Knoxville AGO

10/15/2026

On Monday, October 12, the Knoxville chapter of AGO was delighted to attend Stile Antico’s performance of Polyphonic Postcards: Music from Europe’s Greatest Renaissance Cities.

Before the concert, our group enjoyed a wonderful dinner together, sharing fellowship before an evening of extraordinary music at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension.

The London-based vocal ensemble presented a fascinating musical journey through six of Renaissance Europe’s great cities: Paris, Seville, Munich, Rome, Lisbon, and Venice. The program explored the rich musical traditions that flourished in these cultural centers, featuring works by composers including Clément Janequin, Francisco Guerrero, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Claudio Monteverdi, and Andrea Gabrieli.

Performing without a conductor, Stile Antico demonstrated the remarkable artistry, precision, and collaborative musicianship that have earned the ensemble international acclaim. Their expressive interpretations brought this intricate Renaissance polyphony to life, revealing the beauty of the interweaving vocal lines and the distinctive character of each city’s musical heritage.

It was a memorable evening celebrating the richness of early music and the power of voices singing together. We are grateful to Friends of Music and the Arts and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension for making this wonderful performance possible in Knoxville.

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📸: Kali Bargiel

09/13/2026

09/08/2026

We were pleased to gather at Church Street United Methodist Church on Sunday, September 6 for a memorable Master Arts Series concert featuring organists Katie and Scott Scheetz.

Presented by Church Street UMC in partnership with the Knoxville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the program offered an impressive and varied exploration of organ repertoire. The concert included works by Horatio Parker, Franz Berwald, Gustav Merkel, Charles Callahan, Wim van der Panne, Naji Hakim, and Robin Dinda.

The program was particularly enjoyable for its breadth—from the elegant “Quick March” by Parker and Berwald’s “A Rustic Wedding”, to the three-piece set of Merkel, Callahan, and van der Panne, followed by Hakim’s “Die Apostel”. The concert concluded with Dinda’s imaginative and lighthearted “Max Cat Rag”, “Kiara Pig Jig”, and “Chinchilla Cha-Cha”, which is most likely the first cha-cha ever written for organ duet and premiered for the first time in Tennessee during the concert.

We appreciated the opportunity to hear such a thoughtfully curated program and to celebrate the artistry of the organ in the beautiful setting of Church Street UMC. Our sincere thanks to Katie and Scott Scheetz, Church Street UMC, and all who helped make this concert a successful and enjoyable part of Knoxville’s vibrant organ community!

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📸 Kali Bargiel

08/20/2026

This Saturday, August 22 at 2 p.m., the UT Organ Studio will present an Orgel Konzert at First Lutheran Church's German Fest featuring works by J.S. Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Christa Rakich, and Hans Uwe Hielscher. The concert is free and open to all.

Time to make a plan for your day. Will you be hitting up the polka lessons, the stein holding, watching the most amazing kiddos sing German songs, or will it be the German Car Show sponsored by then the chicken dance competition? We think you should do them all!

GermanFest Knoxville
Where German culture meets Southern hospitality
August 22, 2026
11 AM - 8 PM
First Lutheran Church and School
1207 North Broadway
Knoxville, TN 37917
germanfestknoxville.com

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