sachusetts. The concert was jointly spon- Besides serving as the director of music During his 39 years at Berea, Court- sored by Holy Cross and the Worcester ministries at the Cathedral Basilica, Dr. er contributed to the musical life of AGO chapter. John Romeri is the director of the Arch- the campus and larger community. He The program included repertoire and diocesan Offi ce of Sacred Music. Karen taught organ, piano, chime, and carillon extended improvisations. For his open- Romeri is the cathedral’s assistant music performance, church music, and music ing selection, Lefebvre arranged for director and organist. theory, and was a former director of the organ Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Harmonia Society. A well-known organ- Fugue in d minor, BWV 903. His im- ist in the region, he was dean of the Lex- provisations included “Suite française ington AGO chapter. He was involved in in Classical French Style on a Gregorian the renovation of the Holtkamp pipe or- Chant,” “Symphonic variations,” and fi - gan in Gray Auditorium at Berea and the nally a free improvisation. The structures recent restoration of the 10-bell chime in of the improvisations were generally Phelps Stokes Chapel. He was the driv- sketched, and Lefebvre was assisted by Bronwyn Potter ing force behind Berea’s 56-bell carillon, two registrants. the largest in the state of Kentucky. Church. One of Greensboro’s summer In 1995 Courter received Berea Col- residents, a Mr. Tirrill, arranged for lege’s Seabury Award for Excellence some singers from the Riverside choir in Teaching, and in 2006 received the to perform in the area. There she met Elizabeth Perry Miles Award for Com- another summer resident, Herbert Pot- munity Service for his numerous contri- ter. She fell in love with him and also butions to the campus and community as with the picturesque little town on Cas- a musician and for volunteer service with pian Lake in Vermont’s rural “Northeast Madison County’s public radio station. Kingdom.” They became year-round res- In 1993, he was awarded the Berkeley idents in 1945. In 1946 she started her Carol Williams and Bernhard Leonardy Medal for Distinguished Service to the 63-year tenure at the United Church, at the Basilica of St. John, Saarbrucken Carillon as a performer and composer. where she presided over the venerable He was a Fellow of the American Guild 1868 Johnson organ, restored in 1972 by Carol Williams recently visited Lux- of Organists and a member of the Guild the Andover Organ Company. embourg, where she performed two of Carillonneurs in North America. Over the years she was a major musical concerts and fi lmed ten organs for the Courter won several international priz- infl uence in the community. She taught TourBus DVD series “TourBus Goes es for his carillon compositions, and his music in the Greensboro school system to Luxembourg.” Organs in the fi lming works have been published in Germany, and also in Craftsbury, Hardwick, and included the Philharmonia Hall, Notre- the Netherlands, and the United States. Woodbury, Vermont. She continued her Dame Cathedral, the Conservatoire He has written works commissioned by studies at Johnson State College, God- in Luxembourg City, and St. Martin’s the Palace of Government in Barcelona, dard College, and the University of Ver- Church in Dudelange. In addition, Wil- the cities of Utrecht, Kampen, and Alme- mont to maintain her teaching certifi cate. liams traveled to Echternach Abbey lo (the Netherlands), the Arts Council of On February 7, 2010 the congregation and across the border to Saarbrucken, Ireland, the University of Michigan, and Robert McCormick and community gathered for a reception to include the Buckingham Palace or- Grand Valley State University. in her honor. It was a time to thank her gan now housed in the Chapel of the In 2005, Courter established the Sum- The choirs of St. Paul’s Parish, K for her devotion and for her musician- Knights. Interviews and performances mer Carillon Concert Series at Berea Street, Washington, D.C., made their ship, which had enriched so many lives of eminent organists—such as Bern- College, which continues to bring inter- fi rst CD audio recording under newly over 63 years. A plaque, which will be hard Leonardy, Maurice Clement, Paul national carillonneurs to Berea’s campus. appointed director of music Robert Mc- hung in the church, was presented to her Breisch, and Paul Kayser—will be in- In his will, Courter provided for the Cormick in November 2009 for the Pro in honor of her serving with “skill, deter- cluded on the DVD. For information: ongoing maintenance of Berea’s caril- Organo label. The choirs had previously mination and grace.” . lon, which will be dedicated as the John released several recordings on Pro Or- —John Weaver Courter Carillon during the college’s gano, made during the tenure of Jeffrey homecoming this fall. Smith. The new CD, entitled We Sing John Courter is survived by two broth- of God (Pro Organo CD 7238), features Nunc Dimittis ers, two sisters, seven nieces and neph- the premiere recording of the complete ews, nineteen great-nieces and nephews, Missa Brevis by McNeil Robinson, in and special friend and caregiver at the addition to hymns and anthems from end of his life, Rev. Dr. Theresa Scherf. the Anglican choral tradition, several A memorial service took place June 24 at of which are in arrangements made by Union Church in Berea. There will be a Robert McCormick or by John Bradford special memorial concert later this year. Bohl, assistant director of music. The Schoenstein organ at St. Paul’s K Street was used for all of the accom- paniments, and is featured in two organ solos (movements of Widor’s First Or- gan Symphony), as well as in an impro- visation played by McCormick. Prior to his appointment at St. Paul’s K Street, Robert McCormick served as director of music and organist at St. Mary the Virgin in New York City. The CD is available from . John and Karen Romeri

Bronwyn Potter retired in De- John and Karen Romeri, directors cember 2009 after 63 years as organist of music at the Cathedral Basilica of St. and choir director of the Greensboro Louis in St. Louis, Missouri, were hon- United Church of Christ, Greensboro, ored on May 17 by the St. Louis AGO Vermont. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, chapter. The husband and wife team Pennsylvania in 1917, the daughter of a received the chapter’s highest honor, John Courter tenor soloist father and a pianist/organ- the Avis Blewitt Award, presented annu- ist mother. As a young woman she stud- ally to those who have made a signifi cant John Courter, organist and carillon- ied voice and piano in New York City contribution to the musical life of the neur at Berea College and retired pro- and sang in the choir of the Riverside greater metropolitan St. Louis region. fessor of music, died June 21, at the age of 68. Courter joined the Berea College David Sanger faculty in 1971. After retiring from teach- ing in 2007, he continued to serve as col- David Sanger, concert organist, lege organist and carillonneur. In addi- teacher, and past president of the Royal MANDER ORGANS tion, he was organist at Union Church College of Organists, was found dead and had been a long-time contributor to on May 28. Born in London, Sanger the music of St. Clare Catholic Church, was educated at Eltham College and New Mechanical both in Berea. the Royal Academy of Music, and also Action Organs A native of Lansing, Michigan, Court- studied privately with Susi Jeans, Ma- er earned a bachelor’s degree in choral rie-Claire Alain, and Anton Heiller. He music education from Michigan State became well known as an organ recitalist University in 1962 and a master of music when he won fi rst prize in two interna- degree in organ in 1966 from the Uni- tional competitions: St. Alban’s, England versity of Michigan. He had also studied in 1969 and Kiel, Germany in 1972. He Exquisite at the North German Organ Academy recorded over 20 CDs, including the Continuo Organs and held diplomas from the Netherlands complete organ works of César Franck St. Peter’s Square Carillon School. at the Katarina Church in Stockholm for London E 2 7AF • England [t] 011 44 20 7739 4747 [f] 011 44 20 7729 4718 [email protected] Specialists in Choral and Organ Music

www.mander-organs.com 2209 Crestmoor Road, Suite 220 Nashville, TN 37215 Imaginative Reconstructions 615-386-3542 § 800-851-9023 § 615-297-4291 Fax www.loisfyfemusic.com

8 THE DIAPASON BIS, and Vierne’s six organ symphonies Rhondda and Ton-y Botel, Duke scription/library rate for orders of all six for Meridian. He acted as consultant Street, Greensleeves, Nicaea, St. volumes. See on a number of organ projects, includ- Anne, St. Columba, and St. Patrick for details, including tables of contents, ing the new Cavaillé-Coll-style instru- and Deirdre; and in Vol. 2 (34 pages): descriptive notes, pricing, and general ment at Exeter College, Oxford, and Aberystwyth, Bunessan, Danby, information; e-mail ; telephone 805/682-5727; by post: at Bromley Parish Church, Haileybury ry, Llangloffan, and Slane. Fruhauf Music Publications, P.O. Box College, St. Cuthbert’s and Usher Hall Plainchant Hymn Tunes (34 pages) 22043, Santa Barbara, CA 93121-2043. in Edinburgh, Sheffi eld Cathedral, and offers two settings each of Adoro Te Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Devote, Conditor Alme Siderum, GIA Publications, Inc., has an- Sanger also composed music for organ, Divinum Mysterium, and Pange Lin- nounced personnel changes in its edito- and for strings and choirs. He authored gua; also single settings of Ubi Caritas rial department. After fi ve years as senior an organ method book in two volumes and Veni Emmanuel. editor, Kelly Dobbs Mickus is stepping for beginners, entitled Play the Organ, Each softbound collection is avail- down to take on a newly created role as which has become the most widely used able separately or at a discounted sub- ➤ page 11 in Britain in recent years. Together with Jon Laukvik he edited the organ works of Louis Vierne, comprising 13 volumes in a boxed set, published by Carus Verlag, Stuttgart. From 1980–89 David Sanger was professor of organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London, serving as chairman of the organ department from 1987–89. Between 1989–97 he was a consultant professor at the Royal Acad- emy of Music. RONALD CAMERON BISHOP Consultant Kenneth Vernon Turvey died Pipe Organs March 4 in Huntsville, Alabama. He was Digital Enhancements 81. Born in Dayton, Ohio, his fi rst organ All-digital Instruments studies were with Frank Michael, and 8608 RTE 20, Westfield, NY 14787-9728 during high school, with Parvin Titus at Tel 716/326-6500 Fax 716/326-6595 the University of Cincinnati Conserva- tory of Music, to which Turvey made a 50-mile bus trip each week for lessons, and where he completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After fi nishing his de- grees in 1951, he served in the Army during the Korean War. In 1955, Turvey began a 50-year career as music director for the First United Methodist Church in Huntsville. He also pursued doctoral organ studies with Oswald Ragatz at Buzard Opus 39, Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina Indiana University. Turvey served for 42 years as director of the Huntsville Buzard Pipe Organ Builders an- wide variety of tonal colors. Community Chorus, and conductor of nounce completion of their Opus 39 or- Buzard Pipe Organ Builders has also the Decatur Civic Chorus for 17 years. gan for Hayes Barton United Methodist launched its new website: . The new site features a vid- sity and the University of Alabama in organ of three manuals and 52 ranks eo of the builder’s son, Stephen Buzard, Huntsville, and was a co-founder of the made its debut in public worship on June playing the Buzard Opus 37 organ (53 Huntsville AGO chapter. Kenneth Tur- 20. Music director Mike Trexler and or- ranks) at Second Presbyterian Church, vey is survived by his wife, Janet, fi ve ganist David Witt presented special mu- Bloomington, Illinois, as well as photos, children, seven grandchildren, and a sic for the Sunday service, including a specifi cations, descriptions, and sound great-grandaughter. half-hour demonstration of the organ’s fi les of recent Buzard work. Jerry P. Whitten, 82 years old, died February 7 in Memphis, Texas. Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, studying with Mildred An- drews, and a master’s degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, studying with Vernon A Precise Balance Of de Tar. Whitten was employed by Tarpley Music Co. in Pampa, Texas, for 43 years, Artistry, Technology And Tradition and served as organist-choirmaster at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pampa for 15 years. Jerry Whitten is survived by his wife Nancy, four stepchildren, three step-grandchildren, three brothers, and two sisters.

Here & There

Fruhauf Music Publications has is- sued six volumes of hymn tune settings, in a variety of styles and forms. Included CB Fisk open house: Mark Nelson demonstrates Opus 138 are preludes, interludes, and postludes, along with several extended recital piec- On June 12, C. B. Fisk hosted an open es suitable for sacred, secular, ceremo- house at their workshop in Gloucester, nial or concert performance. Massachusetts, to mark the completion Early American Hymn Tunes (43 of Opus 138. The organ, a two-manual, pages) includes original compositions 28-stop tracker instrument, is on its on Amazing Grace, Azmon, Land of way to the First Presbyterian Church at Rest, Morning Song, Simple Gifts Incheon, South Korea. Installation will and Bourbon, Toplady (Rock of Ages), begin in late August. and Wondrous Love. Some 300 supporters from the local Germanic Hymn Tunes (35 pages) of- community were joined by many Korean fers Es ist ein Ros, Grosser Gott, guests, including organ committee mem- Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir bers Pastor Shin-Chul Sohn, organist (Old 100th), Lasst uns erfreuen, Kim Hae-Kyung, Tai-Sik Hwang, Young- Lobe den Herren, Nun danket alle Nam Kim, and Sun-Ai Lee, and church Gott (manualiter and organo pleno), members Kwang-Ok Lee, Dai-Ryung Schmücke dich, and Stuttgart. Yu, Eun-Sook Park, and Ms. Kim’s for- YEARS Hymns for All Seasons (40 pages) in- mer student, Sanghwa Lee. After a short 4O cludes Ein feste Burg (four variations), recital by Mrs. Kim, guests took a turn at Kremser, Picardy, Sicilian Mari- the console or joined in singing the South PIPE ORGAN COMPANY ners, and Variations on a Noël (A la Korean and American national anthems venue de Noël). accompanied by Sanghwa Lee. Hymn Tunes from the British Isles, Vol. 1 (35 pages) presents Brother www.TheDiapason.com CB Fisk open house: Hae-Kyung Kim Bedientorgan.com / 800.382.4225 James’ Air, Bryn Calfaria, Cwm takes a turn at the console

10 THE DIAPASON