LA AGO 2026 ELECTIONS
2026 NOMINEES
DEAN
Dr. Philip Hoch
Philip Hoch is an accomplished concert organist, singer, and educator from Southern California's Inland Empire. His musical journey began at an early age when he started organ lessons under the guidance of his grandmother, Dr. Olga Schmidt, at just five years old. This early exposure laid the foundation for a profound love of music that would shape his life.
Philip further honed his skills at the University of Redlands, where he studied under the renowned organist Dr. Frederick Swann. He earned both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in 2016 and 2018, respectively, showcasing his dedication and talent. His pursuit of excellence led him to the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA, where he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) in December 2021 under the mentorship of Dr. Christoph Bull.
In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Hoch serves as the organist at Shepherd's Grove Presbyterian Church in Irvine, CA. His performances and music contributions are a vital part of the Hour of Power with Bobby Schuller, a worship service that enjoys international broadcasts that reaches millions of viewers each week.
In his current role, Dr. Hoch serves as Sub-Dean for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He is also the Artist Teacher of Organ and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music History at the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music. His research interests focus on minimalism studies, transcription studies, and liturgical studies, reflecting his deep engagement with contemporary music and its broader implications in the field. In addition to his work as a performer and educator, Dr. Hoch is an active recording artist whose projects span a wide range of contemporary and classical repertoire. His most recent release, Glassworks: Arr. for Organ, created in collaboration with Philip Glass and Orange Mountain Records, highlights his ongoing commitment to broadening the organ’s voice within modern musical landscapes.
He is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians, sharing his passion for organ performance and music history with his students. With a rich background in both performance and education, Dr. Hoch continues to inspire and delight audiences and students alike.
SUB-DEAN
Dr. Michelle Kardos
Michelle Kardos, DMA, MT-BC, CAGO (she/they) is an organist, educator, and music therapist based in Los Angeles, California. She currently serves as Director of Education for the American Guild of Organists, where they lead national programs that support organists at every stage through certifications, scholarships, and creative educational initiatives. Michelle is also Assistant Organist at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, where she regularly collaborates with choirs and ensembles in both worship and concert settings. Their work is grounded in a deep love of sacred music and a commitment to creating meaningful, inclusive musical experiences.
She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Sacred Music from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music in Sacred Music from Duquesne University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Seton Hill University. She also has both a Pastoral Ministry Certificate and a Sacred Music Certificate from Seton Hill University. Her doctoral research, “Unheard Voices: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion of Sacred Music in the United States,” continues to shape their work as an educator and musician with a particular focus on expanding organ repertoire to include underrepresented composers and voices.
Michelle has served in a wide range of church music roles across California and Pennsylvania and has performed in recitals, festivals, and AGO events throughout the United States. As both a certified organist and board-certified music therapist, they bring a thoughtful, people-centered perspective to their work.
Outside of music, Michelle enjoys gardening, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and spending time at home with their cats, Kiki and Ushi.
SECRETARY
Karla Devine
Karla Devine is organist at Trinity Lutheran Church, Manhattan Beach. She teaches music at Circle of Love Preschool in Manhattan Beach and teaches piano in her home. Karla received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Michigan University, where she studied with Erich Goldschmidt. She did graduate work with Eduard Müller in Basel, Switzerland, and with Heinrich Fleischer at the University of Minnesota. Karla has worked on the planning committee for several national and regional conferences for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) and is now serving on the board of directors. She is currently the Artistic Director of the concert series, Classical Crossroads, in Torrance, and serves as Secretary of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In 2014 Karla started a singing group in Manhattan Beach for seniors (with or without memory issues), which meets once a week.
TREASURER
Douglas Herbst
Douglas Herbst, a graduate of California Lutheran University majoring in music and management and a Certified Public Accountant specializing in Homeowners Associations since 1986 and currently serving over 1,000 HOAs. His first organist position was at age 18 in North Hollywood - Emmanuel Lutheran Church as assistant organist and organist of Valley Lutheran Church. He was organist for 18 years for the former First Lutheran Church of Los Angeles and was a frequent guest organist for noon-day recitals and Sunday services, at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles 1981 – 1998. He was auditor, Los Angeles Chapter AGO 1998 - 2002. Currently treasurer, Los Angeles Chapter AGO for 24 years.
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE (voting for 3)
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Peter Bates
Peter Bates joined the staff of Covenant Presbyterian Church in June 1997 and has served as minister of music and resident organist for that organization for over 28 years. He earned his master’s degree in organ performance from Sacramento State University.
Mr. Bates has had many unique career opportunities, including being appointed organist for the 1979 season of the LA Aztecs Soccer Team for all home games held at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Also, between 1984 and 1999 he played over one hundred Noonday Organ Recitals, over 500 weddings and was involved in various recording projects at First Congregational Church Los Angeles. This included recording Bach for a Porsche television commercial, first aired during the 1987 Super Bowl. Between 1987 and 1996, while he was organist-choirmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Long Beach, he was called upon to serve on the Commission of Liturgy and Music for the Diocese of Los Angeles.
Mr. Bates has performed as organ accompanist for various choral organizations, including over a dozen performances with the critically acclaimed Long Beach Camerata Singers and has been a featured soloist during both the Long Beach Mozart and Long Beach Bach Festivals. During the COVID “lockdown” in addition to Covenant’s weekly on-line services recorded with the Covenant Quartet, he performed 65 weekly half-hour “Mid-Week Organ Meditations” that were broadcast on the church’s YouTube channel.
