Welcome to the Binghamton AGO Website
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Friday, April 19 - 7:00 pm - Organ Concert, Trinity Episcopal Church, Binghamton. Randy Steere, organist.
Saturday, April 20 - 10:00 am - Discussion/Workshop at Trinity Episcopal Church with Randy Steere, facilitator.
On Friday, April 19, 2024, 7:00 pm at Trinity Memorial Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton, NY, acclaimed organist Randall Steere will offer his
Concert for the Future. The Concert for the Future was developed by the artist, Randy Steere, to reflect his vision for the future of organ music. It will form the basis for a discussion on this important topic being held at Trinity Memorial Church on Saturday, April 20 at 10:00 AM.
Sponsored by the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the session will feature Randy’s articulation of his vision for the future of the organ as well as reaction and input from all in attendance. All are encouraged to attend (especially if you are NOT an organist or a member of the AGO!). Your input will be very valuable as Randy facilitates a discussion pertinent to all area churches and music lovers. The concert itself comprises a very diverse set of more contemporary composers to appeal both to a wider audience not familiar with organ music as well as the organ aficionado. New arrangements of “Amazing Grace” and “Kum Ba Yah” will be performed alongside meditative pieces from around the world, a rousing Toccata and even a fresh Wedding March! Just over an hour long, it will be an exciting concert to engage the audience on many levels!
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Acclaimed for his solo appearances throughout New England, Randy Steere has served as Assistant Organist at Old South Church. A New England native, he received his B.M. degree from Barrington College (student of Alan Brown), an M.M. from Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music (student of Robert Baker), an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, and a Master’s of Computer Science from RPI. After graduating from Yale, he became the full-time Minister of Music at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury (CT) for 9 years where he developed an expansive ministry, including two large adult choirs, two handbell choirs, a children’s choir, two concert series, young singles ministry, and weekly commercial TV and radio broadcasts. Under Randy’s initiative, the church hosted the East Branch of the Hartford Camerata School of Music, where he also taught organ and choral conducting. Additionally, he taught organ performance, handbells, and church music classes at Barrington College (now Gordon College).
Following his career in music, Randy switched to computers and became an IT Director at a mid-sized law firm for 7 years before running his own consulting and software company for 20 years. In 2020, he fully retired to become more actively involved in the music world once again, taking several study trips to Europe, working for a pipe organ builder, and concertizing widely on the East Coast. Randy has served on the Board of the Hartford Chapter AGO and was on the Board of Trustees for Arioso, a string ensemble of Hartford Symphony players where he was responsible for grant applications. He is currently Treasurer of the Merrimack AGO Chapter, a Trustee of the Methuen, MA, Memorial Music Hall and actively involved in the Groton Hill, MA, School of Music.
Friday, April 19 - 7:00 pm - Organ Concert, Trinity Episcopal Church, Binghamton. Randy Steere, organist.
Saturday, April 20 - 10:00 am - Discussion/Workshop at Trinity Episcopal Church with Randy Steere, facilitator.
On Friday, April 19, 2024, 7:00 pm at Trinity Memorial Church, 44 Main Street, Binghamton, NY, acclaimed organist Randall Steere will offer his
Concert for the Future. The Concert for the Future was developed by the artist, Randy Steere, to reflect his vision for the future of organ music. It will form the basis for a discussion on this important topic being held at Trinity Memorial Church on Saturday, April 20 at 10:00 AM.
Sponsored by the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the session will feature Randy’s articulation of his vision for the future of the organ as well as reaction and input from all in attendance. All are encouraged to attend (especially if you are NOT an organist or a member of the AGO!). Your input will be very valuable as Randy facilitates a discussion pertinent to all area churches and music lovers. The concert itself comprises a very diverse set of more contemporary composers to appeal both to a wider audience not familiar with organ music as well as the organ aficionado. New arrangements of “Amazing Grace” and “Kum Ba Yah” will be performed alongside meditative pieces from around the world, a rousing Toccata and even a fresh Wedding March! Just over an hour long, it will be an exciting concert to engage the audience on many levels!
---
Acclaimed for his solo appearances throughout New England, Randy Steere has served as Assistant Organist at Old South Church. A New England native, he received his B.M. degree from Barrington College (student of Alan Brown), an M.M. from Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music (student of Robert Baker), an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, and a Master’s of Computer Science from RPI. After graduating from Yale, he became the full-time Minister of Music at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury (CT) for 9 years where he developed an expansive ministry, including two large adult choirs, two handbell choirs, a children’s choir, two concert series, young singles ministry, and weekly commercial TV and radio broadcasts. Under Randy’s initiative, the church hosted the East Branch of the Hartford Camerata School of Music, where he also taught organ and choral conducting. Additionally, he taught organ performance, handbells, and church music classes at Barrington College (now Gordon College).
