2011-2012 Chapter Events
Schedule of Chapter Events -- view calendar for full listings
Date & Time |
Event Details |
Location |
September 18, 4:00pm |
Westchester Chapter, The First 60 Years Speaker: Dr. Robert Chase Introduction and Conversations on hosting an AGO Region I and II Convention in Westchester, 2015 Guest: Dr. F. Anthony Thurman Potluck Dinner |
Church in the Highlands, 35 Bryant Ave., White Plains |
October 30, 3pm cancelled because of a snowstorm |
Conversations on Professional Challenges (3 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.) Organ Recital on new, 65 rank Casavant organ Christopher Wells, organist 4:30 p.m. Solemn Evensong with guest conductor, Philip Stopford 5 p.m. |
Christ Church, Bronxville, NY |
November 12, 10am-noon |
More Conversations on Professional Challenges: Contracts and Organ Maintenance |
The Presbyterian Church of Katonah |
November 15, 8pm |
John Gillock plays Messiaen Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity (1969) |
Church of the Ascension, NYC |
January 8, 4pm |
Twelfth Night |
Home of Dr. Robert Chase |
February 19, 4pm |
Hymnfest of Members' favorite African-American, Hispanic, and other Non-Traditional, Ethnic Hymns |
Rye Presbyterian Church, 882 Boston Post Rd., Rye, NY |
March 11, 4pm |
Members' Compositions Program |
Saint Columbanus Church, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 |
April 22, 4pm |
Choral Reading presenter: Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist |
The Larchmont Temple |
May 20, 4pm |
Member Recital: Members' Choice Coordinator: Judith Abel |
Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco |
June 10, 2-5pm |
Mini Organ Crawl 2PM: Osborn Chapel recital (Program played by Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist) 2:30 PM: Demonstration/open console on the Austin pipe organ 3:30: Travel to Wartburg Chapel in Mt. Vernon, NY 4:00 PM: Demonstration/open console on Wartburg tracker instrument |
Osborn Chapel Rye, NY (101 Theall Rd. off Playland Parkway service road) and Wartburg Chapel in Mount Vernon |
Westchester Chapter, The First 60 Years
Westchester Count, N.Y.September 18, the chapter's 60th anniversary celebration was held at the Church in the Highlands in White Plains. Robert Chase was the host and presenter. His reminiscences about the 60 years the chapter has been in existence was informative and at times amusing. After his presentation, F. Anthony Thurman offered information on hosting a regional convention. Afterward, members enjoyed a potluck dinner, coordinated by Lois Simmonds. -- Virginia Bender
as published in the December, 2011 issue of The American Organist.
Some of the text about the presentation was written by Alice Avouris.
Dr. Robert Chase presented various facts about the first 60 years of the chapter. Anecdotes about early members and guest artist/speakers were really fascinating! Some early members included founder and recording artist Robert Owen, TAO reviewer DeWitt Wasson, who donated 20,000 music scores to Westminster Choir College, Alinda Burnham Couper, a pioneer in the art of English handbell ringing, and recitalist-to-the-wealthy (and Wanamaker's) Frank Adams. Early speakers included E. Power Biggs at the personal invitation of Robert Chase, Margaret Hillis, who founded the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Madeleine Marshall, Vernon De Tar, Alec Wyton, and Paul Henry Lang. Bob spoke about our 1971 Regional Convention, spear-headed by then-Dean Margaret Kelly, and which at $35 for registration (which included lunches) was extremely affordable, especially by today's standards!
as published in the December, 2011 issue of The American Organist.
Some of the text about the presentation was written by Alice Avouris.
Dr. Robert Chase presented various facts about the first 60 years of the chapter. Anecdotes about early members and guest artist/speakers were really fascinating! Some early members included founder and recording artist Robert Owen, TAO reviewer DeWitt Wasson, who donated 20,000 music scores to Westminster Choir College, Alinda Burnham Couper, a pioneer in the art of English handbell ringing, and recitalist-to-the-wealthy (and Wanamaker's) Frank Adams. Early speakers included E. Power Biggs at the personal invitation of Robert Chase, Margaret Hillis, who founded the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Madeleine Marshall, Vernon De Tar, Alec Wyton, and Paul Henry Lang. Bob spoke about our 1971 Regional Convention, spear-headed by then-Dean Margaret Kelly, and which at $35 for registration (which included lunches) was extremely affordable, especially by today's standards!
