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Augusta Chapter
American Guild of Organists

Established 1949

Officers:

Dean: W. Leigh Fleury

A native of Gahanna, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus), Leigh has been the Director of Music of First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, GA since September of 2019. Prior to this, Leigh served as the Director of Music and Youth Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Clinton, SC from 2006 to 2019. 

Leigh holds DMA and MM degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music in organ performance and sacred music. He also holds a BA in music from the Ohio State University. Notable teachers include Dr. David Mulbury, Janet Linker, and Telarc recording artist Michael Murray.

Since the age of 15, Leigh has held playing and directing positions in several churches, including: First Presbyterian Church (Winston-Salem, NC), St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Columbus, OH), St. John’s Church (Cincinnati, OH), Seton Parish (Pickerington, OH), and St. Matthew’s Church (Gahanna, OH).

A lover of the outdoors, Leigh especially likes hiking, biking, and gardening. He also enjoys photography, art, videography, reading, and spending time with his family.

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Sub-Dean: Christopher Leysath

Christopher T. Leysath currently serves as Director of Music and Choirmaster-Organist at Grace United Methodist Church (North Augusta, SC) and Director of Choirs at North Augusta High School. He also holds the office of Sub-Dean within the Aiken-Augusta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. For four years he was Conference Organist and music co-leader for the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.

In addition to his work as a keyboardist and classroom educator, Christopher has conducted honor choirs throughout South Carolina and Georgia, and served as Artistic Director for “Bound to Sing” boychoir of Aiken, SC. As collaborative pianist, he has taken part in performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and other notable venues. For eight seasons he has served as collaborative keyboardist for the Columbia-based choral ensemble, “Limited Time Only” (LTO). Other performance and research opportunities have taken him throughout the US, the Caribbean, Italy, and South Africa. Christopher regularly performs throughout our region and has presented sessions for the Southern Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association and the South Carolina Music Educators Association. Christopher holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from the University of South Carolina, as well as the Performance Certificate in Piano.

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Secretary: Elizabeth Gatter

Elizabeth Gatter is a native of Mobile, AL, with a diverse background in voice performance, pedagogy, keyboard performance, and church music. She comes to the Church of the Good Shepherd from Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in Mobile, where she has served as Organist/Choirmaster since 2021. As a vocalist, Elizabeth has performed extensively in collegiate and professional opera productions and was selected as the Madame Rose-Palmai Tenser Developing Young Artist with Mobile Opera for two consecutive years. In 2019, she was featured as a soloist at the Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage Festival, premiering songs from new musical theatre. Elizabeth has been married to Tony since 2023. Together, they have two cats, Zen and Xan, and one dog, Claire. They look forward to getting to know the people of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

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Treasurer: Hubert van Tuyll

Hubert P. van Tuyll, a native of the Netherlands, is organist at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension (Augusta, GA) and Professor Emeritus of History at Augusta University, Augusta, GA. He holds a doctorate in history from Texas A&M University, a law degree from Duke University, and a BA in Economics from the University of Montevallo. He is the author or co-author of 7 books on various aspects of military history, and hopes to complete 1 more.

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Membership: David Salter

David Salter has been the organist at Warrenville United Methodist Church for over 60 years, and has also served St. John United Methodist Church, Graniteville, SC as organist for 26 years. He is a retired Biology Teacher, Department Chair, and Curriculum Associate with 40 years of service in the Aiken County School System. David earned a BS in Biology Education, and M.Ed in Science Education at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He is Co-Director of Lay Servant Ministries in the SC United Methodist Conference, Past Dean, Sub-Dean, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Augusta AGO Chapter, and Board Member for the SC Chapter of The Fellowship of Music and Worship Artists.

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Chaplain: Rev. Dr. William Dolen

The Reverend Dr Bill Dolen is an assisting priest at Saint Paul’s Church, where he also sings in the choir. He has served as assistant director of the Augusta Choral Society and is a professor at the Medical College of Georgia, and is a scuba instructor at Neptune Dive and Ski.

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Director of Communications: Sawyer Branham

Sawyer Branham is a mezzo-soprano known for her warm timbre, lush sound, and emotionally grounded performances. A versatile artist equally at home on stage and behind the scenes, Sawyer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Augusta University and has been recognized in both classical and musical theater competitions. Her recent roles include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Martha in The Secret Garden, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas. She was a founding member and assistant director of The Lucia Ensemble, performing for seven years at Charleston’s acclaimed Piccolo Spoleto Festival.

In addition to her life as a performer, Sawyer serves as the Director of Public Programs at Cultivating Leadership, a global leadership development firm. Her dual passions for music and systems design are united by a deep commitment to precision, presence, and connection.

Whether singing in sacred spaces or shaping programs across continents, Sawyer brings a rare combination of artistry and organization to every endeavor. She believes deeply in the power of rhythm, resonance, and relationships to move people—on stage, in organizations, and in life.

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Past Dean: Deacon Kathleen Cartledge

Members-at-Large: Don Dupee, Dan Hardin, and Jim Nord