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Spartanburg Chapter (South Carolina) |
| Last updated: July 21, 2010 |
Message from the Dean |
| The American Guild of Organists (AGO) founded in 1896 is the national professional association serving the organ and choral fields. Ths Guild's membership numbers approximately 20,000 in 330 chapters throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Beginning its fifty-fourth year the Spartanburg Chapter was chartered in 1954, the third oldest of the six chapters in South Carolina.
As everyone’s summer schedules begin, life should be more relaxed and not so hectic! I hope you all have a happy, exciting, and enjoyable time with all your comings and goings. The guild’s Installation Service in May was a memorable event, especially with both the membership and new officers participating. Thanks to Brennan’s Postlude, the guild members present were treated to a grand Bach Pentecost Chorale: Komm Heiland Geist, Herr Gott BWV 651 (Come Holy Spirit). At the Reception Justin was honored and presented a monetary gift for the restoration of the organ at Trinity United Methodist Church. NEWSLETTER CHANGE: Beginning in September the Newsletter will be sent to all Spartanburg Guild AGO members via email. However, if a member does not have an email address, then Bill Hunter will send a copy through the postal service. If anyone with access to email and wishes to have a hardcopy also, please contact Bill: aeolian1@bellsouth.net.This Newsletter change will save the guild money (about $200 yearly) that could be better spent. Please, keep the membership informed about concerts, special musical events, any other news and/or happenings that are scheduled during the summer months. If you will send me the information, I will gladly share by sending out one of the mass membership emailings. HAPPY SUMMER! Gloria in excelsis Deo! Diane |
Local Events |
| *NEW OFFICERS INDUCTED AT ST. PAUL’S
New officers for 2010-2012 term from left to right: Pamela Smithy, Sub-Dean; Diane Pickens, Acting Dean; Brennan Szafron, Past Dean; Therlon Joyner, Chaplain; Justin Addington * Fran Bagwell, Treasurer. Missing Rita Medly, Secretary. *Justin Addington was elected Dean, but accepted a position in Georgia and is unable to serve. SPARTANBURG CHAPTER OF AGO PROGRAMS 2010-2011 Sept 26, 4p Sacred Recital Cathy Siarris, soprano and Pamela Smithey, organ and piano Bethel UMC, Spartanburg, Moeller Organ October 25, 7p Taubman Technique at the Organ Dr. Michael Lehtinen Case Brothers, Spartanburg, Allen Organ November 22, 7p Early French Organ Literature Dr. Steven Williams, student of Marie Claire Alain First Presbyterian, Spartanburg, Aeolian Skinner Organ December 13, 6p AGO Gives Back Caroling, Refreshments and Music Swap Home of Diane Pickens, 166 Ivy Drive, Spartanburg January 24, 7 p Handbells 101 Holt Andrews First Presbyterian, Spartanburg February 5 Pipes, Pedals, and Pizza at Converse College! February 27, 7p Organ Music your Teacher Never Taught You Michael Johnston, Owner and Operator of Michael’s Music Service Case Brothers, Spartanburg March 28, 7p History of Organs in Union Tommy Bishop First Presbyterian, Union, Schlicker Organ April 24, 4p Members and Friends Recital Music for organ and other instruments Southside Baptist, Spartanburg May 23, 6p Dinner and Discussion Our past, present and future, Four Seasons Restaurant June 6 - Matthew Noonan, First Baptist Church 185 S. Trade, Matthews, NC 28105 5 pm Choral Evensong, First United Methodist Church, Salisbury, NC 13 - Patrick Pope, St John’s Baptist Church 300 Hawthorne Lane, 28204 20 - Susan and Stephen Talley, Covenant Presbyterian h 1000 E. Morehead St., 28204 27 - Alvin Blount, Sub-dean, Augusta, GA Chapter AGO St. Patrick’s Cathedral 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, 28203 July 4 - Thomas Fielding, Dean, Raleigh Chapter AGO St John’s Episcopal Church 1623 Carmel Rd., 28226 11 - Student Recital, Myers Park Presbyterian Church 2501 Oxford Place, 28207 18 - Ken and Sharon DeBoer, Sardis Presbyterian 6100 Sardis Rd., 28270 25 - RSCM Evensong (4:00 PM), Richard Webster, director, John Cummins, organist, Myers Park Baptist July 30, 2010 7:30 PM Dorothy Papadakos, Edenton Street UMC, Raleigh, NC August 1 - Timothy Belk, First Presbyterian Church 1621 E. Garrison Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28054 8 - Patricia Parker, Byrnes Auditorium Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC 29733 15 - John Apple, Grace Covenant Church 1800 South Blvd., 28203 22 - Lester Ackerman, Covenant Presbyterian Church 1000 E. Morehead St., 28204 29 - Larry Stratemeyer, St. Patrick’s Cathedral 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, 28203 |
Newsletter |
| COUCH TAKES POSITION AT
