Following an extensive nationwide search, AGO President Eileen Hunt announced that Cathy Brigham has been selected by the National Council to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director. Sterling Martin was proud to partner with the American Guild of Organists on the search.
Founded in 1896, the AGO is the oldest and largest professional association dedicated to organists and church musicians in the United States, with nearly 11,000 active members and 247 chapters.
Brigham will assume her duties on July 1. She succeeds James E. Thomashower, who will be retiring after 28 years of service to the Guild.
A lifelong AGO member and active organist, Brigham brings decades of experience in national nonprofit leadership, member engagement, educational assessment, data analysis, adult education, and organizational strategy.
Most recently, Brigham served as Special Projects Advisor to the President at the American Association of Colleges and Universities, where she also held an interim leadership role in member engagement. In that capacity, she expanded outreach to members, recruited new members, supported a major technology transition, and served as a lead data analyst for association-wide initiatives.
Previously, Brigham spent more than 13 years at the College Board, where she led outreach to academic affairs offices nationwide, developed ambassador networks, and managed multiple advisory boards. She also has deep experience in adult education and lifelong learning through her work with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, and as Dean of Adult Education at Concordia University Texas. Earlier in her career, Brigham was a Folklife Specialist at Texas Folklife, overseeing arts-in-education programming in public schools.
Brigham holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University Bloomington and a B.Phil. from Miami University in Ohio. Her doctoral research examined popular country music and fan communities in LGBTQIA+ and emerging online spaces.
A classically trained pianist and organist, Brigham lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., with her husband and their two dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, gardening, baking, and participating in her local curling club.
“On behalf of the National Council, I would like to thank James Thomashower for his tireless dedication to the AGO over the past 28 years,” said Hunt, “and we are equally excited to work with Cathy Brigham. She is the ideal leader to help us support today’s members and also nurture a new generation of organists.”
AGO members will have their first opportunity to welcome Brigham at the AGO National Convention in St. Louis, July 6 – 10. A special meet-and-greet session will be held on Wednesday, July 8, in the exhibit hall following the evening recitals.
“As an organist and longtime member, I’m looking forward to bringing my experiences in higher education and association leadership to the AGO,” explained Brigham. “I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to share my vision for the Guild with the National Council and headquarters staff, and I’m now eager to get to work with the AGO’s members and chapters. This is a rare and valuable opportunity to give back to a profession that has been so meaningful to me.”