Dean's Message
September 2024
Dear Friends,
Did you know that the American Guild of Organists offers a series of five certification exams?
The certification exams are designed to be progressively more rigorous and demonstrate a candidate’s mastery of skills such as accompaniment and sight reading. Though the exam requirements may seem daunting, the SLCAGO is here to help you!
With that in mind this month, I want to turn the “microphone” over to our chapter’s exam coordinator, Ryan North, with a special announcement about the Colleague Certification:
CAGO Exam Gets a Makeover in 2025
Changes are coming in 2025 to the Guild’s Colleague (CAGO) certification exam.The CAGO exam currently consists of two “practical” section: repertoire and keyboard skills. The —that test the candidate’s ability in these areas is tested. They are assessed on playing organ repertoire, accompaniments, and hymns, as well as other sills such as sight reading, transposition, and improvisation.
However, beginning with the Spring 2025 exam, a new, third section consisting of paperwork tests will also be required in order to achieve CAGO certification.
This two-hour paperwork portion will include ear training tests, aural perception, fugal exposition analysis, continuo realization, and formal/harmonic analysis.
The last CAGO exam to be offered for the current, two-section format November 15, 2024. The application deadline to take this exam is September 15, 2024.
So, if you have ever thought about taking the CAGO exam but have put it off for one reason or another, NOW is the time to do it before the exam gets more difficult!
Detailed requirements for the CAGO exam can be found in the July issues of the TAO (The American Organist), or online at the AGO website. If you have any further questions, please email Ryan North, chapter exam coordinator, at ryan@slcago.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shelby Fisher, Dean
Salt Lake City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists