2004 October 2014 Due to church renovations, information about a dinner and business meeting will be forthcoming on our website and sent via chapter emails. DEAN’S MESSAGE Dear Colleagues: CARITAS is the largest provider of homeless services in the metro Richmond area. Last month—for one week—Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (where I am the organist) hosted forty homeless women who were a part of CARITAS. At the end of each day the ladies would return to the church for dinner. Following dinner our missions committee had arranged special activities and programs for the ladies. One of our church members approached me prior to the event and asked if I would be willing to give a demonstration on the church’s Schantz organ as one of the programs. At first I was a bit hesitant to agree to lead a program, because I assumed there would be little-to-no interest by the ladies. I was wrong, VERY wrong! For my program I invited the ladies to sit in the chancel where the choir sings on Sunday mornings. It became immediately obvious by their body language that they were eager to hear what our mighty pipe organ was capable of doing. Before I played the first notes, the questions came at me quicker than I could answer: “What are the pipes made from?” “What is the size of the largest/smallest pipe?” “How does the sound get from the console to the pipes?” “Why does this organ have four keyboards?” “Why does the organ have pedals?” I decided to open the program with a thrilling French toccata. Two measures into the piece: laughter, joy, excitement, amazement, tears, clapping. These outward expressions of emotion occurred throughout the entire toccata. Next, I demonstrated the various colors of the organ with a few hymn arrangements on tunes I knew most would recognize. Again, the same response. I was delighted to see several ladies comfortable enough to stand and walk up to the console during the performance to get a closer look. I realized at that moment that this may have been the first time many of these women had the opportunity to be this close to a pipe organ. There was a true “connect” that evening with the ladies. They were so grateful to be able to experience an organ tour and to have the opportunity to be seated directly beneath the instrument. And so I was reminded again that we organists continually have to play the role as educator. Inevitably, we will encounter people from all walks of life who have never heard or seen the organ. In our post-modern culture we must always be open and ready to teach others about the organ and to share our enthusiasm about our profession. If your church participates in the CARITAS program, consider offering an evening devoted to an organ demonstration. You and your guests will be glad you did! Chris Martin Dean DEAN'S LUNCH The next Dean’s Lunch will be Thursday, October 23, 12:15 P.M., at Baker’s Crust, 2553 W Cary St. RICHMOND REGIONAL CONVENTION 2017 UPDATE On Thursday, October 2, Kenna Payne—our chapter’s regional convention coordinator—will travel to Clarksville, Indiana (across the river from Louisville, Kentucky) for an orientation for our 2017 convention. The Coordinators of Regional Conventions (2017) from across the country will meet with Regional Councillors and representatives of the Committee for Conventions for a full day of orientation. After this meeting we will have a better understanding of how to proceed in forming our own regional convention steering committee. We will keep our chapter up-to-date on our convention happenings with frequent columns in the Stoplist, emails, and postings on our Facebook page. EVENTS CALENDAR NOW ON LINE The Richmond AGO has now added an "Events Calendar" to the website. At a glance, you can now view future chapter programs and recitals on the newly added page. Chapter members will be allowed to promote their own concerts and events by submitting their information by filling out the online event submission form. All submitted events will first be approved before appearing on the calendar to prevent unwanted postings from outside the chapter. Here is the link to the Events Calendar page: http://richmondago.org/area-events EDUCATIONAL CONCERNS If you are planning to take any of the AGO exams this year (2014-2015), please let me know so I can schedule you in. The tests do need to be played on a pipe organ. If you need help to find a place, I need to know. Please make sure your music is playable on the organ you will test on. Sometimes one runs out of pedal notes on the test organ yet not on the practice organ. National does not favor rewriting things to accommodate the smaller pedal boards. Anyone wishing to come to my home and look over the music and play the organ here, you are most welcome to do so. That will