Welcome to Organ Academy 2026!
We are excited to get to know you and share the fun of making organ music with you.
Surgite organistae iuvenes!
What
The American Guild of Organists – Spokane Chapter presents an opportunity for twelve piano students, ages 10 to 22, to receive ten lessons in organ playing. The program engages young musicians and sparks musical imaginations through experiencing the joy of playing fine music on the King of Instruments.
Where
The program takes place at various regional church locations. It culminates in a public recital at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. Organ specification.
When
Saturday, January 24, 9:00 a.m. through a public recital Sunday, May 3, 3:00 p.m. See full Schedule below.
Cost
- Age 10 through High School – $100 (10 lessons at $10 per lesson)
- College (up to 22 years of age) – $250 (10 lessons at $25 per lesson)
Details
Text
First Organ Book, ed. by Wayne Leupold. This book is loaned to scholars by the American Guild of Organists – Spokane Chapter. At the end of the ten lessons, if scholars decide to continue studying, the book may be purchased at a reduced price. Otherwise, it is returned to the chapter for use by future students.
Organ Shoes
Organ shoes are advisable, but not required. Plan to wear a lightweight shoe with a smooth sole. Organ shoes are not meant to be worn outside, where they can pick up dirt and gravel; the smooth sole facilitates pedal technique and prevents pedalboard damage. A temporary alternative is stocking feet, although shoes provide more support.Organ shoes are basically ballroom “Jazz” shoes. One can find them locally – and try them on, which is a good idea – or order online:
- South side – Empire Dance Shop
- North side – Spokane Dance Boutique
- Online – Organmaster Shoes
Women: shoes with wide, normal heels are best. Stylish, shaped, spiked heels will give you problems. Note the heels pictured on the Organmaster website.
Lessons & Fee
Each scholar receives ten lessons from an assigned teacher. Also, scholars may participate in optional Saturday practice sessions at different churches. Academy fees are payable in advance to American Guild of Organists – Spokane Chapter when registering online or by check at the January 24 orientation meeting.
Practice
Scholars practice at home on a piano or keyboard. Personal practice time on an organ can be arranged at a local church. Added value, optional Saturday practice sessions are held throughout the term at different churches. These sessions give scholars experience with different types of organs, and provide opportunities for students to get to know each other.
Schedule
All Saturdays except the May 3 public recital.
- January 24: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – Orientation, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
- January 31: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
- February 7: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
- February 14: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
- February 21: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, St. John’s Lutheran Church
- February 28: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, St. Augustine Catholic Church
- March 7: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, Whitworth Church
- March 14: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, Pilgrim Lutheran Church
- March 28: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
- April 11: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Saturday practice, Manito Presbyterian Church
- May 2: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – Recital run through in concert order, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
- January 24: 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – Orientation, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
- Sunday, May 3: 3:00 p.m. – Recital, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Registration is open to the first 12 students.
Surgite organistae iuvenes!
Important Notes
- Parent/guardian, please remain on-site during lessons and practice sessions if student is under 16 years of age.
- Academy fees ($100 or $250) are payable in advance to American Guild of Organists – Spokane Chapter when registering online or by check at January 24 orientation meeting.
- Parent/guardian, please download and bring a signed copy of the Photography/Video Release to the January 24 orientation meeting. Thank you!
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2025 Recital Program
For your interest, download and view the 2025 recital program.
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Academy Teachers
Henry Bauer, DMA, is the director of music at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Spokane, where he conducts the Schola Cantorum, Cathedral Choir, and Diocesan Choir as well as being artistic director of the Sacred Music Series. He has served as director of music and liturgy in parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington. He holds a doctorate in sacred music and choral conducting along with a masters degree in liturgical music and organ from The Catholic University of America. His doctoral dissertation is on choral literature for the liturgical year. Dr. Bauer has held several leadership positions for National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
Dr. Bauer is the current chair of the Director of Music Ministries Forum, was a member of the board of the Director of Music Ministries Division, and chair of the Partner Certification Review Committee for Ecclesial Lay Ministry. He continues to coordinate the Choral Anthem Project and leads choral music reading sessions. He has presented workshops for cantors and organists, lectures on the role of music and musicians in the liturgy, and choral rehearsal techniques. He has served as a Core Committee member for two national conventions and been chapter director and treasurer for the AGO Washington DC chapter. He has led several European choir tours. Dr. Bauer serves on the Board of Officers for the AGO Spokane chapter with focus in areas of program and professional concerns.
Helen Byrne, SPC, is music director and organist for Manito Presbyterian Church. An amazing keyboardist and teacher, she is also assistant principal cellist with the Spokane Symphony. Byrne is the cellist with the well-known Spokane String Quartet. A native of Spokane, she began her cello studies with Carol Graef. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in cello performance and, in 1982, joined the Spokane Symphony. She plays a cello made in 1820 by Thomas Kennedy.
Edward Hurd holds a bachelor of music education degree from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, where he spent four years as organist and assistant music director at First Presbyterian Church. While teaching at East Valley High School in Spokane Valley, he served as director of music ministries for Opportunity Presbyterian Church. He was full-time director of music ministries (organist/choirmaster) for First Presbyterian Church in Mesa, Ariz. while completing his graduate studies in choral conducting at Arizona State University. For ten years, he served as associate director of music and organist for All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Phoenix. He has conducted choral ensembles twice at the St. Moritz Festival (Switzerland), and numerous tours and festivals throughout England, Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Russia. Hurd’s principal conducting teachers include the late B. Fred Hammack, G. Gordon Leavitt, and Douglas McEwen.
While in Nebraska, Hurd served as director of traditional worship (organist/ choirmaster) for the 2,500-member congregation of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, La Vista, for nine years. He was artistic director for the 200-voice community chorus, Voices of Omaha, for eight years. He was performance rentals director for Omaha Performing Arts which operates the Orpheum Theater and renowned Holland Performing Arts Center, joining the organization as general manager in 2003.
Since returning to Spokane, Hurd was organist/bellmaster for Opportunity Presbyterian Church in Spokane Valley before joining the staff of Central Lutheran Church. Hurd has recently joined the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist staff as organist. He is a busy substitute music teacher for Spokane Public Schools and maintains a private piano and voice teaching studio. Hurd is a frequent adjudicator for area solo/ensemble contests.
Hurd is a member of the National Association for Music Education and American Choral Directors Association. He serves on the Board of Officers for the AGO Spokane Chapter in the role of dean.
Joseph Schubert, PhD, retired from teaching in 2020, after 36 years of teaching choral music in public schools at the junior high, senior high, and university levels. From 2009 through 2023, Dr. Schubert also taught music theory, choral literature, and academic research and writing in the Three-Summer Master of Music in Choral Conducting program at California State University, Los Angeles.
Dr. Schubert’s dissertation dealt with twentieth-century French organist Jean-Jacques Grünewald, providing an extensive biography and a comprehensive analysis of Grünewald’s solo organ works in the context of the twentieth-century French organ school. He has been a church organist since he was 18 years old and is currently organist at Saint Augustine Catholic Church, Spokane. Dr. Schubert serves on the Board of Officers for the AGO Spokane chapter with a focus in the area of program.
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