Kids can learn to play the pipe organ on Saturday

As a component of its organist development program, the Ventura County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) will sponsor "Pedals, Pipes and Pizza" for children and young people at 9:45 a.m. Sat., May 14 at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The program will include an introduction to sound and an explanation of the operation of a large pipe organ, including the handling of real organ pipes and a walk into the instrument. Each child will sit at the console and have an opportunity to play the Ascension instrument.

The event will conclude with a pizza lunch hosted by the AGO chapter. Parents and caregivers should call the chapter dean, Len Loomis, at (805) 497-1959, to reserve a place for their children or for additional information.

The AGO chapter has a scholarship program designed to help new organists get started by paying for instruction manuals, organ shoes and up to a year of organ lessons. This year the chapter hopes to be able to award about $2,000 in scholarships to interested students.