Saturday, February 21
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, Saint Paul
and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Saint PaulOur chapter offers a once-a-year, hands-on opportunity to experience the spectacular instruments of our local community, sponsored By the Twin Cities American Guild of Organists. This year, young keyboard players will be given an introduction to the organ at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Saint Paul. Here are the details:
Who: Recommended for students in grades 3–12, family members are also welcome!
What: An opportunity to experience and play up to three different organs in one day. Learn about the pipe organ from our engaging hosts: Richard Gray, Ellen Hacker, and Dean Billmeyer. Free pizza lunch is provided, too.
When: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Where: Two outstanding Saint Paul venues: St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Why: To try the organ with your own fingers and feet... and to learn how a pipe organ works! Keyboard experience required to play the organ.
How: This event is free, but online registration is required by Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
For questions on Pipe Organ Discovery Day, please contact Phil Asgian at PhilAsgian@gmail.com.
Morning Schedule
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, Saint Paul
9:00 a.m.: Check-in and check-out the organ display!
Children, Youth, and Family Center
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
60 N. Kent Street, Saint Paul
9:15 a.m.: Introduction to the organ with Dobson/Schantz Mini-Opus demonstration organ
9:30 a.m.: Demonstration of Skinner/Schantz organ (Sanctuary) by Richard Gray and Dean Billmeyer
9:45 a.m.: Morning program, two tracks in rotation:
1) Hands-on playing time: Skinner/Schantz organ (Sanctuary)
2) Hands-on playing time: Mini-Opus (Children, Youth, and Family Center)
11:45 a.m.: Pizza Lunch! (Children, Youth, and Family Center)
12:45 p.m.: Drive to next location:
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
285 Dale Street N., Saint Paul
Afternoon Schedule
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Saint Paul
1:00 p.m.: Demonstration of Martin Ott organ by Ellen Hacker (Sanctuary)
1:15 p.m.: Afternoon program, two tracks in rotation
1) Hands-on playing time: Martin Ott organ (Sanctuary)
2) Sound and the Organ! Science experiments about how sound works in the pipe organ (Undercroft)
2:55 p.m.: Return to Sanctuary for Closing Announcements
3:00 p.m.: PODD Ends, Pick-up time at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 285 Dale Street N., Saint Paul
Saturday, March 21
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.A true Bach’s Birthday Bash, five free hour-long concerts of Bach and Bach-related music will honor the 341st Anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach on the very date (March 21, 1685, Old Calendar).
Our usual TCAGO sponsored series of concerts will take place, this year again in Saint Paul A ‘call’ has gone out to the instrumental faculty at University of Minnesota to encourage piano, violin, viola, flute, guitar, and cello students to volunteer, but since this is and always has been an organ-focused activity, we need you!
Volunteer now. Send a list of several repertoire options to Michael Barone (mbarone@mpr.org). We’re looking for durations of approximately 10 minutes of music per player (we’re flexible). Include your timings for individual pieces with your application. Send several options, from which a choice will be made.
Please respond with your repertoire options by Saturday, January 10!
Please note: a performer will only be confirmed after a headshot and biography of 200 words or less is received for our publicity and printing purposes.
Traditionally, BBB audiences are large and appreciative. Strut your stuff . . . and send in your repertoire applications today or soon! Thank you!
Saturday, April 11
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
The Pipe Organ Heritage Committee (POHC) sponsors an Organ Crawl that will give participants an exceptional look at local historical instruments. Details to be announced here and in your members' email.
TCAGO 2026 Competition in Organ Performance
Saturday morning, April 18
St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, Plymouth
The TCAGO 2026 Competition in Organ Performance, sponsored by the Schubert Club and TCAGO Member Phil Asgian, returns for its biennial contest for young adult organists. Details and schedule to be announced.
The Music of Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Saturday, April 25
9:30 a.m.
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
900 Stillwater Road, MahtomediA workshop on the topic of The Music of Sigfrid Karg-Elert by Southern Methodist University professor Stefan Engels will bring insight to attendees. Free.
The Magical Musical Universe of Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Sunday, April 26
2:30 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
900 Stillwater Road, MahtomediThe Magical Musical Universe of Sigfrid Karg-Elert, a concert by Southern Methodist University professor Stefan Engels devoted to an overview of the spell-binding, kaleidoscopic compositions of an early 20th century compositional genius, will feature the magnificent 108-rank 1927 Casavant-2001 Schantz pipe organ. Co-sponsored by the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Free/donation.
Friday, May 8
7:30 p.m.
The Cathedral of Saint PaulJoin us for another Members Showcase devoted to performance of new pieces from the recent publication Gregoriana (edited by Anna Lapwood https://annalapwood.co.uk/project/gregoriana), twelve short works by contemporary women composers based on Gregorian themes. Our member soloists will be Kristina Rizzotto, Diane Meredith Belcher, and Melanie Ohnstad. A schola cantorum will introduce each work by singing the related chant. Come to hear excellent performances of new music in the awesome space of the Cathedral of Saint Paul with its Skinner and Aeolian-Skinner/Quimby pipe organs… prepare for an extravagant experience of scintillating sonorities.
Meet Twins' Organist, Sue Nelson, at Target Field
June 2026
(specifics to be announced)Meet and visit with Sue Nelson, our Minnesota Twins organist, at Target Field! Enjoy a fun-filled day at the ball park with your TCAGO colleagues with our all-inclusive tickets, including all-you-can-eat food in the Legends Landing area and a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the work of Minnesota’s most popular organist! Pre-registration will be required and light-rail transit is encouraged.
Additionally, Program Committee Chair, Michael Barone, provides this invitation:
Our 2025–2026 season is filled with opportunities for increased awareness, outreach, sociability, and sharing, and you are encouraged to make time in your schedules to participate fully. We have assembled a calendar of activities that engender professional and artist growth, with varied topics that will engage your imaginations and provide you with useful information to stimulate your growth as organists and church musicians while celebrating the incredible history and contemporary vibrancy of the King of Instruments.
Don‘t hold back... get involved with your music and your colleagues in:
- Community Outreach: Organ Crawls, enhanced PR through your church community
- Performance Skills: Member Showcase appearances
- Support of Young Musicians: TCAGO Winner’s Concert, Pipe Organ Discovery Day, master classes,
- TCAGO Young Artist Competition
- Expanded Vision and Awareness: workshops and master classes, guest concert performances
- Collegiality and Comradery: pretty much every event!
We realize that members of our TCAGO chapter are spread over a large geographic area, and sometimes distance (and highway ‘improvements’) can provide an obstacle to participation. But remember that TCAGO membership offers more than merely a subscription to THE AMERICAN ORGANIST. Expand your vision, get to know your colleagues, and come on out to play. Ours is a large chapter and we invite your participation, presence and involvement.
More event links:
Pipedreams Regional Calendar