“THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO WORSHIP” FEATURING DR. KEITH PEDERSEN It’s easy to take Sunday morning music making for granted. Have you ever wondered what makes worship work? Dr. Keith Peterson, Professor of Music at Pt. Loma Nazarene University, will lead us in a consideration of music’s place in the service. Small group discussions will encourage deeper reflection on the ways music and theology interrelate. A stimulating afternoon of reflection and conversation. Join us!

sincerely-media-dGxOgeXAXm8-unsplash.jpg

THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO WORSHIP

Masterclass at 4:00 pmRecital at 5:30 pm A joint project with St. James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. Come to a master class with Princeton University Organist, Eric Plutz, at 4:00 pm. (Please let us know if you would like to be considered for a place on the list of masterclass performers.) Be sure to stay for Dr. Plutz’ recital at 5:30 pm

Screen Shot 2026-08-31 at 1.02.18 PM.png

THE ORGAN MASTERCLASS AND RECITAL AFTERNOON WITH ERIC PLUTZ

thumbnail_IMG_2854.JPG

IMG_2854.JPG

thumbnail_IMG_6350.JPG

IMG_6350.JPG

arunas-naujokas-kaXs7J4GYxY-unsplash (1).jpg

thumbnail_arunas-naujokas-kaXs7J4GYxY-unsplash (1).jpg

<h2>Welcome to the American Guild of Organists, San Diego Chapter</h2>We are diverse body of organists and organ enthusiasts, from all walks of life and backgrounds. We pride ourselves on our community and the relationships we have formed through our mutual love of the King of Instruments. Education is central to our mission and we place great emphasis on the nurturing of both well established and up and coming organists. We are fully inclusive, all are made to feel welcome. We are here to serve you and we hope you find our new website helpful and inviting. Take a tour and explore the many exciting concerts, workshops, and resources we have to offer. Welcome, we're glad you're here. Ron Jessee, Dean

thumbnail_IMG_6351.JPG

IMG_6351.JPG

thumbnail_IMG_5204 2.jpg

IMG_5204 2.jpg

thumbnail_Banquet photo.jpg

Banquet photo.jpg

thumbnail_IMG_5302.jpg

IMG_5302.jpg

thumbnail_IMG_6347.JPG

IMG_6347.JPG

thumbnail_IMG_3244.jpg

IMG_3244.jpg

thumbnail_IMG_0336.JPEG

IMG_0336.JPEG

thumbnail_IMG_6345.JPG

IMG_6345.JPG

thumbnail_unnamed (1).jpg

unnamed (1).jpg

thumbnail_IMG_2852.jpg

IMG_2852.jpg

thumbnail_spreckelsWide.jpg

spreckelsWide.jpg

Welcome to AGO San Diego

First United Methodist Church of San Diego

On April 24, 1986, a contract was signed with Mr. Blackinton to remove the existing organ and completely redesign and expand the instrument using the former pipe work and adding 54 ranks of new pipes, slider chests, and a new four-manual console. The completed organ now contains four manual and pedal divisions in the rear gallery, including a full-length pedal Principal 32', and three manual and pedal divisions in the chancel. The instrument was dedicated on January 22, 1989 with a total of 107 ranks and 6,042 pipes, making it the largest pipe organ in San Diego County.

2 Manual, 14 Ranks, 849 Pipes A Pipe Organ was installed in the Trotter Chapel and dedicated on September 12, 2010.Tonal concepts and specifications for the organ were cooperatively developed by Organ Builder, Lyle Blackinton; Organist, Robert Plimpton and Music Director, Stanley Wicks. The challenge was to design an instrument of modest size to be used primarily for small services, weddings, and funerals, but in addition, would have the versatility to be used for other intimate musical events.

