 |
Akron Chapter |
| Last updated: October 25, 2008 |
Message from the Dean |
| Dean’s Message - DAWN FILLER - 2008-2009
Dean’s Message As we enter the time of year when the pages on our calendar start to fill up with holiday gatherings, shopping, and extra rehearsals for special concerts, also known as Hallo-thanks-mas, we begin to wonder if there are enough hours in the day to keep up with everything. Your local AGO chapter understands! We conveniently scheduled a break in programming (after our Halloween Spooktacular) from November through January. However, we encourage you to invite us to your special musical programs by sending information to Gary to publish in the newsletter. We hope that you will not forget us in this hectic time. Programming in 2009 will prove to be a welcome educational time following the mad rush of Hallo-thanks-mas. Dawn Filler |
Local Events |
| AGO
PROGRAM SCHEDULE Friday, October 31, 7:00 PM “Halloween Spooktacular” First Congregational UCC, Akron Sunday, November 2, 4 PM PERRY HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONIC CHOIR SCHOLARSHIP CONCERT Church of the Savior United Methodist Downtown Canton Sunday, November 2, 4 PM Firestone Memorial Chapel CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 PM AKRON BAROQUE ORCHESTRA Guy Victor Bordo, conductor Valerie Thorson, organ RESPHIGI’S SUITE IN G FOR ORGAN AND STRINGS MUSIC OF THE ITALIAN BAROQUE First Congregational Church Friday, November 7, 8 PM THE OBERLIN STRINGS Phillip Highfill, Conductor James David Christie, Organist Holy Trinity Lutheran Church The next concert in the 25th Anniversary Season of the Trinity Organ Series will feature James David Christie, organist, and the Oberlin College Community Strings, Philip Highfill, conductor, at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2008 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 North Prospect Street in Downtown Akron. A highlight of the program will be Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Organ and Strings. Mr. Christie will also play works by Bonnal, Christie, Langlais, Saint-Saëns, and Tournemire. The Oberlin Community Strings will perform Two Pieces from Henry V by Walton. Complete program details can be found online at trinity.lutheran-church.org. Parking is conveniently located adjacent to the church. An offering will be accepted. James Storry Sunday, November 9, 4:00 PM PSALMS, HYMNS & SPIRITUALS BONNIE L BROOKS, JAMES ROSE JR. Fairlawn Lutheran Church Sunday, November 23, 5 PM AMAHL & THE NIGHT VISITOR MENOTTI’S CHRISTMAS OPERA Westminster Presbyterian Church Sunday, November 30, 7 PM ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS CHOIR OF MEN AND BOYS Monday, February 2 Dinner Scholarship Fundraising at Applebee’s Restaurants Monday, March 23, 6:30 PM Repertoire Session “New Gems & Old Treasures” Redeemer United Methodist, C.F. Saturday, April 25, 9:00 AM—Noon “Church Music Workshop” First United Methodist, Akron Sunday, May 31, 4:00 PM “Potluck Picnic” at Karl & Terry Harsney’s |
Newsletter |
| NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS CAN BE FOUND BELOW:
AKRON AGO OCTAVE The Newsletter deadline is the 20th of each month, and the publication date is 25th. Send news to Gary Pinter, gjp@roadrunner.com or call Gary at 330.990.4866. To receive your Octave by email, just let Gary know your address. Otherwise you will receive the Octave by snail mail. If you'd like to see the Newsletter by pdf file, please contact Gary at gjp997@roadrunner.com, and he will send the file. *********************** SUCCEEDING IN CHURCH MUSIC Why Don’t They Like Me? I Played All the Right Notes! I have been asked by our newsletter editor to share a few thoughts. I do not claim to be wise, but having played the organ for some 51 years and having held church organist positions continuously for over 38 years, perhaps I qualify as having some experience in our common field of church music. As a teenager I was introduced to the American Guild of Organists and I have been a member for over forty years. As our culture has changed and continues to change, the work of the AGO and the principles for which it stands grow increasingly important. Each and every one of us is an ambassador for quality organ and sacred music. I can say with certainty that in 38 years I have made many mistakes in my work in the church. It is said that wisdom comes to you in two ways: (1) making many mistakes yourself and not continuing to repeat them and (2) benefiting from not making the mistakes you see others making. I would like to impart just one thought to you! This is especially for my younger colleagues. Your work is not done when the last note of the postlude has sounded! It is imperative that organists and choir directors are viewed not as “people who work for the church” but rather “people who are part of the church!” There is a big difference between the two! (I am not suggesting that you should necessarily be a member of the church you serve.) A few specific suggestions are: (1) make yourself available after church to visit with members; (2) attend dinners and social events at your church; (3) receive both compliments and criticism with a smile on your face; (4) discover the musicians in your groups who lack self-confidence and help them build it—they will love you for this! (5) when introducing a choir member to someone always find something nice to say about them—such as, “Bob, I’d like you to meet Mary! Last year Mary sang some of the solos in the Messiah and they were absolutely beautiful!” (6) never say anything about someone in your music program you wouldn’t say to their face—the walls have ears! and (7) do something you are not expected to do—help plant some flowers in the spring, assist in “hanging the greens,” take some photos at a church event for your web site editor to use, …adapt this to your own interests and strengths! In a nutshell, you must love others first, and if you do, they will love, trust, and allow you to be their leader. Blessings to you all in your musical ministries. Karl M. Harsney INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE ORGAN CELEBRATION - A REVIEW It was a treat for members of our chapter to hear a recital by British concert organist, Jane Parker-Smith as our performance for the International Day of Celebration, Sunday, October 19, on the Berghaus organ at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. We were a part of organ concerts through-out the USA and in many other countries as well. In this collaboration between the Akron Chapter AGO and the Trinity Organ Series we were able to share costs and responsibilities in presenting a concert by an outstanding European artist to our community. Nine of our Past Deans were present along with most of our current officers. Janice Kobb and Joanne Zurell were hostesses for a lovely reception which gave us time to visit with the guest artist and with each other. Jane Parker-Smith is known as a specialist in programming organ repertory by lesser known 19th and 20th century European composers. For her Akron concert, she opened the program with German composer, Arno Landmann’s Variations on a Theme by G.F. Handel . This theme is a well-known Sarabande and the variations created colorful contrasts in registration as well as in tempi and texture. The romantic English school was represented by her countrymen, Edward Bairstow, Herbert Howells and Hubert H. Parry. From the French tradition, a beautiful slow and melodic nocturne by Henri Duparc showed the warm flute and string voices of the organ. Fileuse, a spinning-song by Marcel Dupré, is a virtuoso tour-de-force with rapid manual figurations depicting the rotations of a spinning-wheel. The powerful Grand Choeur by Hungarian composer, Zsolt Gárdonyi was a dramatic ending to the first half of the program and Czech organist’s Bedøich Wiedermann’s Impetuoso opened the second half with plunging chords and agitated passage-work that used every register of the instrument. For her closing piece, Ms. Parker-Smith played Franz Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No.1. Originally written for orchestra, it was later arranged for piano, piano duet and piano four-hands. Ms. Parker-Smith transcribed the work for organ and told us that the performances in Ohio were the world-premieres of her work. I thought that the contrasting themes of diabolical energy, passionate dancing and dreamy nostalgia were easy to recognize and that her organ transcription of this work was very successful. Through-out the evening, Ms. Parker-Smith played with dazzling virtuosity, energy, charisma and a strong sense of the architecture of each piece of music. This was not an easy accomplishment after having played such a tiring program in Columbus just the night before! In hearing this performance we can understand the breadth of her musical career. Solo recitals in the next year will include performances in Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland and at the Monaco International Organ Festival. She will also perform at Verizon Hall, Philadelphia, in March 2009. Barbara MacGregor EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS Jim Storry took his first organ lessons with Gordon Brooks when he was a junior high school student in Warren, Ohio. His interest in music grew more intense as a member of his high school band and its director, Robert E. Fleming. After high school, he earned degrees in music education from Baldwin Wallace College and Kent State University. For almost 30 years, Jim taught general and choral music in the Nordonia Hills City Schools. Simultaneously, he served as music director or organist at churches in Aurora, Macedonia, Northfield, and Parma. Since 1999 he has been Associate Music Director and Organist at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron. As a long time member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Jim has enjoyed many wonderful experiences – musical and otherwise. Until the Chorus began touring Europe, Jim did not have a passport and had not considered traveling. Highlights have been his participation with the Chorus in performances not only in Severance Hall, but also with the Orchestra and Chorus in Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Boston, and European performances in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Holland, England and Scotland. And, as a result of getting his passport, he has traveled to England several times for pleasure and to visit his extended family. But, the most important benefit of his participation in the Chorus was meeting his wife, Sidney. The two began spending time together while the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus were performing concerts at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland and they later married. Jim is a past Dean of the Akron Chapter. |
Membership |
| For membership information, please contact:
Eleanor Brooks, Registrar, 330.699.9797; bielbrooks @sbcglobal.net or Dawn Filler,Dean, at 330.376.8143 or cschoir@hotmail.com |
Placement |
| ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Mary (Collinwood) 15519 Holmes Avenue Cleveland OH 44110 Contact Fr. John Kumse, pastor, 216-761-7740 Email: johnkumse@yahoo.com Part-Time: Date Available: Immediately 2 masses: (Saturday 5pm vigil & Sunday 12 noon) Applicant should be a practicing Catholic with a good understanding of music Should also be proficient in organ and/or piano performance, hymn playing and choral direction Salary Commensurate with experience Instruments: Holtkamp pipe organ and Piano Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
| Contact:
Barbara MacGregor 330-376-5154, ext. 104 trinitymusic@neo.rr.com |
Contact Us |
| Dawn Filler, Dean, 330.376.8143; cschoir@hotmail.com
Janice Kobb, Sub-dean, 330.677.3934; ckobb@aol.com JoAnne Zurell, Secretary, 30.723.2364;jzurell@zoominternet.net Rex Roseman, Treasurer, 330.253.3615; rosemanpiano@gmail.com Eleanor Brooks,Recorder,330.699.9797; bielbrooks@sbcglobal.net Gary J. Pinter,Octave Editor, gjp997@roadrunner.com Newsletter deadline, 15th of month; Pub date 25th |
Links |
| Visit the AGO National website |