American Guild of Organists Chartered 1896 European Chapter Chartered 1979

Newsletter October 2016

1. The Dean's Corner 2. The Secretary's Voice; News from the Board 5. Introducing our Members; 6. Members´ News 8. European News: Obituary; News from our Regional Councillor 10. News from HQ 13. Recitals Past & Present

The Dean´s Corner Meeting! This is not a new announcement for most of you, but for those of you who Dear European Chapter Members, have not yet heard the news: The Another exciting AGO year has begun European Chapter Spring Meeting 2017 for the European Chapter! Why exciting? will be held in Washington D.C. and our Well, there are many reasons. Let me member there, Roger Schumacher, is the name a few: organizer. There is still a little bit of room 1.) In the Membership Report in this for you to join us, so read the latest news newsletter you will see that in October we about the event in this newsletter and let reached 133 in our Chapter membership! both Roger and myself know about your Just two years ago we numbered 116, so plans to attend. You will also be able to this is another membership milestone for see the latest draft of the itinerary. Great our Chapter. Let me give a special work, Roger! welcome to our newest members: 3.) Your Chapter Board met this month in Margreeth de Jong, Middelburg, Hasselt, Belgium, for our annual meeting Netherlands; Stefan Heinemann, to discuss the business of the chapter. Wiesbaden, ; Donald Mackenzie, What an enthusiastic group of officers I am Aylesbury, England; Jason West, returning privileged to work with year after year on member now living in Washington D.C.; your behalf here in . I’m not sure Kathy Cooper, returning member living in that you are aware that your Chapter Board Arlington, Virginia; Christoph members live in a variety of countries: Hintermueller, Bergkamen, Germany, now Belgium, France, Germany, England, studying in Los Angeles; Thomas Dahl, USA, Italy and The Netherlands. That Hamburg, Germany, (2016 winner of the means that our Chapter, which is full of National AGO Competition in international members living around Improvisation in Houston!); John Wolfe, Europe and in the USA, is also represented Evan Currie and Roshan Chakane, all on your Board by just such an international students of European Chapter member group of individuals. Very special, indeed! Renee Louprette at Rutgers University in Thank you board members, for your New Jersey. We are thrilled that you have continuing devotion, work, time, energy chosen to become members of the and support of AGO and the European European Chapter of AGO! We look Chapter. forward to getting to know you! 4.) This newsletter is full of NEWS about 2.) We are going to the USA during the what is happening in the lives and careers week after Easter in 2017 for our Spring of many of our European Chapter members

1 here in Europe, as well as European Educational Coordinator: Ruth Ahrend Chapter members living in the USA and [email protected] Australia. The AGO gives organists, choir Professional Development: directors, organ friends and fans around Giorgio Parolini the world wonderful opportunities to gain [email protected] knowledge and experience, to be ONCARD Assistant: supportive of colleagues and receive Betsy Mixon-Stemmler support in return. Just taking the step to [email protected] become involved or simply meet one new Support your Board, be an active Member! person in our profession can bring Please note that the e-mail addresses are fulfillment and joy that I guarantee will formulated with (at) in place of @. This is spread to others. to foil the efforts of electronic “phishing” With warm wishes, for such information on-line. In order to Judy use the addresses please insert the @ The Secretary´s Voice before adding them to your address book. Thank you ! Dear Members, This issue is so full of interesting and exciting things that I don´t want to keep European Chapter AGO Address corrections you very long from reading further. During our Board Meeting we did discuss one Ronald Butts-Boehmer, CAGO item that I´d like to pass on here. Barry (formerly of Naples, Italy) Jordan and I agreed that our jobs as Web- PO Box 1842 Master and Newsletter Editor respectively Alexandria, Virginia 22313 would be much easier if our members USA would send us photos and information. Director of Music, Messiah Lutheran, Freely after JFK, “Don´t ask what your Germantown, Maryland (Flentrop organ) Chapter can do for you, think about what you can do for your Chapter!” Have a good Kristien Poesen read! Winkelstraat 26 Bernard 3600 Genk [email protected] BELGIUM +32 484 46 15 97 Please submit your items for the next kristienpoesen(at)msn.com Newsletter before Dec. 31st ! Jennifer Chou, new telephone number: News from the Board +613 97290765

Dean and Membership Coordinator: Judy Riefel-Lindel, new e-mail: Judy Riefel-Lindel judith.riefel-lindel(at)outlook.com [email protected] Sub-Dean: Johan Hermans [email protected] Watch for the new Secretary and Newsletter Editor: Membership List 2016-2017 Bernard Sanders coming soon! [email protected]

Treasurer: Charles Baer The European Chapter Web Site [email protected] can be visited at: www.agoeurope.eu Registrar: John Falkingham See Newsletters from 2000 until present [email protected] and pictures from the Spring Meetings ! Web-Master: Barry Jordan [email protected]

2 Mission Statement This is such an incredibly interesting

The mission of the American Guild of international group of people!