First Presbyterian Church of San Diego

Planning for the original Centennial Organ began in 1967 when it was decided to replace the old instrument with a modern new one in commemoration of the church's one hundredth birthday in 1969. After three years of research, including investigation of the work of sixteen organ builders, a contract was signed with the Casavant Freres Pipe Organ Builders of Ste. Hyacinthe, Canada. The organ was dedicated on June 3, 1973. On October 14, 1980, an arsonist set fire to the church kitchen, directly underneath the sanctuary chancel and organ lofts. Burning up through the walls and choir loft, the organ console was consumed, some ranks of the pipes melted, and the chimes were ruined. Water damaged most of the windchests. Determined to bring good out of this tragedy, the congregation immediately set about to reconstruct the chancel and organ as well as the damaged kitchen and dining room below. While the congregation worshiped in crowded rooms elsewhere in the church buildings, a Reconstruction Committee was formed, assisted by an Organ Reconstruction Task Force, many of whom had served on the original Organ Committee of 1969. Extra time was taken for study as to ways the reconstruction could be better than the original. The Casavant company was retained to rebuild their instrument. Lawrence Phelps, the designer of the original organ, was brought back as consultant. A plan was developed to improve the layout of the organ, choir loft, and platform areas. The chancel was coated with a hard plaster and the larger platform was surfaced with oak parquet, rather than the original carpet, to provide resonant acoustical surfaces for organ and choir. The original organ chambers were replaced with an open gallery fronted with an open screen to facilitate egress of sound. The new console is completely solid state allowing it to be more compact. Electronic stop combination and key switching systems were provided by Solid State Logic, Limited. The movable console now has dark rosewood natural keys with ivory capped sharps. The ruined chimes were replaced by a Symphonic Carillon from the Mass-Rowe Company in Escondido. It was later expanded to include Flemish and Harp Bells and to play from the tower for the enjoyment of the community. Ninety five percent of the original pipes were saved and restored. Most of the rest of the organ was replaced or rebuilt, incorporating the most current advances in organ building technology. The rebuilt instrument arrived at the church on January 5, 1983. Installation took six weeks. Customized voicing to our sanctuary began March 14 and was completed May 27 of the same year. At the time it was dedicated, it was the largest instrument in the San Diego Community and one of the most complete on the West Coast. In 2017, it was overhauled again by Lyle Blackinton &amp; Associates, Inc. to increase the memory levels from 2 to 128. In addition, the organ now has 24 General pistons and features a "Next/Previous" Sequencer for ease of use switching between registrations.

St. Paul's Cathedral

rebuilt by Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc opus 68 (2012) When St Paul's Parish moved from the original structure (at 8th Ave and C Street) to the present location at 5th Ave &amp; Nutmeg in 1950, M.P. Moller once again enlarged the instrument to approximately 45 ranks with a 3-manual console. In 1969, a complete rebuild of the organ was completed by Æolian-Skinner, retaining the best pipework from the previous instruments. This instrument, now with a new 4-manual console, was one of the firm's last installations west of the Mississippi. The instrument underwent, some modifications in 1989-1990, and had a complete rebuild in 2012.&nbsp;It currently contains 86 ranks and 4,933 pipes.

Spreckels Organ Pavilion

The world's largest outdoor musical instrument!John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the Spreckels Organ, one of the world's largest outdoor pipe organs, to the City of San Diego in 1914 for the Panama-California Exposition.This unique organ contains 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet. It is housed in an ornate vaulted structure with highly embellished gables. Since 1917, San Diego has had a Civic Organist, who performs free weekly Sunday concerts.

Clairemont Lutheran Church

All Souls' Episcopal Church

Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church

St. Brigid Parish

Balboa Theater

Copley Symphony Hall

Grace Lutheran Church

Mission Hills United Church of Christ

1956 California Organ Company (extensive repairs and modifications)1976 Möller Organ Company (console replacement)2008 L. W. Blackinton and Associates (console replacement)

The Village Community Presbyterian Church

La Mesa First United Methodist Church

First Church of Christ, Scientist, La Mesa

Pasi Organ Builders of Roy, Washington built the new organ for First Church of Christ, Scientists in La Mesa. It was custom-designed to inspire the congregation when singing hymns, to provide a variety of orchestrally-related stops useful in accompanying the vocal soloist, and to contain all of the essential tonal ingredients for performing a wide range of solo organ literature. The organ has 29 stops played from two manuals and pedal. The instrument has mechanical key action (tracker action) and electric stop action. An unusual feature is that the. key desk (console) is located more than 15 feet from the base of the organ case requiring the trackers to run beneath the central platform area. The organ contains about 1,450 pipes, most of which were made in the builder's shop. Several rows of pipes were reused from the previous pipe organ at this church, which was an Estey organ of the 1920s. Although the case and the tonal design of this organ are rooted in historical traditions, particularly the 19th century American "Vistorian" organ, the aim was to create a thoroughly modern instrument capable of playing a wealth of musical repertoire.

