Contents Chapter Officers Dean's Column SLCAGO at 80 Years!
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Salt Lake Chapter // American Guild of Organists THE BOMBARDEJanuary 2017 Contents Dean’s Column (1) SLCAGO at 80 years! (1) Dean list (3) New/Renewed Members (3) Certifications (3) Upcoming Events (4) 2017 West Region Convention (5) Organ Teachers / Sub List (6) FTC Settlement Update (6) Practice Tips from Bonnie Goodliffe (7) The Salt Lake Tabernacle on February 20, 1937. The Utah Chapter of the AGO was chartered in 1937. Barb Adler event flyer (8) Event Photos (9) ty the jar and (while relaxing!) read Dean’s Column about the amazing year 2017 was. Hello my dear friends, I hope to see you soon. I’ll continue to Chapter Officers work on making this a wonderful year I hope all of you had a Merry Christ- with the help of my board members. Dean mas and a happy New Year. Remem- Becky Ázera ber that even though it’s the craziest Please let me know if you have any [email protected] time of year, it’s also the happiest time questions or concerns. I’ll do my very 2016 - 2018 of year . I love all the musical oppor- best to help you. tunities which take place during De- Sub-Dean/Program Chair cember. I’m so grateful for people like Thanks and Happy New Year! you who are willing to share your mu- Heidi Alley [email protected] sical talent. The music brings so much 2016 - 2018 peace and joy to my soul. BeckyBecky Ázera Dean Treasurer We have a lot more exciting Events [email protected] Tyler Anderson coming up in the next six months, [email protected] including the West Region Con- 2016 - 2018 vention right here in Salt Lake City, SLCAGO at 80 years! so check the calendar frequently. by Alex Oldroyd Secretary (slcago.org/calendar) Kathy Fisher In 2017, the Salt Lake Chapter is cel- [email protected] I have a little challenge for all of you. I ebrating its 80th anniversary! The 2016-2018 know we beat ourselves up sometimes Utah Chapter of the AGO was char- because we don’t accomplish every- tered in 1937, with Dr. Frank Asper as Members-at-Large thing we need to, or think we need to founding Dean. Janet Griffin in a day because there are only 24; not [email protected] 100 hours! Born in 1892 to a musical family, As- Alex Oldroyd per began his musical career on the [email protected] My Challenge: This January, start the harmonium (reed organ), which his year with an empty jar. Each week, father brought across the plains in a write down something wonderful that covered wagon. Frank studied under Education Coordinator happened on a piece of paper and place Ebeneezer Beesley in his youth, and Ryan NorthCAGO/ChM it in the jar. On New Year’s 2018, emp- [email protected] (continued page 2) 2016-2018 1 followed the harmonium with the pia- the only mention of the Guild is that share your passion for the organ with no, and by age 12, the pipe organ. His Asper was a Fellow of the American others and with each other. But, I have inaugural performance was on the Guild of Organists. heard a general sense of underlying original Assembly Hall organ, about despair within the organ community, which we know very little, but seems Founding the Utah Chapter of the both here in Salt Lake, and in other to have contained some parts from American Guild of Organists in 1937 places I've traveled to. the original Joseph Ridges Taberna- certainly brought an air of prestige to cle Organ. A contemporary newspaper the organ community of the Salt Lake The Salt Lake Chapter has a long and article published in 1878 describes valley and surrounding areas. wonderfully-storied history. This is "a few parts of the organ that was in not intended to be an exhaustive ac- the Old [1867/current] Tabernacle are Having been involved with leadership count. However, I'd like you to consid- being used in its construction, but as of the Chapter for nearly six years, I can er a few things that have occurred in it is being enlarged, with additional only imagine the challenge of starting the last five years in hopes that it may pipes, bellows, stops, etc., it can really up, recruiting members, planning ac- shine some light on what I see as an be called a new organ." (Deseret News, tivities, etc., let alone without the aid exciting opportunity for growth in our Nov. 27 1878) of the computer or email in any of it! chapter. Asper went on to study at Stern's Con- These were also busy years profes- • In the last 5 years, the Chapter has servatory in Berlin, Germany, and sionally for Asper. In addition to nor- hosted, sponsored, and promoted later graduated with honors from