2010-2011 Chapter Events
Schedule of Chapter Events -- view calendar for full listings
Date & Time |
Event Details |
Location |
September |
The Alexander Technique For Organists Presented by: Karla Diamond |
Hitchcock Presbyterian Church 6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale |
October |
West Point Organ Crawl Presented by: Craig Williams |
West Point, NY |
November |
Pedals, Pipes and Pizza: A Young People's Introduction to the Organ Presenters: Joyce Gardner and Joe Nigro |
Valhalla United Methodist Church 200 Columbus Ave., Valhalla |
January 9 |
Twelfth Night |
Home of Alice Avouris |
February 6 |
"Music For Special Occasions for Organ and Other Instruments" Member Recital |
First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge Road, Chappaqua |
March 20 |
Creating and Maintaining Successful Children's Choirs Presenter: Eileen Laurence |
First Presbyterian Church 31 Bedford Road, Katonah |
May 1 |
Three Organists Spectacular (members may attend for freewill offering, others $10 suggested donation) |
Huguenot Memorial Church 901 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham Manor |
May 22 |
The Toccata Experience: A Workshop on Analysis and Learning presented by Organist and Harpsichordist, Dr. Gavin Black, Director of the Princeton Early Keyboard Center |
The Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow |
June 25 |
A Visit to the Wanamaker Organ for Organ Day Please see the information about this event in the April, 2011 Trompette |
Macy's Department Store Philadelphia, PA |
The Alexander Technique For Organists, Presented by: Karla Diamond
Region II, Westchester County, NY, September 26, the first meeting of the season was held at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale (John King, host). Karla Diamond discussed and demonstrated the Alexander Technique, using chapter members as the subjects. The reception that followed was prepared by Dean Alice Avouris and Timothy Keenan-Devlin.. – Virginia B. Bender
as published in The American Organist, December, 2010
as published in The American Organist, December, 2010
West Point Organ Crawl
Region II, Westchester County, NY, October 10, Craig S. Williams, organist-choirmaster at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, ledmembers and friends on a tour of the historic Old Cadet Chapel and the Cadet Chapel. They were shown the 19-rank Wicks at the Old Cadet Chapel; and the four manual, 380-rank, 23,500-pipe Möller in the Cadet Chapel, which is the largest sacred organ in the world. After Williams treated the group to a performance/demonstration, most of the members present were thrilled to have the opportunity to try the instrument. Williams then led a tour of the Organ Shop, a small chapel where a Möller Artiste is in use, and the pipe chests.
– Virginia B. Bender
as published in the January, 2011 issue of The American Organist.
– Virginia B. Bender
as published in the January, 2011 issue of The American Organist.
Pedals, Pipes and Pizza: A Young People's Introduction to the Organ
Region II, Westchester County, NY, November 6 – the chapter presented a "Pedals, Pipes and Pizza" event at Valhalla United Methodist Church in Valhalla. Five piano students and seven adults attended, along with parents and grandparents. Six chapter members were present to assist. After a video on the history of the organ was shown, Frank Miller spoke about the various parts of a pipe organ and the types of pipes used. He had sample pipes for the group to see and try to create a sound blowing through them. Afterward, hosts Joyce Gardner and Joe Nigro assisted the participants at the organ. Several adult pianists who were present took advantage of the program to try the instrument. The group also toured the organ chamber and saw the pipes. To conclude the event, the participants enjoyed pizza and were given a copy of Sandra Soderlund's A Young Person’s Guide to the Pipe Organ.
-- Virginia B. Bender
as published in the February, 2011 issue of The American Organist
-- Virginia B. Bender
as published in the February, 2011 issue of The American Organist
Twelfth Night
Westchester, N.Y. Jan. 6, the chapter held its annual Twelfth Night party at the home of Phaedon and Alice Avouris
"Music For Special Occasions for Organ and Other Instruments" Member Recital
Region II, Westchester County, NY, February 6, 18 musicians took part in a concert, “Music For Special Occasions For Organ and Other Instruments” held at the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua (Keith Robellard, host). To add variety, there was a violin and organ duet, a world premier for organ and five flutes, and a vocalist accompanied by the organ. A reception prepared by Dean Alice Avouris followed the concert.– Virginia B. Bender
as published in the May, 2011 issue of The American Organist
as published in the May, 2011 issue of The American Organist
The Program
Fanfare by John Cook (1918 - 1984)
Edwin Wallace
Variations on "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee" by Gustav Merkel (1827 - 1895
Robert Chase
Fuga in C Major (The "Jig Fugue") by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 - 1707)
Timothy Keenan-Devlin
Meditation by Bach/Gounod, arr. by Smith
Noriko Yamada
The Naked Seed from Three Songs on Devotional Texts by Jeffrey Hoffman
Anneliese von Goerken, Soprano
Jeffrey Hoffman, Organist
Meditation and Prelude from Six Liturgical Pieces by Isadore Freed (1900-1960)
Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist
Chorale Prelude: "Wenn wir in hochsten noten senn" by J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750)
