American Guild of Organists Westchester Chapter
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Pipe Organs of Westchester >
      • Armonk >
        • St. Stephen's
      • Bedford >
        • Bedford Presbyterian
      • Briarcliff >
        • All Saints' Church
        • Scarborough Presbyterian
      • Bronxville >
        • Christ Church
        • Reformed Church
        • St. Joseph Church
      • Chappaqua >
        • First Congregational
      • Irvington >
        • Irvington Presbyterian
        • St. Barnabas
      • Katonah >
        • Katonah Presbyterian
      • Mount Kisco >
        • Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco
      • Ossining >
        • St Ann's
        • Grace
      • Pelham >
        • Christ Church
        • Huguenot Memorial
      • Pleasantville >
        • Emanuel Lutheran
        • St. John's Episcopal
      • Pocantico Hills >
        • Union Church
      • Rye >
        • Christ's Church
        • Resurrection Catholic
        • Rye Presbyterian
      • Scarsdale >
        • Hitchcock
        • St. James the Less
      • Sleepy Hollow >
        • Old Dutch Church
      • White Plains >
        • Church in the Highlands
        • White Plains Presbyterian
      • Yonkers >
        • St. Mary's
    • American Guild of Organists
    • AGO Service Playing Certification
  • Events
    • Calendar of Area Events
    • Past Event Galleries >
      • 2022-2023
      • 2021-2022
      • 2020-2021
      • 2019-2020
      • 2018-2019
      • 2017-2018
      • 2016-2017
      • 2015-2016
      • 2014-2015
      • 2013-2014
      • 2012-2013
      • 2011-2012
      • 2010-2011
  • Membership
    • Membership
    • Honors
    • In Memoriam
  • Officers
    • Officers
    • Chapter Deans
  • Trompette
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Substitutes

2015-2016 Chapter Events

Schedule of Chapter Events -- view calendar for full listings
Date & Time
Event Details
Location
September 20, 4:30pm
Opening Event: Rising Stars Recital featuring Alexander Pattavina and Daniel Ficarri, organists with open console time and dinner
Christ Church Bronxville
17 Sagamore Rd, Bronxville. NY
October 25, 4pm
Members' Recital
White Plains Presbyterian Church, 39 North Broadway, White Plains, NY
November 15, 4pm
Nathan Laube, Organ Concert
Hitchcock Presbyterian, 6 Greenacres Ave, 
Scarsdale, NY
January 3, 4pm
Twelfth Night Party and Music Swap
Home of Bob and Jenny Chase
February 23, 7pm
Anthem Reading presented by Philip Stopford, composer and newly appointed choirmaster at Christ Church, Bronxville
Hitchcock Presbyterian, 6 Greenacres Ave, Scarsdale
April 9, 8pm
Dedication of the New HUGUENOT MEMORIAL CHURCH Organ, Dedicatory Recital by Jan-Piet Kniff
Huguenot Memorial Church, 901 Pelhamdale Ave, Pelham, New York
April 10, afternoon
Workshop for young pianists and their teachers
Huguenot Memorial Church, 901 Pelhamdale Ave, Pelham, New York
June 21, 6:30pm
Annual Dinner and Meeting
The Private Patio at SAM’S OF GEDNEY WAY, 50 Gedney Way, White Plains

Opening Recital

Sept. 20, organists and guests attended the chapter's opening meeting at Christ Church, Bronxville. After greetings from Dean John King and Fr. Michael Bird, organ scholars Daniel Ficarri (Hitchcock Presbyterian, Scarsdale) and Alexander Pattavina (Christ Church, Bronxville) played a superb mini recital on the four-manual Casavant, Opus 3878 (2009). Works by Bach, Boëllmann, Dupré, and Duruflé showcased the magnificent organ. Both organists study with Paul Jacobs at Juilliard. Following the performance, all viewed the stained-glass window dedicated to former Christ Church organist Robert Owen. An open console and reception followed.. – Joyce Gardner
​

as published in the December, 2015 issue of The American Organist

​Program

 
Chorale Varié sur le théme du ‘Veni Creator’, Op. 4.
Maurice Duruflé  (1902 - 1986)