let you have an idea of how much work the pieces to select from will take as you initially play through what samples I have here. I have a Steinway console grand piano and a new Rodgers electric organ. Call me at 804-288-4098 or e-mail me at [email protected] to schedule a visit. Mary Campbell, SPC 288-4098 THE RICHMOND AGO IS ON FACEBOOK Stay connected with Richmond AGO members and notices of meetings, recitals, and other events through the chapter's official Facebook page. Look for us on Facebook: Richmond Chapter - American Guild of Organists, or go to the Richmond AGO web- page www.richmondago.org and click on the Facebook icon. OCTOBER CONCERTS AT CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART Monday, October 13, 2014, 7:00 P.M., Free Concert by VCU French Horn Music Students. 359-5651 Sunday, October 19, 2014, 2:00 P.M., Free Concert by soprano Anne O’Byrne, flutist Anthony Smith, & pianist Patrick Carlin of works by Handel & Adam, among others. The complete Concert Program may be viewed on the Music Page of www. richmondcathedral.org. On-Street Parking and the VCU Parking Garage at the Altria are available. 359-5651 Tuesday, October 21, 2014, 7:00 P.M., Free Concert by the Choirs of Douglas S. Freeman High School, Amy G. Hruska, Director. 359-5651 AROUND THE TOWN News items for “Around The Town” must be received by the editor no later than the 16th of the month prior to the month in which the concert or function is scheduled. SAINT BEDE CHURCH, WILLIAMSBURG Wednesday, October 1, 2014, Noon. Trinity Organ Concert with Rev. Michael Renninger, baritone, and Aaron Renninger, organist performing a variety of classical pieces. The one-hour concert is free and open to the public which is invited to bring lunch and eat with the artists afterward. Saint Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Iron- bound Road in Williamsburg. For information, please call (757) 229-3631, or visit www.bedeva.org/concerts. ALSO AT SAINT BEDE CHURCH, WILLIAMSBURG Wednesday, October 15, 2014, Noon. A Brass Ensemble from the U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band and Saint Bede's organist Aaron Renninger will perform music for a Cathedral space, culminating in the last two movements of the Saint Saëns Symphony No. 3. The concert is free. Saint Bede Catholic Church, 3686 Ironbound Road in Williamsburg. For information, please call (757) 229-3631, or visit www.bedeva.org/concerts. ORGAN RECITAL AT RIVER ROAD CHURCH, BAPTIST October 5 at 3 P.M. Marek Kudlicki (Vienna, Austria) will perform in concert on the church’s Moller organ. River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Road Richmond, VA. Program is free, but an exit offering will be accepted. CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HYMN FESTIVAL Sunday, October 5 at 4 P.M Centenary United Methodist Church will present a Hymn Festival at the church, 411 East Grace Street. Visiting organist and arranger Keith Beniston of London, England will be accompanied by a 15 piece instrumental ensemble. The City Singers Childrens Choirs and the Centenary Chancel Choir will be singing. The theme for this year's festival is “Peace” and the program will include opportunities for the audience to sing familiar hymns as well as hear perform- ances by the choirs and Mr. Beniston. Attended parking behind the church is available. Nursery provided upon request. Call 804-648-8319 for information. www. centumc.org RIVER ROAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sunday, Oct. 5, 7:00 P.M. - Music in a Sacred Space presents Larry Heath, Organist, celebrating 10 years of ministry at River Road Presbyterian Church, 8960 River Road, Henrico, VA 23229. Free admission and parking. Works by Weaver, Marchand, Vierne, Elgar, Franck and others. Reception following the concert. www. rrpcusa.org, [email protected]. SECOND SUNADAY SOUTH OF THE JAMES Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 4:00 P.M. Debra Saidel, flute, Pei-wen Chen, piano & Jackie Spears, cello. Bon Air Presbyterian Church, 9201 West Huguenot Road, Richmond, VA. 23235 CHOIR FROM ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA TO PERFORM Sunday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 P.M., Christ the King Lutheran Church at 9800 W. Huguenot Rd. in Richmond will host "Lyra," a vocal ensemble from St. Petersburg, Russia. All singers are professional musicians, singing in different churches of St. Petersburg and many are soloists at musical theatres throughout the city. The ensemble will be singing music in from the Russian Orthodox tradition as well as traditional Russian Folk Music. The concert is free and an offering will be received during the con- cert. ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Sunday October 19 at 5:00 p.m.