Organists is to enrich lives through organ and choral music. To achieve this, we: Spring Meeting 2017 • Encourage excellence in the perfor- Washington, D.C., April 17 - 22, 2017 mance of organ and choral music; • Inspire, educate, and offer certification TIME FOR AN UPDATE! for organists and choral conductors; • Provide networking, fellowship, and Dear Friends, mutual support; As I’ve worked to arrange the Spring • Nurture future generations of organists; Meeting for the European Chapter in • Promote the organ in its historic and Washington, D.C., next April, I’ve had the evolving roles; and occasion to meet some of the most wonderful people! Organists, Music • Engage wider audiences with organ and Directors, Pastors, Organ Builders, hotel choral music. and restaurant people, officials and members of local AGO chapters...entirely Membership Report without exception, these people have been by Membership Coordinator excited to learn that the European Chapter Judith Riefel-Lindel is coming to town, willing to go out of The Dean’s Message already “spilled the their way to help, and have offered their beans.” The European Chapter is instruments, their churches, and their ideas continuing to grow! As of October 2016, to help make our week a fantastic the European Chapter numbers 133 experience. So I’d like to begin this members, a jump of 17 in the last two update by thanking you, the members of years. Where are our members living? the European Chapter, for giving me the And how many are living there? Here’s opportunity to do this work for you. It’s the list: Germany 37, France 11, Italy 7, been educational, interesting, and very fun. Netherlands 6, Belgium 3, Liechtenstein 1, I’m so much looking forward to seeing Switzerland 1, Poland 2, Lithuania 1, how it all turns out next April! Republic of Moldova 1, Sweden 1, Finland And we have an Itinerary!! Have a 1, England 18, Scotland 2, Australia 1 and look at the bottom of this update. As I’m the USA 40. Where in the USA? New sure each of you understands, this Itinerary York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New is still a draft at this early date! Much can Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, happen between now and April to change Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, individual items on this program. But in North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, the case of each church, each organ (12 of Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, them!), each venue...the resident organists Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and officials in charge have been California and Arizona. contacted, and each has agreed to host us During the next few days I will be in the timeframe shown in this program. sending the membership list to our This is one of the core activities of our members. Watch for it and think about week...seeing and playing interesting, making personal contact with your fellow American-built organs...and I’m very European Chapter members in the near excited how this has all come together. future! It might start with an e-mail to one Surely you will be thrilled to get your member who happens to live in or near a fingers (and feet) into these wonderful place you would like to visit. But let me instruments! warn you: You’ll soon want to travel all Another core activity of the week will over Europe, the USA and Australia be the chance to meet members of AGO looking up European Chapter members. chapters in the USA, and this Itinerary

3 gives us the opportunity to mix with It’s wonderful that, as of today, we have members of four AGO chapters...one in the 40 persons signed up to attend. Our room university town of Winchester, Virginia block at the Marriott Hotel in Tyson’s (home to Shenandoah University) and Corner has been expanded to 30 rooms, three chapters in the D.C. area, our “tri- and 25 of these already have been reserved chapters” (the D.C. Chapter, the Northern by individual attendees. And it’s still Virginia Chapter, and the Potomac Chapter early, but the sooner we know whether you in the Maryland suburbs of D.C.). A plan to attend, the better! Please don’t couple of these chapters already have delay contacting Judy and me if you’re begun publicizing this visit by the thinking seriously about attending. The European Chapter, and we’ve seen real deadline to register for the Spring Meeting interest and excitement on the part of local is January 31, 2017. AGO members. So if you’re still undecided and haven’t We are working, as well, to offer yet committed, you still have a while to participants other enriching experiences. think about it, but please tell us what Setting up the meals has been a challenge, you’re thinking. The hotel block will fill, especially since I’ve wanted to keep the and by late January, the opportunity will costs down. Having lived in Europe for 11 have passed you by. years, I know that great food can be had Official registration for the Spring there for very reasonable prices. It’s a bit Meeting will take place in the lobby of the more difficult in the U.S. to find places Marriott Hotel from 4:00 - 6:00 pm, where large groups can experience Monday, April 17. As in the past, if an wonderful meals at modest cost. But I attendee already is a member of the believe the culinary experiences we will be European Chapter, there is no registration offering during the week might just tickle fee. Non-members will be asked to pay your palate and leave you sated without $30 (or 30 Euros) to register for the Spring doing great violence to your wallet. That’s Meeting, or they may become a member of the objective, at least! the European Chapter, including the But the most enriching experience of category of Chapter Friend, for $20 (or 20 the week? Why, of course, that would be Euros), in which case they will be excused spending time with good, close friends in from a registration fee to participate in the the European Chapter, renewing Spring Meeting. acquaintances with American members of Participants are expected to pay for the Chapter who are returning to join us in their own lodging, meals and the D.C. Spring Meeting, and, of course, transportation during the Spring Meeting. making new friends here in the USA! I As has been our practice in the past, the mean...the organs are great, yea, and who cost for the chartered bus will be split doesn’t like to eat??! But renewing old between the participants and the European friendships and making new ones, Chapter. The many additional costs of the especially among persons in our elite little Spring Meeting are covered by the corner of the professional world (fellow European Chapter. About two months organists and organ lovers)...that’s the before the Spring Meeting, the participants best! And there will be plenty of will be informed as to his/her share for the opportunity for that on a bus trip through bus, as well as the amounts for the the Shenandoah Valley, at meals, at each Opening and Closing dinners. The venue, or just hanging out at the hotel! participants will be asked to pay for the Good friendships are immeasurably bus and dinners in cash at registration important...but they need to be nourished. between 4:00 and 6:00 in the Marriott We’ll be doing plenty of that at the Spring Hotel lobby. Meeting! The European Chapter 2017 Spring Meeting in DC promises to be a very