Following his career in music, Randy switched to computers and became an IT Director at a mid-sized law firm for 7 years before running his own consulting and software company for 20 years. In 2020, he fully retired to become more actively involved in the music world once again, taking several study trips to Europe, working for a pipe organ builder, and concertizing widely on the East Coast. Randy has served on the Board of the Hartford Chapter AGO and was on the Board of Trustees for Arioso, a string ensemble of Hartford Symphony players where he was responsible for grant applications. He is currently Treasurer of the Merrimack AGO Chapter, a Trustee of the Methuen, MA, Memorial Music Hall and actively involved in the Groton Hill, MA, School of Music.
The Binghamton Chapter was founded in 1929 and supports the goals of its parent organization, the American Guild of Organists. Our chapter hosted the Regional Convention in 2001 and has participated in such outreach events as the 2008 Organ Spectacular. The Binghamton AGO sponsored a Pedals, Pipes and Pizza event, designed to introduce young piano students to the organ. Our chapter has been represented at every recent Regional and National convention.
Our small but active group of approximately 65 members plans a variety of events to serve a diversity of needs. On many occasions, we invite members of neighboring chapters to participate in our events adding to the enjoyment of each occasion.
Some of us are organists, some of us build organs, and others are simply happy listeners. Most importantly, we enjoy getting together to share our mutual love of organs and organ music.
We welcome visitors to any of our events, and encourage anyone who appreciates the organ, its repertoire and choral music to attend. Better yet, consider becoming a member of the AGO.
Our small but active group of approximately 65 members plans a variety of events to serve a diversity of needs. On many occasions, we invite members of neighboring chapters to participate in our events adding to the enjoyment of each occasion.
Some of us are organists, some of us build organs, and others are simply happy listeners. Most importantly, we enjoy getting together to share our mutual love of organs and organ music.
We welcome visitors to any of our events, and encourage anyone who appreciates the organ, its repertoire and choral music to attend. Better yet, consider becoming a member of the AGO.
Chapter Officers
2023 -2024 Executive Board
Dean: Hilton Baxter
Sub Dean: Peggy Sniezek
Secretary: Polly Wendling
Treasurer: Robert Peterson
Members-at-large: Andy Chadwick, Lee Roseboom, David Jackson, Janet Hammond, Nancy
McNamara
Appointments
Chaplain: The Rev. David Werly
Newsletter: Nancy McNamara
TAO Liason: John Holt
Website: Peggy Sniezek
Registrar: Richard Sheasley
Placement: Nancy McNamara
Hospitality: Polly Wendling
_______
Placement and Substitutes
The Binghamton chapter of the AGO is pleased to maintain a listing of available positions for the benefit of its members. We're happy to extend an invitation to those employers who have positions open in our field of interest to list them with us without charge.
Members seeking employment should check Mixtures, our newsletter, to be apprised of available openings.
______
Join Us!
Members of the Binghamton chapter are pleased to invite you to join our ranks (sorry about that, but it would be really Great to have you with us).
Apart from the collegiality of a wonderful group of your peers, AGO membership offers many benefits, including:
These are but a few of the benefits that membership in the Guild offers. A more comprehensive list is available on the national website at www.agohq.org/membership/membership-overview/
Dean: Hilton Baxter
Sub Dean: Peggy Sniezek
Secretary: Polly Wendling
Treasurer: Robert Peterson
Members-at-large: Andy Chadwick, Lee Roseboom, David Jackson, Janet Hammond, Nancy
McNamara
Appointments
Chaplain: The Rev. David Werly
Newsletter: Nancy McNamara
TAO Liason: John Holt
Website: Peggy Sniezek
Registrar: Richard Sheasley
Placement: Nancy McNamara
Hospitality: Polly Wendling
_______
Placement and Substitutes
The Binghamton chapter of the AGO is pleased to maintain a listing of available positions for the benefit of its members. We're happy to extend an invitation to those employers who have positions open in our field of interest to list them with us without charge.
Members seeking employment should check Mixtures, our newsletter, to be apprised of available openings.
______
Join Us!
Members of the Binghamton chapter are pleased to invite you to join our ranks (sorry about that, but it would be really Great to have you with us).
Apart from the collegiality of a wonderful group of your peers, AGO membership offers many benefits, including:
- Receiving our national monthly The American Organist, the most widely read journal devoted to organ and choral music in the world
- Mixtures, our chapter newsletter
- Job placement services at both the local and national levels
- Professional development resources
- Educational activities
- Eligibility for group insurance plans offered by the national organization
These are but a few of the benefits that membership in the Guild offers. A more comprehensive list is available on the national website at www.agohq.org/membership/membership-overview/