LEADERSHIP | LBAGO

Executive Committee 2025-2026

The officers of the Chapter include the Dean, Sub-Dean, Secretary, Treasurer/Registrar, an honorary position for the immediate past dean, and additional elected members divided into three classes of members serving three year terms.

Dean

Mr. Kyle Black

Kyle Black holds degrees in organ performance from the University of California, Los Angeles and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington. Mentors in organ and sacred music have included Bruce Neswick, Christoph Bull, and Carol McDaniel with studies in choral conducting under Donald Neuen of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove. He is the current elected dean of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in Long Beach, serves as organist at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Downey, and as Canon for Parish Administration at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, Los Angeles. Previous honors have included prizes from the Regional Competition for Young Organists in Los Angeles and selection as a finalist in the Schoenstein competition in organ accompaniment at Indiana University.

Sub-Dean

Mr. David York

A native of the Pacific Northwest, David York began piano studies at age 7, organ at age 12 and received his first job as a church organist at age 16. After graduating with honors from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, David completed a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance at the University of Southern California. His teachers have included Edward A. Hansen and Ladd Thomas. David has served as Director of Music at several churches in Southern California including First Presbyterian, San Pedro and St. Luke’s Episcopal, Long Beach, and St. George’s, Laguna Hills. He served as Interim Organist and Choir Director at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Los Angeles and as Minister of Music at Lutheran Church of the Master in Westwood. His is the current Music Director at St. Gregory's Episcopal in Long Beach, Organist/Choir Director at Temple Israel in Long Beach, and has served as a Lecturer in Music on the faculty of the Bob Cole School of Music, California State University Long Beach.

Secretary

Ms. Laura Dickey

Treasurer/Registrar/Administrator

Ms. Dolly Ickler

Dolly started organ lessons at age 12 at Leuzinger High School. She had a class taught by the choral teacher. After El Camino College, she studied organ with Paul Stroud at Long Beach State College. She served as organist at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Long Beach from 1966 to 1985. For the next 20+ years, she was active as a substitute and interim organist at many churches, then in 2008 she took a position at San Pedro United Methodist, where she remained until 2018. She is now mostly retired, playing only occasionally for her church, Grace 1st Presbyterian, and for friends. She has been a member of Long Beach AGO since college.

Past Dean

Dr. Hyunju Hwang

Dr. Hyunju Hwang is an award-winning organist and educator who serves as Organist at The Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates and as organ faculty at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she also collaborates with three choral ensembles. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Yonsei University, Master of Music from Westminster Choir College, Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the USC Thornton School of Music with full scholarship. She has performed at major venues across the U.S. and Europe, and is represented by the Concert Artist Cooperative. Dr. Hwang served as Dean of the Long Beach Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and directed the 2022 Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) in Long Beach, a summer program for young organists supported by the AGO. She currently serves as Chair of the Scholarship Committee for the Long Beach Chapter.

Member at Large, 2026

Mr. Robert Gaylord

Robert Gaylord (CAGO, AAGO) is reprising a role in which he served last century for this chapter and
for L.A. Chapter! A musician since early childhood on piano/violin, and concertmaster for early school orchestras, he began organ study in high school, and later added carillon. As a young man he also worked in the pipe organ maintenance field (John Swinford & Associates). He's served many dozens of churches/synagogues in the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Barbara/Southern California areas for decades as organist, pianist, organist/choir director and/or gospel choir director (various combinations). His university work was at UCSB and UCLA. He currently serves as staff organist/pianist for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (ELCA), Buena Park, Orange County.

Member at Large, 2027

Mr. Kent Eggert

Kent Eggert has served as organist of First Lutheran Church in Torrance as Organist since July 4, 1993. In addition to playing for worship services he accompanies the church’s three children’s choirs, adult choir, contemporary ensemble, and two handbell choirs. Prior to moving to California, he served several congregations in the Twin Cities metro area. Kent studied with Charles Parsons at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and with Pamela Carlson of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagan, Minnesota. Kent also serves as organist at St Catherine LaBoure Church in Torrance (22R Casavant), St. Margaret Mary Church in Lomita (29R Wicks), Nativity Catholic Church in Torrance (Allen), and when he is in Hawaii he plays at St John’s Lutheran Church in Kailu on the island of Oahu.

Member at Large, 2027

Ms. Emma Yim

Emma Yim is an accomplished organist and cellist, currently serving as Organist at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Beverly Hills and as a substitute organist across Los Angeles. A recent UCLA graduate with a Master’s in Organ Performance under Dr. Christoph Bull, she performs widely in orchestral, chamber, and operatic settings, with appearances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Royce Hall, and major festivals. Emma holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Organ Performance and Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA. Highlights include performing with the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles under Gustavo Dudamel at the League of American Orchestras 2022 National Conference and recording with artist Wooli at EastWest Studios. Her recent engagements include a solo recital at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels—praised by the L.A. Times as “beautiful, just beautiful”—and Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony with the UCLA Symphony. Through her recitals, collaborations, and sacred music leadership, Emma brings a deep commitment to musical excellence and community life.

Member at Large, 2027

Mr. Richard Metzler

Richard Metzler is the current Director of Music at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in San Pedro.

Member at Large, 2028

Dr. Patricia Hannifan

Dr. Patricia Hannifan is an Instructor at Los Angeles City and Valley Colleges and a Staff Accompanist at Los Angeles Valley College. She is also the Organist and Music Director for Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Long Beach as well as a freelance piano and organ accompanist in the greater Los Angeles area. Dr. Hannifan also teaches piano and organ and coaches singers in her private studio. Her achievements include being a four-time Winner of the Artistic Director Achievement Award for 'Best Music Director' by the Valley Theater League for her work with the Woodland Hills Community Theatre - The Fantasticks (1998), The All Night Strut! (2001), The Taffetas (2006) and Nunsense (2009). As a founding partner of the LAVC Summerfest, a collaboration of the Music, Theater, and Dance departments of Los Angeles Valley College, she served as the Musical Director for the inaugural performance of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret in the summer of 2010 and the 2011 performance of Anything Goes by Cole Porter. Dr. Hannifan holds a DMA in organ performance from University of California, Los Angeles, a Master’s Degree in Organ Performance from the Flora L. Thorton School of Music at the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from California State University, Northridge.