Ronde Française
Lèon Boëllmann  (1862 - 1892)

Daniel Ficarri 

 Prelude and Fugue in G major (BWV 541)
J. S. Bach  (1685 - 1750) 

Cortège et Litanie, Op. 19, No. 2
Marcel Dupré  (1886 - 1971)

 Alexander Pattavina
Above are the special windows designed to honor former organist Robert Owen. ln designing the Music windows, Ellen Miret—Jayson began by listening to examples of Messiaen's music, especially his “Quartet for the End of Time” and "The Ascension.” The first of these, written while Messiaen was a prisoner in a German concentration camp is balanced by the Ascension Suite. The problem was to find a theme for the second window to complement the other two. The solution she found was to begin with a piece of Gregorian Chant called “Death and Resurrection” which centered on Christ before Pilate: jeered at by the crowds, anguished and humiliated. This seemed to form a bridge between the ominous mood of the “Quartet for the End of Time” and the rising mood of “The Ascension.” She then incorporated symbols of the elements used by Messiaen in his music, both the instruments he used in the prison camp - clarinet, piano, a three-stringed cello. and a broken violin - and the influence of plainsong and birdsong. The opening chords from the third movement: of "The Ascension” form part of the third lancet - and the name "Owen" also appears in the second. 
Given by members of Christ Church and friends of Robert Owen in thanksgiving for his ministry, this window reflects Owen’s love for the music of Olivier Messiaen, a leading twentieth century composer.

Members' Recital

PictureAbove, front row: Kyoko Meredith, Janet Jacobson, Margaret Kim, Dean John King, Sandor Szabo 2nd Row: Tim Keenan-Devlin, Craig Degener, Anthony Rispo, Frank Miller, Terence Flanagan, Jonathan Riss
Oct. 25, a members' recital was held at White Plains Presbyterian Church (host Jonathan Riss, minister of music). An exciting program featured music of Bach, Dubois, Messiaen, Miller, Rispo, Robinson, and Sowerby, Two members played their own compositions; one was a hymn-tune improvisation. The 3-manual, 48 rank Austin (1964) offered great color contrasts at the hands of Craig Degener, Terence Flanigan, Janet Jacobson, Tim Keenan-Devlin, Margaret Kim, Kyoko Meredith, Frank Miller, Anthony Rispo, Jonathan Riss, and Sandor Szabo. A reception prepared by the Millers followed the concert and topped off a lovely afternoon. – Joyce Gardner

as published in the January, 2016 issue of The American Organist

read performer bios

program listed below:

THE PROGRAM

Toccata in C, BWV 564--J. S. Bach
Kyoko Meredith 

Toccata from 12 pieces--Dubois
Margaret Kim

In Dir ist Freude, BWV 615--Bach
Tim Keenen Devlin

Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV 641
Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 605--Bach
Janet Jacobson

When in Our Music God is Glorified
Choral Prelude on DOUGLASS--McNeil Robinson
Craig Degener

Hymn Improvisation on Lobe den Herrn
Frank Miller

Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 547--Bach
Terence Flanagan

Daydream--Rispo
Anthony Rispo

Pageant--Sowerby
Jon Riss

Dieu parmi nous--Messiaen
Sandor Szabo


Nathan Laube, Organ Concert

Nov. 15, the chapter presented a recital by Nathan Laube playing the church's J.W. Walker & Sons organ at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale. The program included works by Bach, Cabanilles, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Buxtehude, Rameau, de Bergamo, and Widor. A reception followed. -- Virginia Bender
as published in the February, 2016 issue of The American Organist

view the program and the performer bio

Twelfth Night

Westchester County N. Y. January 3

An Epiphany Party was held at the home of Bob and Jenny Chase. Dinner chair was Frank Miller. Following a delicious meal, guests were entertained by Jenny Chase playing the gu zheng, a Chinese string instrument. Carols sung at the Steinway, accompanied by Miller, rounded out a delightful evening. -Joyce Gardner 
​

