Having listened to the students’ praises for young organist programs, I asked the SYA instructors if I might see for myself what the students experience. I was warmly invited to attend the 2017 program in Chicago. The invitation turned into an assignment as a volunteer chaperone for the entire week. I was also afforded the opportunity to instruct the students in their communication skills.. Read...more...
Latest ATOS News
News about ATOS and the world of Theatre Organ internationally.
Sunday, August 13th 2017
Several distinguished ATOS members were recognized at the 2017 awards ceremony at the convention in Tampa. Organist of the Year Jerry Nagano (na-GA-no, not NA-ga-no) was born and raised in the Los Angeles area where he began his musical training at age ten. From the very beginning the movies played a major role in his musical life. It was because of attending a silent movie show accompanied by...more...
Tuesday, August 8th 2017
A STATEMENT FROM BOB DILWORTH, DICKINSON THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY By now, via a story originally distributed by the Associated Press, and subsequently various outlets of print, TV and social media, many of our good friends in the world of the theatre organ are aware that DTOS, the Dickinson Theatre Organ Society in Wilmington, DE, has been a victim of some financial foul play. I will not go into...more...
Tuesday, August 1st 2017
As I am writing to you, ATOS begins a new fiscal year. Let’s take a quick look back at a few actions and then look to the future as we move ahead. The Tampa Convention, as with every year, occurs a few weeks before the end of the ATOS fiscal year. As usual it was a chance to renew old friendships and make new ones. Except for the physical gathering of the Board members attending the Annual...more...
Friday, July 28th 2017
Tampa, Florida is the site of the 2017 annual ATOS convention, featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer in the beautiful Tampa Theatre. The main convention will run July 3 - 6. Two ENCORE events take place on July 7 & 8.more...
Tuesday, July 11th 2017
Alex Jones was named overall winner of the 2017 Youth Theatre Organ Competition, after performing with the other finalists at the 2017 ATOS National Convention in Florida. Originally from London, Alex is currently studying for a Masters in Organ Performance Literature at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in the studio of Prof. Edoardo Bellotti. In 2009, he gained a scholarship...more...
Tuesday, July 11th 2017
Jerry Nagano (na-GA-no, not NA-ga-no) was born and raised in the Los Angeles area where he began his musical training at age ten. From the very beginning the movies played a major role in his musical life. It was because of attending a silent movie show accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer that Jerry took an interest in the organ. After instruction on electronic organ for a period, he had a chance...more...
Wednesday, July 5th 2017
The 2017 Convention in Tampa, Florida has now concluded. Hundreds of ATOS members enjoyied a week filled with wonderful music and musicians. Read daily updates here, and see what all the excitement is about. Reports and photos by Richard Neidich. Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Encore - Day One Encore - Day Twomore...
Sunday, July 2nd 2017
The first phase of the project to digitize more than 60 years of the American Theatre Organ Journal begins with the Oklahoma University's Thousands Strong crowd-funding campaign: Help OU Students Preserve the History of American Organs! This campaign will fund the first phase of our project to digitize the American Theatre Organ Journal - a more than 60-year-old publication, filled with...more...
Sunday, May 21st 2017
This year's Young Theatre Organist Competion had six (6) applications. Three (3) made it! Our three YTOC finalists, who will be performing at the 2017 Tampa Convention at the YTOC competition are… (in alphabetical order…) Ryan Hardy Alex Jones Nicholas Renkosik This year the competition was tough! We are very proud of this group of young organists and can’t wait to hear them at the 2017...more...