4 interesting, enjoyable, and rewarding 12:00: Lunch at T&B Organ Shop experience, professionally and personally. 1:00: Trinity Episcopal and Christ Please consider joining us! Evangelical Lutheran (Taylor & Boody) Roger 3:30: Depart Staunton 5:00 - 9:30: Winchester AGO Chapter, Roger’s e-mail address: Demonstration Recital and Hosted Dinner [email protected] 9:30: Depart Winchester for

Judy’s e-mail address: Tyson’s Corner Hotel 10:45: Arrive Hotel [email protected]

European Chapter of the American Friday, April 21 Guild of Organists 10:30 - 12:30: New York Avenue Spring Meeting, Washington D.C. Presbyterian Church (Schleuter) April 17 - 22, 2017 12:30 - 2:00: Lunch (on your own in McPherson Square area) Monday, April 17 2:30 - 4:30: St. John’s Church (Episcopal) Members Arrive Lafayette Square (Lively-Fulcher) 7:00: Opening Dinner 5:00 - 7:30: St. John’s (Episcopal) at Clyde’s of Tyson’s Corner Norwood (Berghaus) Special guest: James E. Thomashower, 5:30 - 7:30: Reception Hosted by Tri- Executive Director, AGO Chapters (DC, Northern Virginia, and

Tuesday, April 18 Potomac) 9:00 - 11:00: Natl. Presbyterian Church 8:00 - 10:00: Farewell Dinner 10:30: Return to Hotel (Aeolian-Skinner) 11:30 - 1:00: Lunch (on your own in the Saturday, April 22 Shirlington neighborhood) Members Depart 1:30 - 4:00: Virginia Theological Seminary (Taylor & Boody) Introducing Our Members 5:30 - 6:30: National Cathedral Choral Evensong 7:00 - 9:00: Dinner on your own in National Cathedral neighborhood Possible late night encounter with National Cathedral organ (Ernest M. Skinner & Son)

Wednesday, April 19 9:00 - 11:00: First Baptist Church of Washington DC (Austin) 11:30 - 1:00: Lunch (on your own in Dupont Circle area) 1:00 - 3:30: Driving Tour of the City 4:00 - 7:00: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Moeller and Schudi) 7:30: Return to Hotel; Dinner on your own in the Tyson’s Corner area

Thursday, April 20 Staunton & Winchester, Virginia 7:30: Depart Hotel for Taylor & Boody Thomas Dahl was born in Tönning in OrganBuilders, Staunton 10:00: Arrive T&B Organ Shop; tour shop northern Germany. After completing his secondary education, he went on to study

5 church music, composition, music Peter’s. In 2012/2013 he held a teaching pedagogy, musicology and organ position for organ improvisation at the performance in Hamburg, Stuttgart, Paris Cologne School of Music. and Chicago. Dahl finished his studies Works of Bach and Reger, the French with six diplomas including the concert symphonic repertory and improvisation are exam in organ performance under Jon at the core of Thomas Dahl’s organ recital Laukvik and the Prix d’excellence under programs. .

