Volume 52, Number 7 May 2017

Official Newsletter of The Rochester Theater Organ Society Inc.

Scott Foppiano Returns to Present Our May Concert

Scott Foppiano was born in congregations nationwide such Memphis, TN in 1965. While a as the National Basilica Shrine student at the Parish School of of the Little Flower in Royal St. Paul the Apostle, he began Oak, MI where he oversaw res- playing for school liturgies and toration of the 1933 dual- eventually weekend Parish console, 100-rank Geo. Kilgen Masses. During his years at and Son designed Christian Brothers High School, by Charles Courboin and Scott experienced his first mov- voiced by Henry Vincent Willis, ie palace and theatre pipe or- the largest extant Kilgen organ gan at the Orpheum in Mem- in existence and historically phis. "Bitten by the bug," he certified by the OHS. He was was allowed to begin learning also Organist-Choirmaster at to play the theatre's Mighty Scott Foppiano St. Vincent de Paul Catholic organ and was soon Auditorium Theatre Church in Kansas City, MO. playing for show and movie 885 E. Main St Scott teaches piano, vocal overtures and intermissions. Sunday, May 28, 2017 coaching, classical organ, and 2:30 PM Following his family's reloca- (Doors open 45 min early) privately. One of tion to Charlotte, Scott entered his students placed as one of the NC School of the Arts as a three finalists in the 2012 Kenan scholarship student. Pri- Monks of L’Abbaye St. Pierre ATOS Young Organist Compe- vately, he continued organ in Solesmes, France. tition and went on to make his studies with William Whitehead Having served on the ad- debut at the ATOS national and Thomas Hazleton. Mean- ministrative boards of the convention in Los Angeles. In while, Scott served as Senior AGO, OHS, and ATOS, Scott 2007, Scott was honored with House Organist of the Fox has performed for their con- the title of ATOS Organist of Theatre in Detroit and was a ventions at both local and na- the Year and presented a solo regular "movie organist" at De- tional levels as well as silent recital at the Cadet Chapel of troit's Redford Theatre and Ann film scores nationally and in- the United States Military Arbor’s Michigan Theatre. ternationally. In 2001 his choir Academy at West Point. Scott holds a BMus, MMus, made a pilgrimage-tour of Ita- In addition to being Organist Serv Pl, and CAGO of the ly, singing the Latin Mass in and Director of Music at Holy AGO, Certification of Liturgy St. Peter's Basilica. Follow- Spirit Catholic Church in Den- Programming from Sacred ing the Mass, they were pre- ver, NC, Scott maintains a Heart Major Seminary in De- sented to +His Holiness Pope busy schedule as a solo organ troit and training in Gregorian St. John Paul II. performer and silent photoplay chant with the Benedictine Scott has served several accompanist.

2 RTOS Blower

Rochester Theater Organ Society A Letter from your President (Founded 1964) PO Box 17114 Rochester, NY 14617 If you heard Richard Hills’ concert, you heard Concerts & Info: (585) 234-2295 one of the best. Richard took the “red eye” from http://www.rtosonline.org the west coast, arrived late morning on Sunday, ————————— M C played a marvelous program, and flew out on Ken Veneron Monday. Oh to be young again... 48 N. State St. The run of Wicked forced RTOS to disconnect Nunda, NY 14517 the console, put it on a dolly, lift it to stage level, (585) 468-1052 and have the stage crew move it from the theater [email protected] to safe storage. The process was reversed about two weeks Membership (from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 ) later. The regular crew of RTOS maintenance folks included Russ Full: $65.00 Associate: (50+ miles from Roch): $45.00 Shaner, Roger Wood, Rick McCutchan, and Geoff Vincent (latter Student (age 18-24 with ID): $35.00 three in photo). Yours truly held the lantern high and pressed the —————————— up/down button when told... B E Laura Finger During the re-installation, 22 Blue Avocado Ln. we didn’t realize that a piece of Rochester, NY 14623 2X4 had been dropped in the (585) 298-9786 pit sometime during Wicked’s [email protected] run. It jammed the lift as it —————————— O C descended. No one knew why Martin Ippolito the lift stopped, but we soon PO Box 17438 saw and smelled smoke. Rochester, NY 14617 Roger had the power shut off (585) 266-6337 and backed off the lift drive —————————— P C manually—just a bit, but Tim Schramm enough to allow him to remove (585) 339-8546 the 2X4. All these events are [email protected] easy if you know what to do. Thank you Roger! We are also fortunate to have a Shopping on Amazon? close working relationship with the To direct your support to RTOS, Eastman School of Music organ Type: smile.amazon.com department. Their students present in your web browser and enter the Eastman Bunch concert each “Rochester Theater Organ Society ” February and the department chair, as your charity. David Higgs, is on our Board

of Directors. Recently, Eastman Do you use Facebook? hosted a group of out of town Help us publicize RTOS: dignitaries for a thorough tour of the many outstanding pipe organs in • Visit the RTOS Facebook Rochester. We were pleased when page ( Rochester Theatre they included our Wurlitzer at the Organ Society ) and ‘Like’ us. • Auditorium. In the photo, Professors Nathan Laube (L) and Bill Post the concert posters on Porter (R) are selecting registrations for a brief demonstration or your Facebook page. the many orchestral tonal colors available on our instrument. Visit the RTOS website frequently for the latest Paul A. Law news and information. [email protected] find us at: 585-755-4144 www.rtosonline.org