More Conversations on Professional Challenges: Contracts and Organ Maintenance
Westchester Count, N.Y.Saturday, November 12, at Katonah Presbyterian Church, in a program titled “Conversations on Professional Challenges: Contracts and Organ Maintenance,” board members Eileen Laurence (who also hosted) and Frank Miller shared their work descriptions as organist/music directors at their respective houses of worship. Member Stanton Daugherty lectured on the intricacies of pipe organs and their maintenance. Following the morning program, members enjoyed a four-foot-long hero sandwich. – Alice Avouris
as published in the March, 2012 issue of The American Organist.
as published in the March, 2012 issue of The American Organist.
John Gillock plays Messiaen - Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity (1969)
Westchester Count, N.Y.
On a magical Tuesday night, November 15,th we heard Jon Gillock at Church of the Ascension in lower Manhattan, in a concert of Messiaen’s “Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity.” Westchester AGO’s treasurer, Kathryn Jones, who studies with Mr. Gillock, graciously drove several of us there to be spell-bound by her teacher. – Alice Avouris
as submitted to The American Organist.
On a magical Tuesday night, November 15,th we heard Jon Gillock at Church of the Ascension in lower Manhattan, in a concert of Messiaen’s “Meditations on the Mystery of the Holy Trinity.” Westchester AGO’s treasurer, Kathryn Jones, who studies with Mr. Gillock, graciously drove several of us there to be spell-bound by her teacher. – Alice Avouris
as submitted to The American Organist.
Twelfth Night
Westchester, N.Y. Jan. 6, the chapter held its annual Twelfth Night party at the home of Dr. Robert and Jenny Chase’s Residence
Hymnfest of Members' favorite African-American, Hispanic, and other Non-Traditional, Ethnic Hymns
Dr. Robert Chase presented African and Spanish hymns.
Members' Compositions Program
Westchester County, N.Y.
March 11th, members met at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Cortlandt Manor (Karen Longwell, host music director-organist) to share original compositions. Included in the program were "Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." for SATB choir and bell choir by Eileen Laurence; Judith Abel's “I Am Thankful” for two-part choir and organ; Frank Miller's "Psalm 86" and “Sing” for organ and Choir; Alice Avouris' "Magnificat" for voice, percussion, flute and dance; choral works by Dr. Robert Chase (“May the Words” and “Two Solemn Responses”); Kenneth Potter's “This is the Hour of Banquet and of Song”; and organ compositions by Edwin Wallace. - Alice Avouris
as published in the July, 2012 issue of The American Organist.
March 11th, members met at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Cortlandt Manor (Karen Longwell, host music director-organist) to share original compositions. Included in the program were "Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." for SATB choir and bell choir by Eileen Laurence; Judith Abel's “I Am Thankful” for two-part choir and organ; Frank Miller's "Psalm 86" and “Sing” for organ and Choir; Alice Avouris' "Magnificat" for voice, percussion, flute and dance; choral works by Dr. Robert Chase (“May the Words” and “Two Solemn Responses”); Kenneth Potter's “This is the Hour of Banquet and of Song”; and organ compositions by Edwin Wallace. - Alice Avouris
as published in the July, 2012 issue of The American Organist.