Trumpet Tune in C by Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695)
Meredith Storer
The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958)
Nicholas Szucs, Violinist
Keith Robellard, Organist
Wondrous Love from Six Pieces Based on Modal Melodies
Herbert Colvin
Judith Barber Abel
Spell 166 for Five Flutes and Organ by Pamela Sklar
(World Premiere) Dianne Spitalny, C Flute
Cecilia Sparacio, Piccolo
Elyse Knobloch, Alto Flute
Alice Avouris, Alto Flute
Pamela Sklar, Bass Flute
Janin Wallour-Thwaite, Organist
Fantasy and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 by J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750)
Frederick Tripodi
Fanfare by John Cook (1918 - 1984)
Edwin Wallace
Variations on "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee" by Gustav Merkel (1827 - 1895
Robert Chase
Fuga in C Major (The "Jig Fugue") by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 - 1707)
Timothy Keenan-Devlin
Meditation by Bach/Gounod, arr. by Smith
Noriko Yamada
The Naked Seed from Three Songs on Devotional Texts by Jeffrey Hoffman
Anneliese von Goerken, Soprano
Jeffrey Hoffman, Organist
Meditation and Prelude from Six Liturgical Pieces by Isadore Freed (1900-1960)
Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist
Chorale Prelude: "Wenn wir in hochsten noten senn" by J.S. Bach (1685 - 1750)
Trumpet Tune in C by Henry Purcell (1659 - 1695)
Meredith Storer
The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 - 1958)
Nicholas Szucs, Violinist
Keith Robellard, Organist
Wondrous Love from Six Pieces Based on Modal Melodies
Herbert Colvin
Judith Barber Abel
Spell 166 for Five Flutes and Organ by Pamela Sklar
(World Premiere) Dianne Spitalny, C Flute
Cecilia Sparacio, Piccolo
Elyse Knobloch, Alto Flute
Alice Avouris, Alto Flute
Pamela Sklar, Bass Flute
Janin Wallour-Thwaite, Organist
Fantasy and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 by J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750)
Frederick Tripodi
Creating and Maintaining Successful Children's Choirs - Presenter: Eileen Laurence
front row, left to right: Eileen Laurence, Vincent Edwards, John Lettieri, Karen Longwell, Abi Gray, Terry Flanagan
center: John King, Lana Kollath, Maureen Kelly
back: John Cecconi, Dan Coffman, David Graf, Janine Wallour-Thwaite
Region II, Westchester, NY. March 20, Eileen Laurence of the First Presbyterian Church in Katonah was host and coordinator of “Creating and Maintaining Children’s Choirs.” Fifteen choral directors from Westchester, New York City and Connecticut shared their rehearsal techniques, pitfalls, and successes. Among topics stressed was the importance of support from family, house of worship, and community. Continuing participation for males during and after their vocal change, how to introduce part-singing, learning to be flexible in today’s atmosphere of over-scheduled children, and other relevant topics were enthusiastically discussed by presenters and the attendees. To conclude the program, the Candlewood Children’s Choir from Danbury, Conn., under the direction of Dan Coffman, performed selections from their upcoming spring concert. The reception held following the program was organized by Judith Abel. Pictured are (front row) Eileen Laurence, Vincent Edwards, John Lettieri, Karen Longwell, Abi Gray, Terry Flanagan; (middle row) John King, Lana Kollath, Maureen Kelly; (back row) John Cecconi, Dan Coffman, David Graf, and Janine Wallour-Thwaite. - Alice Avouris
as published in The American Organist, June, 2011.
as published in The American Organist, June, 2011.
Three Organist's Spectacular at Huguenot Memorial Church
The Performers: Thomas Zachacz, Kathryn Jones, Joe Nigro
The Toccata Experience: A Workshop on Analysis and Learning
Westchester Count, N.Y. May 22, Dr. Gavin Black, director of the Princeton Early Keyboard Center, presented "The Tocatta Experience: A Workshop on Analysis and Learning" at the Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow (Jeremy Goldsmith, host). After the discussion and demonstrations, Dean Alice Avouris inducted the chapter's three new officers: John Cecconi (chaplain); Frank Miller and Eileen Laurence (directors). Earlier in May, Dean Avouris presented Thomas Zachacz with a plaque and gift for his many years of service to the chapter. He will be moving to Kansas soon. -- Virginia Bender
as published in September, 2011 issue of The American Organist.
as published in September, 2011 issue of The American Organist.
Installation of the new officers
From the left: John Cecconi, Chaplain; Frank Miller and Eileen Laurence, Directors
On the right: Alice Avouris, Dean
A Visit to the Wanamaker Organ for Organ Day
Westchester Count, N.Y. June 25, Twelve members and friends of the chapter traveled to Philadelphia for the Wanamaker Organ Centenary Festival held at Macy's Department Store. They attended three concerts played on the Wanamaker organ, one of which included the Philadelphia Brass and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ Festival Chorus. They heard part of Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto performed by pianist Jeremy Filsell and Wanamaker organist Peter Richard Conte. They also attended the showing of a silent film accompanied by Peter Krasinski. Before returning home, the group crawled through two floors of pipes and had an opportunity to examine the console and the stage.-- Virginia Bender
as published in the October, 2011 issue of The American Organist
as published in the October, 2011 issue of The American Organist
Pictures below were taken by Virginia Bender on a trip in early June. Pictures and a write-up of the June 25th trip can be seen here.
