[last updated September 8, 2021]
Dean’s Message
Welcome to the Greater Lansing AGO Chapter web site!
We are made up of men of women, young and old, who have a love and passion for music especially that for the organ. Throughout the year, there are many opportunities to gather together to learn and grow in the art of music.
I encourage you to attend one of our events or the numerous concerts and music offerings throughout the greater Lansing area.
Dean John Horak
Mission Statement
Our mission is to expose the Greater Lansing Area community
to the beauty and power of music as expressed through both the organ
and the choral experience.
We are dedicated to providing this experience through the following means:
- Making accessible professional training to all interested youth and adults
with the opportunity for on-going scholarships for study. - Providing performances of quality repertoire that reflects the diverse
nature of both the sacred and secular genres in our world through recitals
by Guild members and guest soloists. - Making available continuing education in both the areas of keyboard and
choral music with emphasis on varying levels of complexity that satisfy
the needs of each musician and situation. - Exposing the musician to an eclectic variety of sacred and secular compositions
that will allow for appropriate choices in their field of service. - Providing, through membership in the AGO Guild, a source of networking,
camaraderie, and edification through the sharing of our individual gifts.
Local Events
Now that we are in late summer, 2021, we are resuming our usual meetings, programs
and concerts for the 2021-2022 season.
Please check in frequently for postings of interesting upcoming meetings, concerts and events. One of the exciting events of the past year was the installation of the new Letourneau pipe organ at Michigan State University’s Chapel. AGO members will perform on this new organ at a date to be determined.
Sunday, September 12, 2021, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Emanuel First Lutheran Church,
1024 N. Capitol Avenue, Lansing. This initial meeting of the season will feature a welcome
message by Dean John Horak, an outline of the upcoming events for the year and a time
for fellowship. Light refreshments and cold drinks will be available. As of August, 2021
masks are welcome.
Saturday, October 23, 2021, 9:30 am to noon, Michigan State University Chapel.
This meeting will be the first opportunity for members to see and play the new Letourneau
organ. The chapel is located on Auditorium road, east of the Kresge Art Museum.
Sunday, November 14, 2021, 3:00 pm Eastminister Presbyterian Church, 1315 Abbot Road, East Lansing. This recital will celebrate the Year of the Young Organist,
featuring performances by Timothy Bohan, Timothy Nechuta and Sam Shuler. A reception
will follow.
December, 2021. There will be area worship services, concerts and recitals for AGO
members and the community to attend.
Sunday, mid-December, 2021. Date and Time TDB. AGO members are invited to
Robert Miller’s home, 2247 Burcham Drive, East Lansing to play the new four-manual Allen
custom organ or to play the three-manual Allen GW-319 theater organ. Bring your Christmas
music and a snack. Drinks will be provided.
January, 2022. Time and Date to be determined. Lunch with Members.
March, 2022. Ash Wednesday, March 2.
April, 2022. Easter, April 17.
Sunday, April 10, 2022, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm MSU Alumni Chapel Organ Dedication Recital by Dr. Iabelle Demers. Chair of the Organ Department at Baylor
University.
May, 2022, TBD. Scholarship Auditions.
June, 2022. TDB. End of year gathering with entertainment.
Upcoming Events – Details to be announced.
- Grand Ledge Opera House Theater Organ, open console.
- Greater Lansing Area AGO Members’ Recital at MSU Chapel.
- New and Old Organ Music Shared and Played by Members.
Organ Concerts on the Web
While the last year and a half of the pandemic has kept us from attending live concerts,
there have been many concerts broadcast live on the Internet. Many, and perhaps most,
of these concerts can be found on YouTube. Some of the most popular performances can
be heard here:
- Every Wednesday, the Mormon Tabernacle choir supports the PipingUp series
where one of the five Tabernacle organists, Richard Elliott, Andrew Unsworth, Brian Mathias, Joseph Peeples and Linda Margetts, in live-streamed concerts. These can
be found at tabchoir.org/pipingup. - A YouTube search of Gert van Hoef will show a large number of his outstanding
concerts over the last year or two. Recently, van Hoef received an honor of being
one of the few outstanding musicians who has more than 100,000 subscribers
to his programs. He often plays on one of many instruments throughout the
Netherlands. - A YouTube search for the Scott Brothers duo or Jonathan Scott, organist will
take you to a wide variety of recent programs by Jonathan Scott and occasionally
concerts with Jonathan and his brother Tom who is an outstanding pianist. - Member and East Lansing native and internationally acclaimed concert organist
and professor at Wichita State University, Lynne Davis, hosts a concert series
on the Marcussen organ. You can find these videos of these programs at:
tinyurl.com/wiedemann-videos. - A quick search will reveal many other interesting live-streamed concerts.
Board Meetings
The 2021-2022 GLC-AGO Board meetings are held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing at 12:00 noon. on the following dates:
- Friday, October 8.
Newsletter
Membership
Placement
Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild’s National Website.
Certification
Contact Us
Board Members:
- John Horak, Dean,Email
- Barbara Hiranpradist, Newsletter, Email
- Mary Black Junttonen, Secretary, Email
- Ed Corey, Treasurer, Email
- Conrad Downakowski, Email
- Meredith Hines, Email
- Susanne Hoekzema, Publicity, Email
- Robert Miller, Email
Links
