Relive the Magic

We invite you to browse each section, savor the memories, and even contribute your own. Let the images and recordings transport you back to those remarkable summer days when Kansas City echoed with pipes, voices, and shared passion.

Welcome to the official media showcase of the 2018 American Guild of Organists (AGO) National Convention, held in vibrant Kansas City, Missouri. From July 2–6, 2018, more than a thousand organists, composers, choral directors, students, and music lovers gathered to celebrate the king of instruments in all its glory. Whether you joined us in person or are discovering the event for the first time, this gallery is your gateway to reliving the inspiring performances, educational workshops, moving worship services, lively social events, and stunning architectural spaces that made this convention unforgettable.

🎶 Performance Highlights: Sound and Spectacle

From breathtaking solo recitals to collaborative choral masterpieces, the 2018 AGO Convention featured a spectrum of musical artistry. Our curated photo and video archive captures these moments from multiple angles—on stage, behind the scenes, and in the hearts of the audience.

Featured Videos and Captions:

  • Todd Wilson performing Vierne’s Symphony No. 3 on the Casavant organ at Helzberg Hall: fluid, commanding, and captured in high-definition with aerial hall shots.
  • Chelsea Chen’s genre-bending recital blending classical technique with cinematic flair—viewers see both console close-ups and audience reactions.
  • Community of Christ Auditorium recital footage showcases the full power of the Aeolian-Skinner organ in epic symphonic repertoire.
  • Evening at the Kansas City Music Hall, where silent films came alive through the thunder and whisper of the restored 1927 Robert-Morton theater organ.

Photos You’ll Love:

  • Artists taking final bows in front of standing ovations.
  • Dramatic pipe facades lit for evening performances.
  • Smiling faces of organists caught mid-phrase in intense concentration.

Note: Videos are arranged by date and venue for easy navigation.

📚 Workshop Moments: Learning, Laughing, and Growing

The 2018 AGO Convention was not just about performance—it was a deep dive into the evolving world of organ music, pedagogy, and practice. Our gallery includes images and clips from over 40 workshops, forums, and masterclasses.

Featured Content:

  • Improvisation Workshop at Gano Chapel with Thierry Escaich—watch short clips of real-time invention and audience interaction.
  • “Healthy Organist” seminar with wellness expert Dr. Karen Hagberg—photos show attendees stretching and laughing between discussions of injury prevention.
  • “21st Century Organist” technology session—screenshots and demos of MIDI integration, Hauptwerk setups, and app-enhanced learning tools.
  • Organ Building Q&A featuring artisans from Casavant Frères, Fowkes & Co., and Lively-Fulcher, with close-ups of pipe voicing and console design.

Quotes from Attendees:

“I came to play, but I left inspired to teach.”
“The openness of discussion and real-world advice was priceless.”

🙏 Worship Services: Music in Sacred Space

Sacred music formed the spiritual core of the convention. Morning prayer, Evensong, Vespers, and communion services across Kansas City brought ancient liturgies to life through organ, choir, and silence. These photo and video selections reflect the reverent tone and musical grace of those gatherings.

Worship Highlights:

  • Bach Vespers at Bales Recital Hall: Footage captures a seamless blend of organ, choir, and chamber ensemble in a deeply meditative setting.
  • Festival Evensong at Village Presbyterian Church, featuring the premiere of Cecilia McDowall’s O Antiphon Sequence and choral motets by Howells.
  • Morning Prayer at Atonement Lutheran: An intimate moment, with candlelight glinting off polished pipes and chant melodies filling the room.

Descriptive Captions:

  • “Incense and improvisation rise together.”
  • “Liturgical drama as sacred theater.”
  • “Stillness between the verses, music between the moments.”

Many of these services featured original compositions written for the convention, further cementing 2018’s legacy as both devotional and daring.

🎉 Social Gatherings: Community and Camaraderie

Beyond the concert halls and sanctuaries, the convention came alive in shared meals, conversations, and celebration. The media from social events captures the heart of what makes AGO special: the people.

Events Captured:

  • Opening Reception at Union Station: Guests mingling under the glow of architectural lights, sipping drinks beneath massive pipe organ projections.
  • Guild Dinner and Awards Ceremony: Laughter, speeches, and awards honoring distinguished service and emerging talent.
  • Late-Night “Organ Crawl” Afterparty: Informal console tours and spontaneous performances at churches around Kansas City.
  • Young Organists Meet-Up: Future leaders bonding over pizza, practice tips, and career dreams.

Candid Photos:

  • Hugs between old colleagues and new friends.
  • Name badges, backpacks, and big smiles at registration.
  • Surprise birthday cupcakes for a beloved teacher.

User Submissions Welcome: If you captured a group selfie, surprise performance, or heartfelt moment during the convention, we’d love to see it. Submit below!

🏛️ Venues: The Architecture of Sound

Kansas City offered an extraordinary variety of venues, each with its own acoustics, aesthetic, and energy. Our visual and video tour of the 2018 AGO venues lets you explore the beauty of the spaces themselves—whether you sat in the front row or never had the chance to attend.

Venue Galleries Include:

  • Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: Panoramic views, drone shots, and interior lighting before showtime.
  • Community of Christ Auditorium: Aerials of the massive interior, and rare shots from inside the antiphonal organ chamber.
  • Kansas City Music Hall: Art Deco detail work, organ console close-ups, and the view from the organist’s bench.
  • Village Presbyterian Church: Wooden beams, tracker action console photography, and stained-glass windows glowing at dusk.
  • Bales Recital Hall and Gano Chapel: Elegant simplicity designed for clarity and intimacy.

Each venue page includes organ specifications, short video clips of performances, and architectural insights.

📸 Share Your Own Memories

Were you part of the 2018 AGO National Convention? Whether you played in a recital, sang in a choir, volunteered, or simply soaked in the sounds, we want your perspective.

How to Contribute:

  • Upload your photos and videos using the form on our submission page.
  • Include a brief description: date, location, who’s pictured, and your personal memory.
  • Select whether you’d like your media to be featured publicly or remain private to the AGO archive.

Your stories matter. Help us build a living memory of Kansas City 2018—a collective scrapbook that shows every side of this historic gathering.

🎥 Final Thoughts

The 2018 AGO National Convention was more than a conference—it was a living, breathing showcase of artistry, fellowship, education, and devotion. Whether it was the soaring cadences of a Widor toccata, the quiet joy of a hallway reunion, or the candlelit hush of Evensong, each moment added to our shared history.

These photo and video highlights are here for you: to remember, to reflect, and to inspire your next musical chapter.

Start exploring now—and don’t forget to add your own page to the story.