This page presents short biographies of all past Deans of the Boston Chapter. Special Thanks to Barbara Owen, Carson Cooman, Carl Klein, Louise Mundinger, and Leo Abbott of our Chapter, Gail Dow from Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and Todd Sisley, editor of The American Organist magazine for their help in researching these Deans
1905-08 George A. Burdett * 
The New England Chapter’s first Dean was the versatile George A. Burdett. He was born in Boston June 17, 1856 and came from a musical line, his father having been in his youth organist at the historic “Bulfinch” Church at South Lancaster.
At Harvard Mr. Burdett came under the wing of J. K. Paine, graduating summa cum laude in music. He was editor of the Harvard Crimson and helped revive interest in Greek plays. Following college he spent several years in postgraduate study, a portion of the time with Haupt in Berlin, continuing with Fischer in Dresden.
Immediately upon his return to this country, he accepted a call as organist and choirmaster at Harvard Church, Brookline, where his twenty years of service developed the musical ministry into great and ever-growing significance and all-around worth. In 18895 he went to Central Church. Boston, where he was enabled to put into practice many of his high ideals for worship music. After sixteen years in this position, he returned to Harvard Church in 1911, retiring a few years later to devote himself to composition and his publication interests. He was a Founds of the Guild (A.G.O.) and was one of the committee of three (with S. B. Whitney and Henry M. Dunham) appointed from Headquarters in New York to arrange illustrative services before New England had a Chapter. He was appointed to organize and to be Dean of the New England Chapter, the second in the Guild. Several years later (1920-1922) he again was elected to head the group.