AGO / Kathryn Stephenson Foundation

The Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists was founded on October 31, 1947. The guild seeks to set and maintain high musical standards and to promote understanding and appreciation of all aspects of organ and choral music; to raise the standard of efficiency of organists by examinations in organ playing, in music theory, general music knowledge, and to grant certificates as Fellows, Associates, or Choir Masters to members of the guild who pass examinations. Membership is not limited to organists but is open to all professions and members of the public with an interest in organs, organ music and choral music. The guild was chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1896, with the authority to grant certificates of associate or fellow to members who passed examinations. The Charlotte Chapter exists alongside the city’s longest-standing arts organizations and since 1947 has sponsored choir festivals, organ recitals, choral clinics, clergy-organist events with guest speakers, study groups, scholarships for local young organists, and performance venues for locally and nationally recognized artists. The chapter will be honoring and recognizing its 75th anniversary year from September, 2022 through June, 2023.

Anniversary Vision Statement:

To foster and support an interconnected sense of belonging within the Charlotte community’s diversity of cultures.

charlotteago.org

The 1967 M.P. Möller Opus 10260 and the Kathryn Stephenson Pipe Organ Foundation

The 3-manual, 60-rank M.P. Möller organ at First United Methodist Church Charlotte was completed in June 1967 and replaced a 4-manual Hook & Hastings. The September 10, 1967 dedication concert was played by Dr. George Markey of Westminster Choir College. The instrument presents itself as historically and locally unique in construction quality among other instruments of the same era. It represents a creative pinnacle in J.P. Möller tonal design, with inherent versatility towards multiple musical styles from Renaissance polyphony to the smorgasbord of late 20th and early 21st century classical music, making the instrument a true American classic pipe organ. This weekend’s concerts mark the instrument’s 55th anniversary.

The Kathryn Stephenson Pipe Organ Foundation was established in 2016 in honor of Kathryn Stephenson, who first served as organist at First Methodist, Charlotte, from 19651973 and then later in the early 2000s. She was influential in the design of the Opus 10260.

The Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, has a vision of underwriting a variety of events that highlight the use of the pipe organ through venues such as concerts, educational workshops, and new musical compositions to the benefit of the Charlotte metro arts community and patrons, and to help with the costs associated with the continuous maintenance needed for such a grand instrument.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

uptownmo10260.org

Facebook: Stephenson Moeller Organ Foundation