American Guild of Organists - Sioux Trails Chapter

03/21/2026

It is now officially spring, and that means it is recital season for our local musicians. 🌹🎹

Although none of our colleges have a solo organ recital on the calendar, we encourage you to check out these upcoming recitals featuring the organ:

Bethany Lutheran College:

Hannah Caauwe, senior piano/organ recital
Saturday, March 21, 3 pm (today!)

Jack DePrey, senior organ/piano recital
Saturday, April 11, 2 pm

Martin Luther College:

Josiah Smith, senior voice/organ recital
Sunday, April 19, 3 pm

If you know of others, please message us and we will highlight them for our followers.

03/18/2026

Thanks to everyone—family, friends, and members of our community—for attending our student recital last night! We are grateful for our area colleges and the work they do to support young organists.

Pictured, L to R: Jack DePrey (BLC), Nathan Nikoley (BLC), Hannah Caauwe (BLC), George Hogan (MLC), Abigail Harpestad (GAC), and Edward Devine (GAC).

03/17/2026

Tonight! Our student recital featuring area college organ studios is at 7:00 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran College!

We can’t promise any Irish tunes for St. Patrick’s Day, but we WILL have the Bach Dorian, so that brings some Celtic-inspired flavor to this very German program. 🍀🇮🇪

03/16/2026

The board of the STAGO would like to congratulate our dean, Elisabeth Urtel, upon completion of her PhD from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Her dissertation topic is related to her studies in church music: the origin, development, and reception of The Lutheran Hymnal (1941).

She holds a BA from Bethany Lutheran College, an MA from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, and an MCM from Concordia University Wisconsin. Additionally, she has served as an author and contributor to articles, presentations, and podcasts on Lutheran hymnody, and she is active as a collaborative pianist and recitalist.

Dr. Urtel currently teaches music at Martin Luther College and maintains a private piano and organ studio, ranging in age from elementary to college-age students. As an educator, she enjoys sharing her love of church music with others.

03/15/2026

Did you know? Lynn Dobson designed the Op. 10 at Bethany Lutheran College after the Compenius organ in Fredriksborg, Denmark. Here is a photo of the Compenius, followed by Dobson’s sketches of the organ case.

Do you see the similarities? Let us know in the comments!

03/13/2026

Our student recital featuring six young performers will be this Tuesday, March 17, 7:00 pm at Bethany Lutheran College!

Want to learn a little about the Dobson Op. 10 instrument? Here are the specs and info:

Lake City, Iowa based builder of artistically designed and musically voiced pipe organs for churches, universities, concert halls and residences

02/25/2026

The Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is pleased to announce our Summer 2026 recital series!

The recitals will take place Tuesdays, June 2–August 11 at 12:10 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Trinity Chapel at Bethany Lutheran College, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church, all in Mankato.

Please plan to join us! Performer information will be coming soon.

02/21/2026

We are looking forward to our upcoming student recital on March 17! It will feature the students of our local private colleges: Bethany Lutheran College, Martin Luther College, and Gustavus Adolphus College.

BLC, MLC, and GAC students: did you know that the STAGO will fund half of your AGO membership? Ask your instructor about it. We’d love to have you! 😊

02/02/2026

We are bringing back the student recital!

On Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m., the STAGO will offer an invitational recital featuring the advanced organ students at Bethany Lutheran College, Martin Luther College, and Gustavus Adolphus College. Bethany will be our host, with its chapel’s marvelous Dobson Op. 10 instrument. Stay tuned for updates!

01/30/2026

Our chapter member Dr. Chad Winterfeldt will be giving a recital tomorrow night, Friday, January 30, at 7:30 p. m. In Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College. We hope you can make it!

09/15/2025

Thank you to all who came out to our organ crawl in New Ulm this past Saturday! We had a wonderful time learning about and playing these three instruments. We are grateful to St. George Catholic Church, the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, and Martin Luther College for hosting us!