He is a member of the Los Angeles and Orange County chapters of the American Guild of Organists and a Past Dean of the Long Beach chapter. He served three-terms as the Southern California District Convener and two-terms as Director of the Committee on Sharing Skills and Resources for the National organization.
Mr. Bates has been honored by the Long Beach Alumnae of Sigma Alpha Iota musical fraternity for women as a “Friend of the Arts” for his contributions to the musical life of Long Beach.
Mark Husey
Mark Husey [hju-zi] is an organist, pianist, tenor and conductor, collaborating with churches, synagogues, schools and fine arts organizations for over forty years. A proud Angeleno since 2016, he was raised in rural Maryland. He studied organ with Eugene Roan at Westminster Choir College (BMus 1991), and Charles Krigbaum at Yale (1991) and holds the Master of Arts in Pastoral Liturgy and Music from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana (2004). He won the 1991 MTNA-Wurlitzer Organ Competition and the 1993 Baltimore-Washington AGO Young Artist Competition.
Associate Organist at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena since November 2022, he served on the 2020 LA AGO nominating committee and currently serves a one-year term as Member-at-Large. SoCal highlights as organist include the 2016 Presidents’ Day Organ Festival; Fauré’s Requiem at Walt Disney Concert Hall; Duruflé’s Requiem at Thomas Aquinas College; Handel’s Messiah at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and with the Long Beach Camerata Singers; and appearances in concert at First Congregational Los Angeles and for liturgies at Christ Cathedral, Orange.
From 2006 through 2015, Mark was Director of Music and Organist at historic Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He was Subdean for the Greater Columbia AGO, Program Chair for the 2013 Region IV Convention, and District Convener for South Carolina. Mr. Husey sang two seasons each with the GRAMMY-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Florida Grand Opera Chorus; international performance credentials include concerts in Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and the UK. His Saint Jude Fanfare has been performed at the Vatican.
Dr. Douglas Leightenheimer
Douglas Leightenheimer is a freelance church musician in southern California, having retired in July of 2025 as Director of Music/Organist for Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert. Previously, he served as Director of Music/Organist for St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Tucson, Arizona, Adjunct Organ Instructor at the University of Arizona, Director of Music/Organist for First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, Music Director for the Schola Cantorum of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, and Director of Music for Venice Presbyterian Church in Venice, Florida.
Doug is a past-dean of the Southern Arizona AGO chapter, the Wilmington (NC) chapter, and the Sarasota-Manatee (FL) chapter. He also served as Chair of Professional Concerns for the Southern Arizona chapter and previously was a committee member and chair of the (then) Region IV Regional Councilor Nominating Committee. He currently is filling an unexpired term as a member-at-large in the Los Angeles chapter.
Doug holds the Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Kentucky, the Master of Music degree in church music from Westminster Choir College, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Arizona.
Mallory Haney Loo
Mallory Haney Loo began studying piano at the age of four in Chile. At twelve, she began volunteering at her church as an organist and was awarded a scholarship to the Conservatorio de Música de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, where she studied piano and music theory alongside university-level students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington, where she studied under Dr. Jane Fishell. She then completed her Master of Music in 2023, with a full scholarship, at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, studying with Professor Cherry Rhodes.
Mallory has presented a wide range of concerts internationally. She toured Chile and Argentina, where she held a concert series to critical recognition. She was selected to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Steinmeyer-Orgel at the Mariannhill Klosterkirche in Würzburg, Germany, performing to great acclaim as part of their annual International Music Festival. She was invited to perform for The Cathedral of St. Phillip of Atlanta and was commissioned to transcribe alternative rock for the pipe organ and performed before an audience of 5,000 people at Ghouls Day Out hosted by SpooksieBoo in Los Angeles, CA at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles.
Mallory serves as the organist at La Cañada Congregational Church, the first church founded in the area and one that is proudly open and affirming. She contributes to the church’s commitment to professionalism, inclusivity, and a wide variety of musical genres, particularly through its evensongs and concerts held throughout the year. She has also begun a fundraising project to refurbish the church organ and has organized the inaugural organ concert series, which will begin in September 2026 and take place on the first Saturday of each month. You can explore Mallory’s performances on social media under Mallory Haney Organista and learn more about her work and upcoming performances by visiting malloryhaneyorganista.com.
Emma Yim
Emma Yim earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Organ Performance under the guidance of Dr. Christoph Bull at UCLA, where she also studied Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology for her second Bachelor’s degree. She is a passionate advocate for musical collaboration, frequently performing with musicians across Southern California in orchestral, chamber, and operatic settings. Her performances with organ and cello have been featured in music festivals and in major venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Segerstrom Concert Hall, and Royce Hall.
Emma has performed in masterclasses with organists George Ritchie and Jens Korndörfer and continues to build a diverse performance portfolio around Southern California. Among the highlights is her June 2025 performance at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, of which the L.A. Times wrote, “It’s people like Yim and performances like hers that stir us all forward to a better place.” That same day, she performed the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony with the UCLA Symphony at Schoenberg Hall, a testament to her growing influence as an organist in the region.