Other significant organ teachers were In each issue we´d like to introduce Heinz Wunderlich with whom he studied another member. Send us your resumé the major organ works of , for inclusion! Willibald Bezler, Wolfgang Rübsam and Jean Guillou. Members´ News In seven international organ-playing and improvisation competitions he has Jean van Cleef has organized a Vesper been a prize winner or finalist. In 2016, he service with music by Monteverdi to be held on November 27th, 2016 at 6 PM. won 1st prize as well as audience prize at This service is to commemorate the 200th the AGO’s National Competition of Organ anniversary of the Church of St. John´s in Improvisation in Houston. Zutphen (Netherlands). At this point in In 1996 Thomas Dahl was appointed time the church came into Catholic hands Director of Music and Principal Organist at through intervention of King Louis- St Peter’s, Hamburg, the oldest of the five Napoleon, brother of the Emperor, and was main churches, where he is a successor to inaugurated by the archpriest of the church Telemann and C. P. E. Bach. His most province of the Netherlands. The ensemble important duties at St Peter’s are the will consist of vocalists (Choir and Soli), direction of the Hamburg Bach Choir and strings, archlute, organ, cornetto and the St Peter’s Collegium musicum, as well sackbuts (renaissance trombones) and will be conducted by Jean van Cleef. as the planning and execution of musical programmes for weekday, Sunday and festival services and for concerts. In 2007 Giorgio Parolini reports: he was honoured by the regional bishop At the beginning of last October I had with the title of Kirchenmusikdirektor, in the pleasure and privilege to play in the 2015 he was nominated Honorary Fellow "Orgelfestwoche" at Schlosskirche in of Birmingham Conservatoire. Wittenberg. This event was held from Since the age of eighteen, his concert October 2nd to October 9th for the career has taken him all over Europe, to dedication of the new Choir Organ at the the United States, Japan and Egypt. He has end of the long restoration work on the performed in such venues as Notre-Dame church. Actually the church was officially reopened the morning of October 2nd in de Paris, Thomaskirche Leipzig, the St the presence of Her Majesty the Queen of Petersburg Philharmonic Hall and St Denmark. Thomas Church New York. He also has Previously the new Choir Organ was participated in the international music located in a Chapel of the Castle complex. festivals of Paris, Moscow and Rome. Mr It was built in 1965 by Schuke Orgelbau Dahl has taught courses and seminars at Potsdam (16 stops, 2 manuals and pedal). conservatories around Europe and in the The same organ builder dismantled it, United States. To date he has directed five restored it, installed it in its new location Hamburg Master Courses in Organ at St (pipes are behind the choir stalls at the left-

6 hand of the altar) and provided a new colleagues, forming friendships based on console. mutual respect, admiration and The Orgelfestwoche (Organ Festival appreciation. Week) consisted of an Evensong on nd Sunday, Oct. 2 , for the dedication of the You may recall that our member organ (with the Schola Cantorum Adam Christoph Keller successfully completed Rener singing under Sarah Herzer's the examinations to become a certified direction and with Thomas Herzer at the Stock Market broker (Zertifizierter organ), a concert for Organ 4 hands on Wertpapier-händler und Mitglied der rd Monday, Oct. 3 , with Thomas and Sarah Deutschen Börse) on May 13th. Shortly Herzer, midday organ concerts from Oct. thereafter (Aug. 1st!) he already had a new th th 4 to 7 featuring respectively Vincent job. The company which trained him and Ryan (US), Steven Hoffman (US), Izumi prepared him for the examinations, Ikeda (Japan) and Giorgio Parolini (Italy). „Minotaurus Capital“, has hired him to th On Saturday, Oct. 8 , an Orgelnacht become the Training Director for the "reFormationen" was organized. It began division in charge of preparing others for at 20.17 (=8:17 PM, guess why...) and the examinations. featured all of the five organists who had The company gave several reasons for played during the week plus Joachim his appointment: his history of dedication Schäfer, one of the leading German to the company, his accomplishments Trumpet players. In all of the concerts both concerning the structuring of the the new Choir Organ and the Gallery preparation for the examination, and the Organ (Ladegast) were used, and the final depth of his knowledge of the contents. In 95 minutes long program featured a addition, there was a necessity to add a diverse array of organ music (Locklair, qualified broker in this new role to support Reger, transcriptions....), improvisations on the incumbent teacher of the brokering "Ein feste Burg" between which the full trade. church sang with gusto all 4 stanzas) and His duties will include organizing the music for Trumpet and Organ. A surprise didactic, developing a new syllabus, was waiting for the audience at the teaching the basics and specialized courses intermission: outside of the church they for finance mathematics and strategies for could have some little refreshments exam preparation. accompanied by a barrel organ playing Since May “Minotaurus Capital” is folk tunes. recognized as the official training center th A service on Sunday, Oct. 9 - again for the state of Hamburg. Starting with music for Trumpet and Organ - November it will act as the external rounded off the event. training center for future brokers of the This "Organ Week" was highly “Deutsche Bank” and “Commerzbank”, successful and had a huge impact on both which will dramatically increase the community and tourists: at every concert number of trainees. At the same time the the church was packed. company will intensify it´s cooperation For me it was great to come back to the with the "Capital Market Academy” of the Schlosskirche and to be part of this event Frankfurt Stock Exchange. in such an important place. Beside which, I Needless to say, Chistoph is delighted had the great pleasure of seeing Sarah and by this development – and we are, too! Thomas Herzer, the church musicians in He will continue to concertize, record, Wittenberg, again and of getting in touch and post his interpretations on You-Tube. with new colleagues coming from as far as Christoph Keller the US and Japan. On this occasion I [email protected] experienced how important it is for us www.christophkeller.org organists to establish personal contact with

