Membership is open to all - professional organists and choir directors, students, and organ enthusiasts alike, regardless of musical ability or denominational affiliation.  For information about joining this chapter, see the Membership page.

 

A Brief History of the Los Angeles Chapter

​

Compiled by Mary Lee Mistretta, Dean 2000-2002, for the program book of the 2004 national convention. This version contains later updates.

​

In 1908 the organists of Los Angeles and district commenced the custom of meeting together once a month for dinner and friendly intercourse.  So begin the first minutes of The Association of Organists of Southern California, formed on December 7, 1908, with Ernest Douglas as the group's president.  Soon the Association chose to become a chapter of the American Guild of Organists, which had been formed in New York in 1896 and was interested in establishing new chapters across the country. The Los Angeles Chapter was chartered on June 6, 1910, and Ernest Douglas continued in his leadership role as its first dean.

​

The World War II years were interesting in Los Angeles. Irene Robertson became the first woman to serve as dean of the chapter in 1942.  The minutes from 1942-43 note that dinners could no longer take place each month because of food rationing.  Many members, including Rayner Brown and Frederick M. Barnes, were called to the armed forces, and the chapter contributed to buying an ambulance for the U.S. Army.  In spite of the war, it was a productive time for the chapter.  The membership roster included Roland Diggle, Clarence Mader, Richard Keys Biggs, Leslie Spelman, Donald Coats, William Blanchard, Alexander Schreiner and Roger Wagner.  The chapter sponsored innovative, inspiring programs presented by local and national recitalists and lecturers, from Lucien Cailliet, Alice Ehlers, Alexander Schreiner and Edward Shippen Barnes to David Craighead, E. Power Biggs, Virgil Fox, Carl Weinrich and Catharine Crozier. This tradition continues today.

​

In 1962, Southern California hosted its first AGO National Convention.  It was the "The International National," hosted jointly by the Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pasadena-Valley Chapters. This was the first time three chapters joined forces to co-sponsor a convention, and it was the first convention to feature international as well as national and local artists and lecturers.  Clarence Mader was the acclaimed program chairman and Gene Driscoll the general chairman of the convention.  One feature of this convention was "The Nothing Sacred Hour," an open forum with Harold Gleason, Mildred Andrews and Charles Gray as moderators.  The Diapason, August 1962, noted "Nothing Sacred will result in ever increasing participation of the entire membership in the decisions and the growth of our great national organization."  Following this convention, Gene Driscoll was elected councillor, the first to reside outside of New York.

​

Another feature of the 1962 convention was the AGO Prelude Book, believed to be the first book of compositions published for a national convention. Orpha Ochse reports that The California Organist, a monthly publication inspired by that volume and featuring new compositions by California composers, began publication shortly thereafter and was one of the projects made possible by the momentum of the convention, the cooperation of the three Los Angeles County chapters and the general enthusiasm of the time.  Rayner Brown spearheaded this project.

​

The 2004 National Convention in Los Angeles once again brought much enthusiasm and growth to the chapter. Tirelessly led by Robert Tall, Convention Coordinator, and Frederick Swann, Program Chair, as well as the entire Steering Committee and the working committees, we of the Los Angeles Chapter were delighted to welcome friends and colleagues from near and far and to share the bountiful musical life of Southern California.

​

Through the years other chapters were formed in the Los Angeles area.  Pasadena was the first to branch off and was chartered in 1936.  In 1999, after years of collaboration, the Los Angeles and Pasadena chapters merged. Ladd Thomas presided as dean and succeeded in bringing all aspects of the two chapters seamlessly together as one. There are now ten chapters in Southern California.

​

In recent years, the Los Angeles Chapter has recognized the contributions of the following distinguished individuals by naming them Honorary Life Members.  Vist the Life Members page for more information.

​

Sources: Los Angeles Chapter Historian William Henderson, Ladd Thomas, William Beck and Orpha Ochse