San Dieguito United Methodist Church

La Jolla Presbyterian Church

Chula Vista Presbyterian Church

First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista

The pipe organ at First United Methodist Church of Chula Vista was built by the Reuter Organ Company in Lawrence, KS and installed in the previous sanctuary on Third Avenue in 1971. It had a 2-manual console controlling 22 ranks of pipes. The instrument was moved to the present edifice and reinstalled without modifications in 1994. A new 3-manual drawknob console, Pipe Interface and 14 channel sound system was built by the Allen Organ Company in Macungie, PA in 2016. The installation was directed by Organ Stop, Inc. representatives for Allen in the San Diego area. 50 digitally sampled stops seamlessly combine with the wind blown pipes to produce the effect of a much larger pipe organ without the need for extra space or added maintenance. The instrument is further enhanced by a 256 voice Allen Vista MIDI system which also provides record and playback capability.

Paradise Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

<h2>The Allen Organ Company</h2> The Allen Organ Company was founded in 1937 by Jerome Markowitz, who dedicated his life to producing realistic and affordable pipe sound through technological innovation and advancement. Today, more than a hundred patents and seven decades later, Allen sound is unsurpassed in its pipe-like realism. In 1969, Allen Organ Company partnered with North American Rockwell on a project that went on to change the world of music. Using technology developed for the Apollo Space Program, the companies packed the power of thousands of transistors into 1/16 of a square inch and used those transistor functions to store pipe sounds. For the first time, an electronic instrument recreated actual pipe organ sound using digital technology instead of merely imitating it with the older, analog method. It was the birth of sampling and the basis for virtually every recorded sound we listen to today.&nbsp; To create pure pipe sounds, Markowitz learned that the microphone needed to be placed very close to each pipe, which also offered the optimal signal-to-noise ratio for the recordings. These pure sounds could then be processed, as all sample sounds must be prior to being stored in a digital organ, without the distortions and extraneous room noises. This “Dry Sampling” technique, which Allen continues to use to this day, allows the digital sounds to be individually voiced as a pipe technician needs to voice individual pipes.&nbsp; Allen’s latest GeniSys™ Technology features not only advanced digital tone generation, but a user-friendly touchscreen interface, convolution acoustics, smart phone accessibility/ Wi-Fi connectivity, and 250 dynamic (changeable) high-definition voices. In addition, through proprietary voicing software and its SoundMatrix™ Library, Allen voicers can meet the tastes and expectations of even the most demanding organist. Finally, Allen’s Stoplist Library™ allows organists to explore different schools of organ building including American Classic, English Cathedral, Cavaillé-Coll, Arp Schnitger, Schlicker, Aeolian-Skinner, as well as multiple theatre organ suites, at the touch of a screen.&nbsp; Throughout Allen Organ Company’s eight-decade history, it has installed some 80,000 instruments in over 70 countries.

St. Mark's United Methodist

The ground breaking ceremony for the sanctuary of St. Mark’s United&nbsp;Methodist church was held on October 15, 1961. Once the sanctuary was&nbsp;built, an Organ Committee was formed to determine specifications for a&nbsp;pipe organ.&nbsp; They chose a pipe organ made by the Reuter Organ Company with plans&nbsp;for three keyboards and 40 ranks. The initial segment was installed in&nbsp;1969. The organ was dedicated on January 24, 1971. Minor additions&nbsp;were made in 1972 and in 2003 a complete renovation included the&nbsp;releathering of the pipes. The two manual Reuter organ currently contains&nbsp;21 ranks with 1,220 individual pipes.

Welcome to the American Guild of Organists, San Diego Chapter

Featured Events