7 Bernard Sanders’ "Christusgebet" for Billancourt, where he taught organ until mixed choir a cappella was chosen to be 1994. He was one of the greatest French included in the collection of music for the organists after the Second World War. A Diocesan Church Music Day in the great teacher, he discovered new repertory Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. The and contributed to the renewal of early composition was awarded 1st Prize in a French organ music, as attests his composition contest in 2003. For the numerous recordings. Chévalier of Arts Patron´s Feast of the St. Gallus church in and Letters and the National Order of Tuttlingen on Sunday, October 16th, his Merit, André Isoir has received numerous Christ-the-King Mass for Soli, Choir, distinctions as an international concert and Organ and Strings was performed under recording artist. With more than sixty the direction of the composer. The Mass recordings in his discography, he won the was composed as a commission for the 50th Grand Prix du Disque eight times between anniversary of the Christ-the-King parish 1972 and 1991. An eminent professor, he in Göppingen, Germany, and premiered has taught over 900 organists from all over there in 2013. the world. A Renaissance man, he was an international concert organist with a vast

Be sure to read Gabriel Dessauer´s report repertory as well as a composer who made on the AGO National Convention in numerous transcriptions. Fascinated by Houston in the Appendices (English or organ building, he served as an organ German!). Don´t miss it! Thank you, consultant and was a corresponding Gabriel! member of both the French Historical Monuments (from 1970 to 1985) and the European News Commission of Unclassified Historical Monuments (from 1980 to 1984). Obituary

Former member Dr. Carolyn Shuster Fournier writes from Paris: My last Master, André Isoir, passed away on Wednesday, 20 July, on his 81st birthday. His funeral was held on Wednesday, July 27th, at 10 a.m. at the Saint-Germain-des-Près Church in Paris, where he was honorary organist. The French organist André Isoir died on 20 July 2016, on his eighty-first birthday. Born July 20, 1935, in Saint-Dizier, France, he studied organ and piano at the École César-Franck. He then studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Rolande Falcinelli (organ), winning first prizes in organ and improvisation in 1960. Among various competition honors were St. Albans (1965) and three successive Haarlem competitions. Isoir served as titular organist at St-Médard, St-Séverin, and the Abbey of St-Germain-des-Près, all in Paris. He taught organ at the Conservatoire d’Orsay from 1974 until 1983, when he moved to the Conservatoire André Isoir (1935-2016) National de Region de Boulogne-

8 News from our The deadline for early registration is March 2, 2017. Today’s exchange rate is Regional Councillor .7573 American dollars to equal a

Dear Colleagues, Canadian dollar, making the member rate before March 2nd $300. I hope you’ve had a smooth start to your fall programming. For myself, the Registration Type summer always goes too quickly, but this Before March 2 After March 2 fall brings a lot of exciting events and Member (RCCO/AGO/FQAO) work as well. Negotiations with FTC on Noncompete $400 $450 Many of you already know that James Senior Member (65+) Thomashower has spent a great deal of $375 $425 time this year negotiating with the FTC on Student (under 25 with valid ID) non-compete aspects of our organization. At some point in the near future, I will $200 $200 have a to-do list for all chapter leaders to Non-Member help you respond to the requirements of $500 $550 this agreement. I expect to have more Daily Rate complete information after next week’s National Council meeting. $150 $150 Most organizations like ours are dealing Daily Rate (July 4) with this same issue, or if they aren’t now, $200 $200 they soon will be. The best approach is to We are hoping that every student who deal with it and move on. wishes to attend will be able to attend. nd th Montreal Organ Festival, July 2 -7 Chapters can sponsor a student to the st (add on days July 1 , Canada Day, convention for approximately $750 th and July 7 ). including registration and housing at It’s a busy region this fall with McGill University. I hope that you will preparations for our Montreal Regional encourage your chapter to sponsor one of Convention July 2-7. This regional is a your own students, or another student who special affair because it is being planned wishes to go. I also encourage chapters to jointly with the Royal Canadian College of sponsor a workshop or concert. The region Organists. Performers include Roomful of relies on chapter support for all such Teeth, Cherry Rhodes, Nathan Laube, regional events. Thank you very much for Olivier Latry, and the choir of Kings your support. College Cambridge which will do I will soon have an article and links evensong each evening of the convention, which can be shared on your chapter among many other notable performers. websites. Here is a link to the Festival Our convention next year coincides website which also links to the Sheraton with the Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal Hotel for reservations. http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/default- th http://www.montrealorganfestival.org/hom en.aspx, The 150 Anniversary of Canada, e.html. http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/146826257308 Please link to the hotel from the festival 1, and the 375th anniversary of the website so that your room will be credited founding of Montreal, to the festival contract and so that you get http://www.tourisme- the festival room rate of $175. montreal.org/blog/montreals-375th- celebrations-2017/. Hartford POE July 23-28, 2017 It is sure to be an exciting week. Vaughn Mauren, Coordinator Registration is open now - rates are as [email protected] follows (All prices in Canadian dollars)

