a famous California wine:

Cabernet Sauvignon (Fanfare)
Napa Gamay (Invention)
Late Harvest (Rêverie)
Zinfandel (Siciliano)
Sauvignon Blanc (Interludium)
Petite Sirah (Scherzino)
Chardonnay (Pavane)
California Champagne (Toccata)

From bold fanfares to sparkling finales, attendees sipped, listened, and savored the rich connections between sound and flavor.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this engaging and memorable program!

-------
📸 Kali Bargiel

12/08/2025

While you’re settling down to enjoy your favourite Christmas films this year, do make time for RCO Cinema, which is streaming 'The English Organ' – described by Gramophone as a “dazzling showcase of repertoire and instruments” – throughout December and the New Year. View now, at www.rco.org.uk/cinema

This landmark documentary traces five centuries of English organ building and music.

Part 1 The Long Beginning, streaming throughout December, covers the history of the English organ from the Tudor period up to the start of Willis’s career.

Part 2 The Victorian Boom, streaming in January, covers what many see as the great phase of English organ culture.

Part 3 Modernity and Nostalgia, streaming in February, shows how the history of the organ echoes England’s more difficult 20th century history.

Each part includes sections of documentary, demonstration and performance.

RCO Cinema is a partnership between the College and Fugue State Films, bringing world-class organ documentaries free of charge to audiences worldwide.

11/17/2025

Musica Organi, Knoxville Chamber Music Society, and the Knoxville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists were thrilled to collaborate and present Three Organ Concertos by George Frideric Handel on Saturday, November 15.
The hour-long concert featured organists accompanied by a chamber orchestra:
Enjoin Choi, St. John's Cathedral
Katie Scheetz, Church Street United Methodist Church
Scott Scheetz, First Presbyterian Church

📸 by Kali Bargiel

09/25/2025

Dr. William “Bill” Thomas Snyder, a beloved former chancellor of the University of Tennessee and lifelong champion of education and the arts, died peacefully Monday morning at age 93 after a brief illness.

Snyder began his career at the UT Space Institute in the early 1960s as an engineering professor. He went on to serve as dean of the College of Engineering and was named chancellor in 1993. He retired from the university in 1999.

🔗https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/knoxville/beloved-former-ut-chancellor-bill-snyder-passes-93-brief-illness/51-3f5dadda-98c7-4550-bfd6-32639aeb604a?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WBIR_Channel_10

✍️ Justin Wallace, Digital Content Producer

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Knoxville, TN
37902

Website

http://agoknoxville.org/

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