REED ORGAN SOCIETY

Welcome to the 2026 Reed Organ Society Gathering!
September 10 – 13, 2026

We’re delighted to welcome you to a rich four days of music, history, fellowship, and Appalachian culture, centered at the Hinton Rural Life Center in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, from September 10 – 13, 2026. From the moment you arrive, you’ll find a warm and relaxed setting for reconnecting with friends, meeting fellow enthusiasts, and immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of the reed organ tradition.

Our time together blends lectures, recitals, hands-on experiences, and meals, with excursions to regional highlights such as the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds and Young Harris College. Highlights include curated exhibits, personal collections, new music composed for historic instruments, Appalachian arts and storytelling, and moments of remembrance and reflection—with reed organ music close at hand.

Whether you’re here for learning, performance, inspiration, or simply good company, we hope this gathering feels both meaningful and joyful. Take time to explore, listen, share stories, and enjoy the setting—every day offers something special.

We’re glad you’re here. Welcome!

For those registering from the USA: CLICK HERE!

For those outside of USA: CLICK HERE!

Deadline is Monday, August 10, 2026.

Cancel before August 25 full refund – Cancel after August 25 limited refund.

SCHEDULE

Hinton Rural Life Center, 2330 Hinton Center Rd., Hayesville, North Carolina 28904-4862

For more information about this venue and site maps visit https://hintoncenter.org/

Thursday – September 10, 2026

4:00 – 8:30 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall Welcome Center

  • Check-in & Registration begins
  • Assortment of sandwiches, chips, dessert & drinks
  • Meet & Greet
  • Media Table – Set Up at Moore Great Hall at Hinton. (See insert for other options in town.)

Friday – September 11, 2026

8:00 – 9:15 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall Welcome Center

  • Registration Open
  • Breakfast
  • Media Table Open

9:30 Travel to Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds by bus/car pool.

10:00 – 10:45 Assemble in Exhibit Hall at Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds

1. Welcome - JT, host; Hilda, Gen. Manager of GMF

2. Tour of reed organ exhibit - JT

11:00- 11:45 General tour of facility – Jeff King, Curator of Exhibit Hall – Intro of Farm Museum

12:00 Picnic Lunch at Hamilton Gardens – Intro by Catherine Luckenbach

1:00 – 2:30 AFTERNOON OPTIONS AT FAIRGROUNDS:

  • Tour of Mtn. Cabin, Presley PO, Old School House
  • More time in Exhibit Hall touring farm museum and reed organ exhibit
  • Metals and Memory Car Show (in progress at Fairgrounds)

Step back into the golden era of horsepower at Memories of Metal, September 11–12, 2026, in the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds at Hiawassee, Georgia. From polished classics to powerful trucks and timeless bikes, this show is all about honoring automotive history and the stories behind it.

3:00 – 4:30 Visiting The Organ Loft – Jerry Taylor’s personal collection

Bus or car pool

5:00 – 6:30 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall

  • Dinner
  • Media Table Open

7:00 Grave Affair at Burch Cemetery (bus needed) – Tyler Osborn

Actors will portray the life of some of the “residents” with reed organ music interspersed

Step back in time and listen to the stories of yesteryears - told by the spirits themselves. From the effects of the Civil War, a single leg being interred, and the moving of the cemetery when Hiawassee Valley was flooded. Join us at Burch Cemetery to learn about the history of Towns County, guided by lantern light.

Saturday – September 12, 2026

8:00 – 9:15 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall: Breakfast – Media Table Open – Registration Open

9:30 – 10:30 Presentation by Brooke and Geneva – chapel beside Moore Great Hall

Dr. Brooke Martin and Geneva Stonecipher-Overbaugh will present a lecture recital on Stephen Foster (1826-1864), who is widely considered to be the United States’ first native-born composer. He is famous for his parlor and minstrel songs, such as “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” and “O! Susanna”. The presentation will feature original arrangements of Foster’s music for French horn and reed organ by Dr. Martin.

10:45 – 11:45 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall: How I was Smitten by the Reed Organ – talks by ROSers

12:00- 1:15 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall: Lunch – Media Table Open

1:30 – 2:30 Hinton Center – Chapel:New Music for an Old Instrument – UGA students
In collaboration with the University of Georgia, the 2026 Reed Organ Society Gathering will feature a recital of new music composed for the Reed Organ by composition students of UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music. An Estey Model O, on loan to UGA by Jerry Taylor, has served as the students’ muse and is the instrument on which the new music will be performed. An additional recital of the students’ compositions will be performed at UGA and it is hoped that these compositions and recitals will bring renewed interest into the reed organ to a more diverse audience.

3:00 – 4:30 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall:Appalachian Arts Experience

By John C. Campbell Folk School staff featuring Appalachian Music & Instruments and Appalachian Crafters

5:00 – 6:30 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall: Dinner/ROS Banquet – Media Table Open – Last Opportunity!

7:00 – 8:15 Hinton Center – Tellabration: An evening of Appalachian tales and folksongs accompanied by reed organs.

8:30 Hinton Center – Near Labyrinth: Camp Fire – marshmallow roast

Sunday – September 13, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 Hinton Center – Moore Great Hall: Breakfast

Checking out of Hinton Center except for those staying extra day

9:30 Travel by personal transportation to Young Harris College, Young Harris, Georgia

10:00 – 11:00 Young Harris College – Historic Susan B. Harris Chapel:

“Hymns of Praise – Songs of Glory” - Hymns on reed organs with stories and biographies of composers

11:30 – 12:45 Lunch at Young Harris College Dining Hall

1:00 – 2:00 Young Harris College - Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church:

Youth Members’ Recital featuring the 1990 Bosch tracker pipe organ and reed organs.

2:30 – 3:30 Young Harris College - Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church:

Pick a Piece & Play Members’ Recital featuring the 1990 Bosch tracker pipe organ and reed organs.