9 Hartford is continuing their commitment to If you are a new chapter leader and the region by hosting a POE next summer, would like some help getting up to speed, based at the beautiful Trinity College. please don’t hesitate to ask – I am happy to Registration will be open in January. I will help or set you up with a mentor who has update you with links to the POE as soon performed your role. You can find an as they are available. interactive link to the Chapter management handbook, as well as a wealth of other 2017 Quimby Regional Competition for chapter support materials on the HQ Young Organists website. I hope very much that you will Four chapters are hosting RCYO encourage your chapter board to budget to competitions next winter – Boston, support our regional events – especially Buffalo, Greater Bridgeport and New York POEs and Regional Conventions. Those City. Contact information for the centers of us who have worked on these will be published in the November TAO. committees know that they are a labor of The Quimby rules were printed in the love we perform for our colleagues and to September TAO and can also be found on spread love of the organ. They need and the website. Quimby competitions take deserve our support for these herculean place from January to March with the efforts. winner of each chapter competition I look forward to catching up with you competing on the regional level in at some time in the next year and hope you Montreal on the Saturday prior to the and your chapter have a wonderful and convention. This is a link to the productive year. competition webpage which has rules for Everything good, chapters and competitors alike. Cheryl Duerr https://www.agohq.org/performance- Northeast Regional Councillor competitions/rcyo/

AGOYO AGO Young Organists News from HQ All members under the age of 30 are automatically enrolled in AGOYO and AGO’s Highest and most Prestigious afforded entrance to the AGOYO FB page. Awards Bestowed at National The Dean of the Northeast Region chapter Convention is Caroline Robinson. Other chapter New York City. The AGO bestowed its officers are Katelyn Emerson, David Ball, two highest awards of national distinction Janet Yieh, Michael Hey, and Forrest in conjunction with the 53rd biennial AGO Eimold. You will be hearing more from National Convention in Houston, Tex. AGOYO in the near future. They are Award presentations were made during the looking to partner with chapters to help Guild’s Annual Meeting. AGO President support YO members to attend the John Walker made the presentation to Montreal regional. Frederick Haas, and at Walker’s request, If your chapter is interested in hosting a Jeffrey Hoover made the presentation to Regional convention, Pipe Organ Robert Bennett because of Hoover’s long Encounter or Jubilee, please contact me association with the award recipient. and I will be happy to discuss it with you The AGO President’s Award was and your board. Even a small chapter – presented to Frederick R. Haas of like our Southeastern MA chapter – can Philadelphia, Pa. The prestigious award, host an event. created in 1988, is presented biennially to I am happy to visit your chapter to recognize outstanding contributions to the support the work or your board, encourage art of the organ in the United States. The events, work on growth strategies, or just 2016 President’s Award was given to Haas bring news from National. “in gratitude for his inspired artistry,