Choral Reading presenter: Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist
Westchester, N.Y. April 22,. chapter members (and guests from the Fairfield West Chapter) met for a choral-reading session co-sponsored by the chapter and the Larchmont Temple (cantor Fredda Mendelson and organist Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist, hosts). Ten publishers contributed 50 Psalm-based and/or interfaith selections covering a broad range of difficulty and voicings. The session was directed by Jayson Rodovsky-Engquist and accompanied by Douglas Kostner and David Johnson, -- Alice Avouris
As published in the August, 2012 American Organist
As published in the August, 2012 American Organist
Member Recital: Members' Choice - Coordinator: Judith Abel
front row: Virginia Bender, Noriko Yamada, Timothy Keenan-Devlin, Terence J. Flanagan, Margaret Kim
Back row: Judith Barber Abel, Frank Miller, Frederick Tripodi, Keith Robellard, and Douglas Kostner
Westchester, New York, May 20, ten members volunteered their diverse and distinctive musical talents to provide a delightful program at the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco. The church’s Beckerath organ (nicknamed “Water Organ” by its donor, Bonnie Trotta) responded unfailingly to each player’s demands. The program opened with Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor, played by Margaret Kim. The great French organist-composers were represented by Rick Tripodi, performing Guilmant’s March on a Theme of Handel”, Terence Flanagan playing Widor’s “Adagio" from Symphony VI, Douglas Kostner performing Vierne’s “Final" from Symphony VI, and Noriko Yamada, playing Vierne’s Canon. American composers were chosen by Timothy Keenan-Devlin, who played Alfred Fedak’s Improvisation-Toccata on The Strife Is O’er,Frank Miller, who played Searle Wright’s Fugue, and Virginia Bender and Keith Robellard, who perform Paul Creston’s Meditation for marimba and organ. Judith Abel chose to perform her original music, “Two Portraits of Lakshmi,” written especially for this recital. Before adjourning to the reception and potluck supper, organized and prepared by Dean Alice Avouris, the audience was entertained by Frank Miller’s improvisation on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” a fitting ending for this joy-filled occasion. - Judith Abel
As published in the September, 2012 issue of The American Organist
As published in the September, 2012 issue of The American Organist
The Program
Passacaglia in C-Moll
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Margaret Kim
Improvisation-Toccata on "The Strife Is O'er"
Alfred Fedak (1953 - )
Timothy Keenan-Devlin
Canon
Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
Noriko Yamada
March on a Theme of Handel
Alexandre Guilmant (1837 - 1911)
Frederick Tripodi
Two Portraits of Lakshmi
I. Invocation of the Benevolent Goddess
II. Whoever receives her gracious glance
Judith Barber Abel (1939 - )
Judith Barber Abel
Finale from Symphony VI
Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
Douglas Kostner
Meditation
Paul Creston (1906 - 1985)
Virginia Bender, Marimbist
Keith Robellard, Organist
Adagio from Symphony VI
Charles-Marie Widor (1844 - 1937)
Terence J. Flanagan
Fugue from Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue
Searle Wright (1918 - 2004)
Frank Miller
Passacaglia in C-Moll
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Margaret Kim
Improvisation-Toccata on "The Strife Is O'er"
Alfred Fedak (1953 - )
Timothy Keenan-Devlin
Canon
Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
Noriko Yamada
March on a Theme of Handel
Alexandre Guilmant (1837 - 1911)
Frederick Tripodi
Two Portraits of Lakshmi
I. Invocation of the Benevolent Goddess
II. Whoever receives her gracious glance
Judith Barber Abel (1939 - )
Judith Barber Abel
Finale from Symphony VI
Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
Douglas Kostner
Meditation
Paul Creston (1906 - 1985)
Virginia Bender, Marimbist
Keith Robellard, Organist
Adagio from Symphony VI
Charles-Marie Widor (1844 - 1937)
Terence J. Flanagan
Fugue from Introduction, Passacaglia, and Fugue
Searle Wright (1918 - 2004)
Frank Miller
Mini Organ Crawl
Westchester, N.Y.
June 10, a mini organ crawl began at The Osborn retirement community in Rye, N.Y., where Jayson Rodovsky played a recital of classical and theater music on the five-rank Austin Organ, followed by open console. Members then traveled to Wartburg Chapel (Lutheran) in Mount Vernon, where they enjoyed playing a ten-rank tracker built by Eifert and Stoehr of Steinway in Queens, N.Y.. Refreshments were provided by the Wartburg staff and residents. -- Alice Avouris
As published in the October, 2012 issue of the American Organist
June 10, a mini organ crawl began at The Osborn retirement community in Rye, N.Y., where Jayson Rodovsky played a recital of classical and theater music on the five-rank Austin Organ, followed by open console. Members then traveled to Wartburg Chapel (Lutheran) in Mount Vernon, where they enjoyed playing a ten-rank tracker built by Eifert and Stoehr of Steinway in Queens, N.Y.. Refreshments were provided by the Wartburg staff and residents. -- Alice Avouris
As published in the October, 2012 issue of the American Organist
