WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS SAGINAW VALLEY CHAPTER
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Saginaw Chapter History

The first meeting of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists was held on September 30, 1957, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw, MI.  The group received its charter from the American Guild of Organists in January 1958.

Charter members of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the A.G.O. are as follows:
Dr. Martha Arnold            Dorothy McIntyre
George Davey                 Dr. Ted Meisel
Dr. Kent Dennis               Eugene Rolf
Frances Kroll                    Frank Serresseque
Dorina Lovay

The first meeting of the Saginaw Valley Chapter was held on September 30, 1957, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw.   The group received its charter in January of 1958.

Dr. Herbert Goetsch was the first Dean of our Chapter in 1958.

The SVAGO Chapter celebrated its 30th Anniversary in January 1988, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw, the site of its first meeting.  A festival service featured a massed choir of area singers which premiered an anthem by Dr. Moonyeen Albrecht, Professor Emerita of Music (Theory and Composition), Central Michigan University.   Commissioned by the SVAGO Chapter, the music for the anthem was based upon Psalm 92, “It Is Good to Give Thanks to the Lord.”

In December 1996, our Chapter, under the leadership of Dean Jane Johnson, established the Kent Dennis Memorial Scholarship.  The first competition for the scholarship was held on May 10, 1997, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Saginaw.

Dr. Kent Dennis was Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, and after his death in 2007, the Executive Committee decided to name the scholarship in his memory.

We marked our 50th Anniversary on May 13, 2007, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw, with a recital by Dr. Marilyn Mason, Professor of Organ and University
 Organist at The University of Michigan. The recital was followed by a dinner, after which Dr. Mason shared her memories as a teacher and performer. Marilyn Mason died on April 4, 2019, at the age of 93. She retired in 2014 after serving a record-breaking 67 years, the longest-serving faculty member ever in the history of The University of Michigan.

On March 2, 2018, our Chapter marked our 60th Anniversary as a Chapter with a recital by the renowned organist and composer, Dr. Charles W. Ore.  This special event was also held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw. The next day, March 3, 2018, Dr. Ore led a workshop on improvisation at Bethlehem Church.

Past Deans List
Years Elected
1958             Dr. Herbert Goetsch         1990        Eric Moehring
1958-1959    Frank V. Serresseque       1991        August F. Laesch
1960-1961    Dr. Kent S. Dennis              1992-1993    Gregory H. Largent
1962             Danford Byrens                  1994        Vicki Mahoney
1963-1964    Dr. Martha G. Arnold         1995-1996    Jane Bloom-Johnson
1965-1967    George Davey                   1996-1997    Gregory H. Largent
1968             Dr. Frank T. Meisel             1998-1999     Patricia M. Bowen &
1969-1970    Robert E. Rice                       Dr. Steven L. Egler, Co-Deans
1971-1973    August F. Laesch                    
1974            George Davey                      2000-2001    Marcile E. Cunningham 
1975-1977    Dr. Kent S. Dennis                 & David Hammond, Co-Deans
1978             Thomas Wegener                    
1980-1981    Dr. Frank T. Meisel               2002        Dr. Tim Hendrickson
1982-1983    Yvonne N. Becker               2003-2005    Nicholas E. Schmelter
1984-1985    Patricia M. Johnston           2006-2007      Gregory H. Largent
1986             Dr. Kent S. Dennis               2008-2009    Robert C. Sabourin
1987-1988    Dr. Steven L. Egler              2010-2011    Thomas Wegener
1989             Dr. Edward J. Soehnlen      2012-2015    Nicholas E. Schmelter
                                                                   2016-2021        Dr. Steven L. Egler
                                                                   2021-present.   James Gladstone


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  • Welcome
    • Welcome Message
    • About Us
    • AGO History
    • Saginaw Valley Chapter History
  • Executive Board
    • Executive Member Biographies
  • News
    • Saginaw AGO News and Events
    • Other Events
    • Job Opportunities
    • Kent Dennis Scholarship >
      • Kent Dennis Scholarship Winners
      • Kent Dennis Scholarship Guidelines
    • Music During COVID-19 >
      • Jantz Black - Mini Recitals
  • Membership
    • Substitute List
    • Member Musings
  • Tri-City Organs
    • Bay City >
      • First Presbyterian - Bay City
    • Other >
      • CMU Organs
      • St. John's Episcopal Church - Mt. Pleasant
  • Contribute
  • Contacts