the mal duties preparing and playing more than 50 high-quality educa- tional workshops, lectures, master New England Conservatory in Boston. recitals, planning weekly church ser- classes, conferences, and concerts. He was awarded an honorary doctor of vices, directing his church choir, he music degree by Bates College in 1938. was also composing and editing mu- • The Salt Lake Chapter hosted 3 "Su- per Saturday" events (one of which sic. He published several volumes of was a regional Jubilee), which pro- Asper took two jobs in 1924: as Music organ music and arrangements, and vided inexpensive training to ap- Director and Organist at First Method- composed music and lyrics for sever- proximately 300 organists. Although ist Episcopal Church (now First Unit- al hymns. The American Organist pub- not the overall goal, these events ed Methodist) in Salt Lake, and more lished an article about him entitled were profitable for the Chapter, and famously, as a Tabernacle Organist. "The Poet Organist" in 1989. The Tab- also garnered new members. He remained at First Methodist until ernacle Choir began its weekly Music • In 2015, we hosted a Pedals, Pipes, 1939, and at the Tabernacle bench un- and the Spoken Word broadcast pro- and Pizza event on Temple Square til 1965. gram in 1929, and toured on 3 differ- where nearly 100 young organ- ent occasions between 1926 and 1935. ists experienced the instruments During his tenure at the Tabernacle, there, some for the first time. Asper would perform approximately It would certainly have been easier to In 2016, we hosted another Ped- 5000 organ recitals, accompany more pass along the task to someone else; als, Pipes, and Pizza at 3 other area than 1000 broadcasts of Music and the but thanks in large part to Asper, and churches, and had more than 60 young students attend. Many of Spoken Word, produce a solo LP record, the 33 others who have followed in his these individuals were first-time at- and had his own radio program. footsteps, the Salt Lake Chapter (char- tendees. tered in 1954 with the founding of the • In November 2015, in conjunction Utah Valley chapter) is thriving today. with the Utah Music Teachers As- sociation (UMTA), we put on an "or- Of course, one need not be the Dean to gan day," consisting of open console contribute to the organ world. So much & demonstrations at the Conference of the conversation today in the organ Center, Tabernacle, and Assembly world revolves around decline: the de- Hall, a noon recital, lunch, and (3) cline of organists, of organ jobs, of AGO hour workshops. On a Thursday, we membership, of event and convention were able to draw more than 75 at- tendees to this one-day event. Many attendance, of concerts, of quality mu- of these individuals were piano sic in church, of academic organ pro- teachers who were themselves trying grams, and notably, the decline of new to become organists, and/or training students taking organ lessons. organists. Several of these individ- uals have attended other chapter In that context, is the lack of new stu- events and become members. dents surprising? I have sometimes • The membership of the Salt Lake thought if I were coming in to the or- Chapter increased from 2014-2015 gan today, would I be turned off by and 2015-2016 through new and re- Frank Asper at the Austin console of some of the things I have heard about newing members, and dual member- the Mormon Tabernacle Organ, ca. 1935. it? Possibly, but I don't give it too much ships. Photo provided by Steven Lawson to the • The Salt Lake Chapter absorbed Organ Historical Society's web site. thought; being an organist is simply a part of who I am. the former Cache Valley and Ogden chapters, and has both signed up or In reality, Asper's musical career renewed members from these ar- needs little introduction. It is his con- I don't mean to lecture or suggest that eas, and turned out members to our tribution to the Guild which deserves our chapter has an attitude problem; events. some closer scrutiny. I've immensely enjoyed my associ- • In March 2017, the Chapter will host its ation with you and found so many of first event outside the Salt Lake Valley In many short biographies of Asper, you to be kind, upbeat, and willing to 2 with a visit to the Ogden Tabernacle. UTAH CHAPTER (1937) of Organists is to foster a thriving • In 2017, for the second time in 15 1937-38 Dr. Frank W. Asper FAGO community of musicians who share years, the Salt Lake Chapter will 1939-41 Alma A. Selander their knowledge and inspire passion host the West Region Convention of 1941-43 Alfred M.