c \ \.r'l ,!/>~ .. AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS WORCESTER CHAPTER February 2003 'Yj~~:f)_,,, . :' ... I THE WORCESTER ORGANIST Ivolume 21lssue 7 FEBRUARY 20031 EXECUTIVE Message from the Dean COMMITTEE DEAN Marjorie Ness Scholarships: the life-blood of our heritage SUB-DEAN RobinDinda REGISTRAR aaudetteBelair The American Guild of Organists has provided many incentives fur young TREASURER Scott Yonker organists who are attracted to the study of the organ. There are chapter and SECRETARY Jean Breidenach regional competitions for those under the age of 23. There are regional competitions that culminate in someone winning the national competition. The AUDITORS Ronna ArehbQld national AGO has developed a host of programs to encourage the knowledge and Kuren Gustafson pursuit of the organ by pre-school through adult. The successful POE (Pipe Organ MEMBERS -AT -LARGE Encounter) has been expanded to POE+ for adults. It is an understatement to say JaneenBaker that we, as an organization, recognize the necessity to constantly put people in Lucia Clemente-Faleo sight and sound reach of the organ. We no longer lock organs as fast as possible Debra Le:lhun following service and say "do not touch" as our main message. James Moore In keeping with this, the Worcester Chapter is one of many who award Karen Wwlsma scholarships to worthy students. What is a worthy student? We are currently Susan Wildman furming a new scholarship committee to work year round to review our guidelines PROFESSIONAL OONCERNS fur awarding scholarships and our means of raising scholarship funds on an on- '\/ going basis. We have helped students of all ages, whether it is a teenager headed Renea Waligora to an organ degree program, or an adult pianist currently working for a church as REGION I COUNCILLOR the organist-director. With an audition tape and a recommendation of the AGO Lois Toeppner teacher, the student may receive help. That is, as long as there are funds to give. At the January 13th board meeting of the Worceste~t!Jce board vote_d unanimously to each donate as he/she is able to th~cholarS.~~nd by AGO Aprill•t. We wanted to challenge the remamder of the meiifuershlp to donate as STATEMENT well. We have received another pledge of $1,000. A board member suggested that OF "tithing" a funeral or wedding fee to this fund would be a simple way to make an annual donation. We also decided to promote donations through a free-will PURPOSE offering at the February 9th (Sunday) Member's Recital at St. Cecilia's Church, Leominster. At each subsequent program we will include a statement on printed material about the opportunity to give. "The purpose of the At the Annual Meeting, June 2, the new scholarship committee will report American Guild of on their recommendations regarding the distribution and raising of scholarship Organists is to promote the funds. This is a worthy effort that will take all of us to promote. The board's organ in its historic and decision to give is our desire to lead by example. I ask that you give serious evolving roles, to encour­ consideration to this avenue of securing the training of organists for our profession age excellence in the per­ in the future. formance of organ and choral music and to pro­ vide a forum for mutual Marjorie Ness, Dean inspiration, education and certification of Guild members" VOLUME 21 ISSUE 7 THE WOR.CESTER ORGANIST FEBRUARY 2000 CHAPTER PROGRAMS AGO WORCESTER CHAPTER 2002-2003 FEBRUARY Sunday 9 February at 3 p.m. - Members' Recital St. Cecilia's, 180 Mechanic Street, Leominster, MA This will be a rare treat, not to be missed, due to the quality of both the instrument and the per­ formers. The organ is a four-manual, 61-rank Casavant from 1933; a mighty instrument in a huge building with wonderful acoustics. The performers, some of whom are new to the chapter, are Lucy Dechene, David Lasky, Abbey Hallberg Siegfried, Renea Waligora and Ian Watson. This will be an outstanding recital so plan on attending[ Directions From Rt. 190-North, take EXIT 8, bearing left at ramp; go straight for about one-half mile until you come to a set of lights (Sears town Mall entrance is on your right); contioue straight for about a mile; church (Gothic cathedral-­ can't miss it!) is on your right, with parking lot in back. Telephone 978/537-6541 MARCH Saturday 29 March- Pedal, Pipes and Pizza- National AGO Initiative Pakachoag Church, 203 Pakachoag Street, Auburn, MA 10:0 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. APRIL Friday 25 April 2003 AGO members' sharing of preludes that can be sight-read Details in February Newsletter MAY Saturday 17 May - 9 a.m.