as published in the April, 2016 edition of The American Organist

Hymn Reading with Philip Stopford

Picture
Feb. 23, Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale, was the scene of an anthem reading session. Featured was music of British composer Philip Stopford, who conducted his own anthems. Host Dr. John King conducted additional anthems, which were all beautifully accompanied by Ruaraidh Sutherland. Delicious refreshments were served.
-- Joyce Gardner

as published in the May, 2016 issue of The American Organist


Dedication Organ Concert

PictureKathryn Jones, host, and Dr. Jan-Piet Knijff, Consultant and Recitalist
Westchester County, N.Y. April 9, Jan-Piet Knijff played a dedicatory recital on the newly restored organ at Huguenot Memorial Church, Pelham (Kathryn Jones, music director-organist). The three-manual organ was rebuilt by Adema's Kerkorgelbouw, The Netherlands. Knijff showcased various organ stops in his selections, which included works by Mendelssohn, Bach, Schumann, de Klerk, Boellmann, and Hindemith. The following day, he led an Organ Intro for piano students. Receptions followed both events. - Joyce Gardner

as published in July, 2016 issue of The American Organist

view the program and Dr. Knijff's Bio

organ specs 
organ article
music notes


Organ Workshop For Piano Students Hosted by Kathryn Jones at Huguenot Memorial Church

Picture
Dr. Jan-Piet Knijff conducts Organ Workshop for pianists

Annual Dinner & Meeting

Westchester County, N.Y. June 21, the chapter celebrated another successful year with a dinner and meeting. New officers for the upcoming two-year term were installed: Terence Flanagan, (dean); Craig Degener (sub-dean), Karen Longwell (secretary); Kevin Walsh (treasurer/registrar), Kyoko Meredith and Michael Mulder (directors, Class of 2019). Jonathan Riss completed the FAGO exam with flying colors; he had a perfect score of 15. Robert Chase announced the publication of his book Gradus ad Parnassum by Wayne Leupold Editions. A guide to the literature of organ instruction, it is available on the publisher's website. – Karen Longwell

​as published in the September, 2016 edition of The American Organist

Home
About
Contact
Copyright 2024 AGO Westchester County Chapter.
The American Guild of Organists, founded in 1896,
​is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Pipe Organs of Westchester >
      • Armonk >
        • St. Stephen's
      • Bedford >
        • Bedford Presbyterian
      • Briarcliff >
        • All Saints' Church
        • Scarborough Presbyterian
      • Bronxville >
        • Christ Church
        • Reformed Church
        • St. Joseph Church
      • Chappaqua >
        • First Congregational
      • Irvington >
        • Irvington Presbyterian
        • St. Barnabas
      • Katonah >
        • Katonah Presbyterian
      • Mount Kisco >
        • Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco
      • Ossining >
        • St Ann's
        • Grace
      • Pelham >
        • Christ Church
        • Huguenot Memorial
      • Pleasantville >
        • Emanuel Lutheran
        • St. John's Episcopal
      • Pocantico Hills >
        • Union Church
      • Rye >
        • Christ's Church
        • Resurrection Catholic
        • Rye Presbyterian
      • Scarsdale >
        • Hitchcock
        • St. James the Less
      • Sleepy Hollow >
        • Old Dutch Church
      • White Plains >
        • Church in the Highlands
        • White Plains Presbyterian
      • Yonkers >
        • St. Mary's
    • American Guild of Organists
    • AGO Service Playing Certification
  • Events
    • Calendar of Area Events
    • Past Event Galleries >
      • 2022-2023
      • 2021-2022
      • 2020-2021
      • 2019-2020
      • 2018-2019
      • 2017-2018
      • 2016-2017
      • 2015-2016
      • 2014-2015
      • 2013-2014
      • 2012-2013
      • 2011-2012
      • 2010-2011
  • Membership
    • Membership
    • Honors
    • In Memoriam
  • Officers
    • Officers
    • Chapter Deans
  • Trompette
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Substitutes