RTOS Blower 3

A Little Organ in Rush, New York by Bob Bower

In September 2012, a little even though Bob had not prac- pipe organ found a new home in ticed enough for Sleigh Ride . Rush. The 1850 Sam P. Phelps The swell shades were not in- farm house on Phelps Rd, cur- stalled (so no volume control), rently owned by amateur organ- the tuning was so-so, and there ist Bob Bower, was to be its was an occasional cipher. host. The organ was built as In 2015, Bob decided it was Casavant opus 2007 in 1950 time to build on the little organ. and first installed in a small A road trip to Waterbury Con- chapel at the Borges Medical gregational Church in Vermont Center in Kalamazoo, MI. Then lead to the acquisition of several it was moved to a church in pipes from their original 1905 town. Eventually the church Estey Opus #279 and an Austin was looking for more room in its that was incorporated into a re- choir loft, so they sold it and it build of the organ in 1967. The waited in a storage garage in ranks included a Trumpet 8’, Warsaw, NY for 3 years before Spitz Flote 8’ to 4’, Diapason 8’ being installed where it is today. to 4’, Mixture II, Larigot 1 1/3’ The opus 2007 consisted of and Tierce 1 3/5’. A couple par- two manuals and four ranks of tial ranks of pipes were also ac- pipes, a 2/4 if you will. The quired that are being used in ranks included a Bourdon 16’, decorative projects. Chests Flute 8’ to 4’, Salicional 8’ to 2’ were acquired for about half of and Dulciana 8’ to 4’. Bob’s the pipes, the others were de- mom put forth the challenge stroyed when the church re- “Will you be able to play Sleigh moved them from the chamber Ride for Christmas?” The pro- to make room for speakers. ject included getting the thing That left an opportunity for a into the house, which was no road trip to Indianapolis to ac- small task unto itself, piping and quire a 3 rank chest and 3 offset wiring over two rooms and down chests in need of help. Church of Christ, Scientist, into the basement. The project The search was on for per- now the Lilac Theater. A trip consumed every available mo- cussion. A little toy box from to York, PA yielded a wood- ment, and just three short California was the first piece, en xylophone, and then a months later was Christmas! then a set of church chimes drum action and metal Mom had her Christmas music from our own former First (continued on next page)

Rochester Theater Organ Society P.O. Box 17114 Rochester, NY 14617-0114

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Paul Law, President Ted McWharf, Vice-President Christine Van Stean, Secretary Ken Veneron, Treasurer Bob Bower , Director David Higgs, Director John Lukes, Director Rick McCutchan, Director Tim Schramm, Director, Programs Greg Spring, Director Russ Shaner, Past-President

UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS RTOS EVENTS Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main St. All artists and dates subject to change Clemens Center PAC David Peckham and the Pyramid Ragtime Orchestra accompany Scott Foppiano May 28 2:30PM The original score of The Mark of Zorro (1920) Mark Herman Jun 18 2:30PM Sunday, July 23rd at 4pm (4/26 M&C/Wurlitzer) 207 Clemens Ctr Pkwy, Elmira, NY Note: Artists and dates are subject to change Box Office: (607) 734-8191. Info: http://www.clemenscenter.org/ Check the RTOS website often for latest infor- Riviera Theatre & Organ Preservation Society (RTOPS) mation on 2017 dates and artists. (3/15 Wurlitzer) 67 Webster St, N Tonawanda, NY Box Office: (716) 692-2413. Info: http://www.rivieratheatre.org/ Rochester Museum & Science Center Empire State Theatre & Musical Instrument Museum (ESTMIM) Eisenhart Auditorium, East Ave. & Goodman St. (3/11 Wurlitzer) 581 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse (315) 687-3580 Open Console Info: http://www.empiretheatre.org/index.htm Sundays from 11:00 AM to 4 PM Kingston Theatre Organ Society (KTOS)

Kingston Korean Church 89 Kirkpatrick St., Kingston, ON, CA May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug 13, Info: (3/28 Kimball) Info/ticketing: http://ktos.ca/ Sep 10, Oct 15, Nov 12, Dec 17

Binghamton Theatre Organ Society (BTOS) “Open Console” is when members are given a 236 Washington St, Binghamton, NY. Box Office (716) 692-2413. time slot to play one of the Society’s theater Info/ticketing: http://www.binghamtontos.org/ pipe organs. Come to play, or enjoy the music.

A Little Organ (Cont.) Remembering Ernie Weirick by Russ Shaner xylophone came from Minneap- olis, MN. Word has been received of the passing of former RTOS mem- The original organ is current- ber Ernie Weirick on March 14 at the age of 99. Ernie and his ly fully functional with most of wife of 75 years, June, will be remembered as longtime active the new components being in- RTOS members prior to their relocation to Mechanicsburg, PA stalled in the expanded cham- and then to Port St. Lucie, FL after Ernie’s retirement from East- ber. An additional 3 octave mini man Kodak where he worked as an industrial engineer. keyboard is waiting to be added Ernie served on the RTOS Board as Treasurer from 1979– along with pistons and toe 1982. Both Ernie and June ushered at concerts and were mem- studs. A custom relay is being bers of the RTOS social committee where they hosted the annual built to handle the additions and RTOS ‘worker’s picnics’ at the Rochester Canoe Club. future recording and playback Ernie is survived by June and their daughters Bonnie Carl and features. Soon it will be the June Carol Hagreen; 5 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 3 “Not So Little Organ in Rush”... great-great-grandchildren; and other family members and friends.