- 4 pm p.m. Mini-Convention at First Unitarian Universalist., Worcester, MA Richard Coffey-Choral Workshop/Robin Dinda-Sibelius Software/Debra LeBrun-Hand bells/ William Ness-Organ Repertory/Renea Waligora-Professional Concerns JUNE Monday, 2 June - Scholarship Recital and Annual Meeting CHAPTER PROGRAM COMMITTEE James David Christie Lucia Clemente-Falco Lucy Dechene Sean Redrow Robin Dinda- Chair FEBRUARY 2003 THE WORCESTER ORGANIST VOLUME 21 lSSUE 7 OFFICIAL BUSINESS FOR THE Full Standing Members of the Worcester Chapter of the American Guild of Organists The Executive Board of the Worcester Chapter recommends the following motion Note that this motion, according to the by-laws, will pass only if adopted by 2/3 of the membership of the chapter and money may not be transferred from Restricted Funds without the vote of the membership. See Dean's note below. Motion: That $4,500 be takell from the chapter's Restricted Funds, with $2,000 being placed in the Scholarship Account and $2,500 being placed in the General Fund for chapter expenses. VOTER INFORMATION: VOTER NAME-~---------------------- Member In Full Standing YES __ Annual__ Life-Long __ Dual (2nd chapter is Worcester) YES or NO -------"If Yes - PIR,ase. Co11Jplete the next line) "' cJ' "_,- ·. -- __ J ___ / ...'_---/-. • - " My primary chapter is---------- VOTE: Place an''X'' vote next to the appropriate line. -~- - I endorse the above motion. YES--,---- I do not endorse the above motion. NO ___ lJi F ,.,~_, Signature ------------------------'--/'Ifat./~--.,-----,---- HOW TO SEND IN YOUR VOTE: Please have ballot postmarked on or prior to 30 January 2003 Pll)ase return this ballot by folding in three on lines provided on the reverse, close with tape, apply postage OR place in an envelope and mail to Claudette Belair, Registrar 2 Carleton, Millbury, MA 01527 Note from the Dean This ballot has been mailed to all members io full-standiog and is being iocluded here so that those who have not yet returned their ballot may do so. I ask that you support the board on this for the followiog reasons: newsletters, which are the life-lioe of the chapter are costing $350-$400 a month to produce and our yearly dues do not cover this expense. This iocludes first-class postage that allows everyone to receive the news io a timely manner, but printiog is the larger cost. 10 issues of the newsletter therefore takes all the dues money that we are allowed tore­ tain from what we collect. At the same time that we are askiog you to adopt this motion, we are also workiog hard to raise scholarship funds, to iocrease the general membership so that revenue and outreach is higher, and to put ioto place the advisory committee (not yet formed sioce the chapter vote io 2000) who will consider iovestment op· tions for the priocipal so that we might have greater ioterest to spend. The funds we are seekiog to transfer to the general account and the scholarship account will simply allow us to function with programmiog for the comiog year (2003 & ioto 2004) while we solve the other challenges. If you have further questions do not hesitate to e-mail or telephone. Thank you for your tiroe and thoughtful vote. Ma:rjorie Ness, Dean 978-365-2416 and/or [email protected] To place an ad or obtain a list of substitute organists,contact: Debra LeBrun, Phone: (978) 692-1309, Email: [email protected] PLACEMENTS services: 1 trad. and 1 contemp. 0/D=Organist and Choir Director; OM= Director of Music; MM=Minister of Music; CD=Choir Director; O=Organist FEBRUARY 2003 THE WORCESTER ORGANIST VOLUME 21 ISSUE 7 CHARLES N. HENDERSON SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED BY THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS Permanently Restricted Fund Will Provide Scholarships for Pipe Organ Encounters Attendees Beginning in2003 The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (AGO) is pleased to announce the activation of the CHARLES N. HENDERSON SCHOLARSHIP, made possible by a fund created in 2001 in memory of the late Editor Emeritus of The American Organist Magazine. Established by the family and friends of Mr. Henderson and the AGO National Council, the scholarship will be awarded to deserving Pipe Organ Encounters participants beginning in 2003. This is the sixth and newest permanently endowed scholarship sheltered by the AGO New Organist Fund Tax­ deductible contributions to increase this fund further are welcomed. "The AGO is very grateful for the generosity and support of the many individuals whose vision for the future of our profession is manifested by the creation of scholarships for young, aspiring musicians," notes Frederick Swann, president of the AGO. "These individuals have made an investment in the youth of America, whose enhanced knowledge of the organ and appreciation of its role in worship will contribute to a bright future for our profession." A native of West Chester, Pa., CHARLES NEWTON HENDERSON (1917-2001) graduated cum laude from Bucknell University. He later studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York, the Fontainebleau School in France, and at Syracuse University, where he earned his master's degree under Arthur Foister.