10 faithful support, and generous patronage of for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia. Mr. the King of Instruments.” Haas is a trustee of the William Penn The AGO Edward A. Hansen Foundation, trustee of the Wyncote Leadership Award was presented to Foundation, a patron of new and traditional Robert C. Bennett of Houston, Tex. opera at the Metropolitan Opera and at Created by the AGO National Council in Opera Philadelphia, and a trustee of Santa 1999 to honor the memory of the Guild’s Fe Opera. distinguished past president, Edward A. Robert C. Bennett has given more than 70 Hansen, AAGO, the prestigious award is years of service to the AGO. At the age of presented biennially to recognize 13, he was elected treasurer of the Houston individuals who have demonstrated Chapter and has since held multiple terms outstanding leadership in the AGO. The as dean and auditor. Bennett was 2016 Edward A. Hansen Leadership coordinator of the 1958 AGO National Award was given to Bennett “in gratitude Convention in Houston, co-coordinator of for his lifetime of devoted service to the the 1988 AGO National Convention, and Guild and his leadership in the Houston advisor to the 2016 AGO National Chapter spanning more than seven Convention. Additionally, he was decades.” coordinator of the 1973 AGO Mid-Winter BIOGRAPHIES Conclave and AGO Region VII Frederick R. Haas, organist and Convention. philanthropist, is a native of Villanova, Pa., Bennett was Diaconal Minister of and has performed throughout the Music and Fine Arts at St. Luke’s United Philadelphia region his entire life. He is Methodist Church in Houston, where he Assistant Grand Court Organist at Macy’s designed its organ and served for 42 years. Center City Philadelphia, where he He was chair of the subcommittee on performs on the Wanamaker Organ hymn tunes for the 1988 United Methodist weekly, and co-chaired the 2016 OHS Hymnal and the 1993 hymnal supplement. National Convention in Philadelphia, June He is a Fellow of Trinity College, London, 26–July 2. Fred Haas began piano study at and holds a doctorate from Southwestern age six and, during high school, had organ University. lessons with Robert Plimpton. He was admitted to the Oberlin Conservatory as a student of David Boe, and studied with AGO Names Prizewinners in Fenner Douglass, David Craighead, Harald National Competitions Vogel, and William Porter through the Oberlin Summer Organ Institutes. He was New York City. The American Guild of awarded a bachelor’s degree in organ Organists (AGO) is pleased to announce performance from Oberlin in 1983 and the results of its National Young Artists returned to Philadelphia. He was assistant Competition in Organ Performance organist to Jeffrey Brillhart at Bryn Mawr (NYACOP) and the National Presbyterian Church until 1986. Competition in Organ Improvisation A lifelong advocate for the King of (NCOI). Prizewinners were recognized at Instruments, Mr. Haas is founder of the the 53rd biennial AGO National Historic Organ Trust, an organization Convention in Houston, Tex. The dedicated to preserving and restoring following prizes were awarded: important American pipe organs. He is a National Young Artists Competition in board member of the Historic Organ Organ Performance Restoration Committee at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall and was lead donor of the First Prize - Katelyn Emerson Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ (Dobson, The Jordan Organ Endowment Prize: Opus 76) in Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center $10,000, awarded in conjunction with a solo recital on the Jordan Family Organ in 11 Columbus, Ga.; The Lilian Murtagh Schwandt, and Carole Terry. Major Memorial Prize: $3,000 cash award and support for the competition was provided career development assistance provided by by the Jordan Organ Endowment, Karen Karen McFarlane Artists; a CD recording McFarlane Artists, Kegg Pipe Organ by Pro Organo; a performance at the 2018 Builders, John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ AGO National Convention in Kansas City, Builders, the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Mo.; and a series of award recitals Company, the Nita Akin Competition throughout the U.S. Fund, and the Dallas (Tex.) AGO Chapter, Second Prize - Kirk Rich host of the semifinal round. $5,000 cash award provided by Kegg Pipe NATIONAL COMPETITION IN Organ Builders ORGAN IMPROVISATION Third Prize - Weicheng Zhao The National Competition in Organ $3,000 cash award provided by John-Paul Improvisation advances the art of Buzard Pipe Organ Builders improvisation by recognizing and Audience Choice Prize - Weicheng Zhao rewarding superior performers in the field. $1,000 cash award provided by the Martin Improvisation is the pinnacle of Ott Pipe Organ Company achievement for a musician who can combine the elements of performance and National Competition in Organ composition simultaneously in the creation Improvisation of a new work of art. Since 1990, the AGO First Prize - Thomas Dahl NCOI has motivated and inspired hundreds $3,000 cash award provided by the estate of the most talented organists in America. of McNeil Robinson; a CD recording by Today, it is the preeminent competition in Pro Organo North America dedicated to preserving and Second Prize - Matt Gender advancing improvisation at the organ, and $2,000 cash award provided by Dobson is open to all regardless of age or country Pipe Organ Builders Ltd. of citizenship. A flourishing tradition of Third Prize - Kalle Toivio improvisation has always been $1,500 cash award provided by Pamela fundamental to a truly vital musical and Steven Ruiter-Feenstra culture. Although musical extemporization Audience Choice Prize - Thomas Dahl has enjoyed a rich heritage in Europe for $1,500 cash award provided by David and many centuries, the art form is in perilous Robin Arcus risk of extinction in America except among a few organists and jazz musicians. The National Young Artists Competition in NCOI continues to set the standard for Organ Performance organists seeking to demonstrate their skill The National Young Artists Competition in extemporaneous performance, the in Organ Performance promotes the highest and most challenging musical art highest level of organ performance. The form. competition serves as a springboard for The judges for the final round of the emerging young organists, allowing them 2016 NCOI in Houston were David Arcus, to continue to develop their performance Marie Rubis Bauer, Pamela Decker, ability by participating in the various Marie-Bernadette Dufourcet, David demanding stages of this competition. Enlow, Tom Trenney, and David Ashley Established in 1950 and held biennially, White. Major support was provided by the the competition is open to organists estate of McNeil Robinson, Dobson Pipe between the ages of 22 and 32. Organ Builders Ltd., Pamela and Steven The judges for the final round of the Ruiter-Feenstra, and David and Robin 2016 NYACOP in Houston were Edoardo Arcus. Bellotti, Dean Billmeyer, Susan Ferré, Biographies of the 2016 competitors can James Kibbie, Ludger Lohmann, John be found in the April 2016 (NYACOP)