ITHACA COLLEGE Spartanburg looses another talented musician and teacher in as many months. Lee Couch has accepted a position at Ithaca College in Ithaca NY. Ithaca college was founded in 1892 as a Musical Conservatory. Located in the Finger Lakes area of Upstate New York, half way between Toronto and Manhattan. Ithaca has a population of thirty thousand. It is also home to Cornel University. The college has an enrollment of nearly 7,000. Couch and his family will be leaving Spartanburg in July. During his tenure at Converse, Dr. Couch was successfully growing the Organ Department as well as contributing to our Chapter. He was instrumental in leading the successful Pipes, Pedals, and Pizza two years ago. He also is an concert recitalist who has performed numerous recitals here and in Charlotte. Along with Justin Addington who left June 1st, leaving a vacuum of young talent in music leadership positions.TRINITY UNITED METHODIST PRESENTS FAREWELL CONCERT FOR MUSIC DIRECTOR Sunday May 23 the Senior Choir performed a special concert Celebrating the final concert by Music Director Justin Addington. The forty voice choir sang selections from Mozart’s “Ave Vernum Corpus” to Spirituals and repertoire in between. The Choir planned the music that was performed. Their choice was made from pieces that they have sung in the past and were liked by the individual members. It was obvious that the “love feast” Addington said at the beginning that this, turned out to be one. Members of the Choir related stories and rememberance of Justin during his tenure at the Church. As usual Addington’s talent was obvious through out the concert with the blending of voice and the ensemble that he has created at Trinity. June 1 he begins his new position at Skidaway United Methodist Church outside of Savannah GA. |
Membership |
| Membership in the Guild is open to all music lovers, not just organists. The benefits of membership are many, including the very important local network and the monthly journal, THE AMERICAN ORGANIST, which contains outstanding articles, music reviews, new organ notices, and more. Contact; Joan E. Kotrady (membership chairman), 864-895-9081. |
Placement |
| AVAILABLE TO SUBSTITUTE (All telephone numbers Area Code 864 unless otherwise noted. List includes chapter members and others.):
SUNDAYS AND OTHER DAYS: John Bullard - 582-8589, bullardjm@wofford.edu Bill Cooper: 864-969-2707/872-8647 mthappy@prtcnet.com Vergene Colloms - 583-2149, muscolloms@webtv.net Thea Coleman - 574-4747, W:562-5214, tcoleman@srhs.com Dr. Ricky Duckett 828-674-3494 ddardmusc@aol.com Sylvia Jennings - 579-7887, sylvia@wilffind.com Frances Johnson 583-5792 Doris Luther 864-864-579-3149 Susie Mahnke ssmahnke47@yahoo.com OTHER THAN SUNDAYS Richard Cribb - 576-8807, orgrichard@aol.com Mary Lou Miller - 576-2818, C:680-2800, info@centralumcspartnburg.org Charles Owings - 862-1393, maestrocto@charter.net Gayle Wade - 582-6222, gaylewwade@charter.net Leigh Fleury - 833-6530, wlfleury@juno.com Rusty Keesler - 342-9240, keesler_r@hotmail.com Diane Pickens - 583-1193, dvpickens@yahoo.com Kaylene Wilbur - 573-6312, wesleywilbur@charter.net HANDBELLS Fran Bagwell - 582-8388 [Further information regarding chapter members available to substitute (organ or handbells) may be obtained by contacting Diane Pickens, Dean; dvpickens@yahoo.com or 864-583-1193, 864-901-0634 Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
| Contact the chapter Dean regarding the process for pursiung AGO certification. |
Contact Us |
| Acting Dean:
Diane V. Pickens 864-583-1193 dvpickens@yahoo.com Sub-Dean: Pamela Smithey 864-680-8230 psmithey@casebrothers.com Secretary: Rita Medley 864-472-8642 rmedley07@windstream.net Treasurer: Frances J. Bagwell 864-582-8388 fjbagwell@yahoo.com Chaplain: Therlon W. Joyner 864-585-4461 therlon@bellsouth.net Immediate Past Dean: Brennan Szafron 864-585-9090 bdsorg@aol.com MEMBERSHIP: Joan Kotrady (H: 8864-895-9081; e-mail = kotradyj@bellsouth.net) WEB PAGE: William J. Hunter(864-921-4740; e-mail = aeolian1@bellsouth.net) COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN: History - John Bullard Publicity - Bill Hunter Program - Professional Concerns - Tommy Bishop Membership - Joan Kotrady Communications - Richard Cribb Hospitality - Rita Medley & Nancy McCarter Publications - Bill Hunter Placement (Web Page) - William W. Burns Scholarship - Gayle W. Wade APPOINTIVE POSITIONS: Newsletter Editor - Bill Hunter Parliamentarian - Pamela Smithey |
Links |
| The Arts in Spartanburg = http://www.spartanarts.org
Sparklenet (cultural organizations in Spartanburg)= www.sparklenet.com South Carolina Arts Daily = www.state.sc.us/arts/daily South Carolina Educational Radio (ETV Radio) = www.etvradio.org Charlotte (N.C.) AGO Chapter = www.charlotteago.org Western N.C. AGO Chapter = www.wnc-ago.org Greater Columbia (S.C.) AGO Chapter = www.columbiaago.org Organ Historical Society (organ recordings, books, and printed music) = www.organsociety.org (for orders: www.ohscatalog.org) Zarex (Pro Organo audio & video recordings) = www.zarex.com Gothic Catalog (organ recordings) = www.gothicrecords.com University Music House = www.universitymusichouse.com (printed music) Case Brothers of Spartanburg (musical instruments and sheet music) = www.casebrothers.com National web site for Sacred Harp shape-note singing = www.fasola.org National website for Christian Harmony shape-note singing = www.christianharmony.org Musical-arts.net -- Articles, resources, and fetures designed exclusively for organists, choral directors, clergy, and those who appreciate music = www.musical-arts.net Regioinal website for Christian Harmony shape-note singings = http://buncombe.main.nc.us/~mbbweb/harmony.html Musical events in Columbia (SC): ColumbiaConcerts@aol.com. Robert I. Coulter, organbuilder. 2233 Faulkner Road, Atlanta, GA 30324. Telphone 404-931-3103. http://coulterorgans.com. Stuart Organ Company. 44 Saint John Avenue, Binghamtom, NY 13905. 607-237-0125 (VOX and FAX). www.stuartorgan.com. Pedals!Pipes!Pizza! http://profcouch.us/Courses/Fall2008/PipesPedalPizza_SpartanburgAGO_020709.pdf |
| Visit the AGO National website |