The Boston AGO chapter maintains a list of its members willing to serve as substitutes. This list contains information which has been self-identified by those who have chosen to be included in this roster. The information has not been confirmed by the Boston AGO nor is the Boston AGO able to ensure that the individual is appropriate for any particular situation. The current Substitute List appears on this website and periodically in the Boston AGO newsletter. If you are seeking a substitute, you should contact the substitute for more specific information, such as education, experience, denominational familiarity, and recent substitute engagements. For more details see information below.
Download the current list here. (May 2012)
Recommended Minimum Fees for Substitute Organists
The fee schedule shown here is considered appropriate for substitutes at a typical worship service in the Greater Boston area. All fees should be negotiated before the agreement is complete, and should be paid on or before the day of the service.
$200-$350 Substitute, one service, organ only $250-$400 Substitute, one service, organ plus accompanying another musician $275-$425 Substitute, one service, organ, plus accompanying a choir... $100-$150 Rehearsal time, accompanying only OR conducting only
Good substitutes pay close attention to details beyond the music they will play. When accepting a substitute commitment in a new setting, be clear and thorough about the information you will need, such as access to the organ for practice, order of service, attire, quirks of the organ and location of technical equipment, other musicians involved, hymns, hymn style, service music, and a readily-available emergency contact person. See the resources below for more detailed information:
Guidelines for Substitutes & Institutions hiring them (opens in a PDF file)
The Successful Substitute Organist: A guide for the Organ Student by Isobel L. Livingstone Reprinted with permission from August 2000, The American Organist (opens in a PDF file)
All current members of the Boston Chapter of the AGO are eligible to apply to be on the Chapter’s Substitute List. Contact Joshua Lawton here jtlawton@mac.com.