12 and May 2015 (NCOI) issues of THE Samuel Adler, Dominick Argento, William AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine. Albright, Conrad Susa, Emma Lou Diemer, Dan Locklair, William Bolcom, AGO Recognizes Three Alice Parker, Carl Schalk, Margaret Award Winning Composers Sandresky, Richard Proulx, Stephen New York City. The AGO honored three Paulus, Craig Phillips, and Libby Larsen. awardwinning composers at its Annual The 2016 AGO/Marilyn Mason Meeting on June 22, during the 2016 AGO Award in Organ Composition was National Convention in Houston, Tex. presented to Ivan Božièeviæ for The AGO Vice President Christian Lane Moonpiper–A Bagpipe Dance for Organ, presided over the award presentations to which was given its premier performance David Ashley White of Houston, Ivan by Joby Bell during the convention. The Božièeviæ of Croatia, and Michael award included a cash prize of $2,000, and Gilbertson of Hamden, Conn. publication by Hinshaw Music Inc. The 2016 Distinguished Composer The 2016 AGO/ECS Publishing Award was presented to David Ashley Award in Choral Composition was White. The prestigious award, created in presented to Michael Gilbertson for his 1986, is presented biennially to recognize anthem for SATB choir, organ, and outstanding composers of organ and choral trumpet, The Voice of the Lord, which was music in the United States. White’s given its premier performance during the anthem, With a Shining Like the Sun, for convention. The award included a cash mixed chorus, brass, timpani, organ, and prize of $2,000 and publication, both congregation, was given its premier provided by the ECS Publishing Co. performance during the convention. Additional information about AGO new Previous award recipients include: Virgil music competitions and awards can be Thomson, Ned Rorem, Daniel Pinkham, found on the AGO Web site, Agohq.org.

Recitals Past and Present

You can advertise here for your concert engagements to come as well as report those past. Please submit items for the next Newsletter !

July 17th 5 PM Carolyn Shuster Fournier, Organ Cathedral, Soissons (F) Nicolas Debacq, Trumpet Works by Martini, Viviani, J.S. Bach, M. Duruflé, Telemann, Delalande, Purcell

Aug. 2nd 8:30 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Cathedral, Brixen (I) Works by Nivers, Pachelbel, Scheidemann, Bach, and Rheinberger

Aug. 10th 8 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Pauluskirche, Darmstadt (D) Works by Boëly, Scheidemann, Pachelbel, Bach, Liszt, Langlais, and Preston

Aug. 16th 8 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Cathedral, Turku (FI) Works by Boëly, Scheidemann, Pachelbel, Bach, Liszt, Langlais, and Preston

Sept. 3rd 7 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Theatinerkirche, (D) Louis Vierne: Cinquième Symphonie Op. 47.

Oct. 30th 8 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Cathedral, Speyer (D) Works by Reger, Baker, Bach, Hancock, Bridge, Langlais, and Preston.

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Nov. 20th 7 PM Thomas Dahl, Director Laeiszhalle, Grosser Saal, Hamburg (D) Reger: Der 100. Psalm, Mendelssohn: Wie der Hirsch schreit, Bach: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

Nov. 27th 6 PM Jean van Cleef, Director St. John´s, Zutphen (NL) Vesper-Service with works by Monteverdi for the 200th anniversary of the church

Dec. 25th 9 AM Bernard Sanders, Director St. Gallus, Tuttlingen (D) Dec. 26th 10:30 AM Choir, Soli, Organ and Orchestra St. Mary´s, Tuttlingen (D) Bernard Sanders: Christ-the-King Mass in A

2017

Jan. 29th 8 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Mariä Himmelfahrt, Dachau (D) Works by Hancock, Scheidemann, Pachelbel, Bach, Liszt, Vierne, and Preston.

Mar. 4th 8 PM Martin Welzel, Organ Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris (F) Works by Roth, Demessieux, Vierne, and Baker.

Every Saturday (11:30) Organ Music at Market Time Marktkirche, Wiesbaden (D) Hans Uwe Hielscher and guest organists from around the world

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