Newsletter May Officers. Wesley Joseph - Board Member Chapter Web Site

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1 Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Newsletter May 2015 Craig Williams Dean usma.edu Celestine Campbell Secretary mickens1@aol.com Barbara Bayers Membership Chair babayers@gmail.com Glenn May Board Member no Janice Grace Board Member JAG@JaniceGrace.com Officers Wesley Joseph - Board Member wt.joseph@gmail.com Laura Russell Sub-Dean laurarus629@gmail.com Eric Hepp Treasurer Charles Faverio Board Member no Susan LaGrande Board Member susanel2@optonline.net Connie Lacey - Board Member clacey@fishkillreformed.org Letter from the Dean Dear Friends, Chapter Web Site We are into the merry and busy month of May! Since this is such a busy time, I am going to forego my usual Dean s Letter and let our Membership Coordinator and Registrar, Barbara Bayers, do most of the talking. Let me take this opportunity however to congratulate the performers who participated in our Annual Members Recital at Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church this past month! I was gratified by the number of you who were able to come and listen we had a terrific audience that day. Page 1

2 Also please mark on your calendars the Workshop and Recital given by David Enlow on Saturday, May 16 at the Reformed Church Poughkeepsie. You will find details on our Calendar. This is what Barbara Bayers sent me the other day: Our membership renewals are underway. Please remember that our fiscal year is the same as National's fiscal year: July 1-June 30. We do ask our members to renew in a timely manner as we expect to publish a full membership directory early in September. Those who have joined "off cycle" will receive an in the months prior to your annual renewal. Our continuing members are on the regular fiscal year renewal cycle. If you have any questions about your membership renewal or the ONCARD system, please contact Barb Bayers, Registrar/Membership Chairperson, who would be happy to assist you. Enjoy the weather and the renewed colors of spring! Craig Williams, AAGO Dean, Central Hudson Valley AGO Membership News A cordial welcome to new member James Thomashower - yes, the Executive Direcctor of the AGO has decided to become a dual member of our chapter, along with his primary membership in the New York City chapter, since he lives in Garrison. His contact information is: James E. Thomashower 55 Old Highland Tpke. Garrison, NY jet@agohq.org x Another cordial welcome to new member Andrew Kryzak. Andrew is Organist and Music Director at St. John s Episcopal Church in Kingston, NY. He is available to substitute (organ only, no direct choir); funeral, service, wedding. Liturgical Protestant ONLY; no Sunday mornings. His contact information is: Andrew A. Kryzak 4548 Hobbs Lane Clinton Corners, NY andrewkryzak@gmail.com Congratulations to Sarah Johnson, a student of Gail Archer at Vassar, who won the second prize $500 award in the 2015 Chapter Level Quimby Regional Competition for Page 2

3 Young Organists hosted by the Eastern New York Chapter in February. Patrick Walker also competed in the competition. First prize of $1,000 was awarded to Jillian Gardner, student of James David Christie at Oberlin and previously the student of Stephen Best in Utica. In addition to winning $1,000, Jillian will move on to compete in the next stage of the Quimby RCYO at the Regional Convention in New Haven in June. Sarah Johnson, Patrick Walker, Kira Garvie, Jillian Gardner Membership Questions Please address all questions regarding membership and ONCARD to our Registrar/Membership Coordinator, Barb Bayers. Her phone number is and her address is Choral tribute to Donald and Kathleen Funk Pearson -- A Letter from Amelia Funk The Funk and Pearson families would like send to interested CHVAGO members complimentary review copies of Carl Nygard's choral setting of "In dir ist freude," ("In Thee Is Gladness"), which was commissioned by the Funk and Pearson families to honor the lives of Donald M. Pearson, Kathleen ("Kay") Funk Pearson, and Erwin D. Funk,Jr. As you know, Donald ("Don") was head of the organ department at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, and was instrumental in the design and procurement of the Gress-Miles organ in the Vassar Chapel. He and Kay met at Eastman School of Music where they were both graduate students. Erwin, (Kay's brother), a fine violinist, was married to Amelia Wenrich, an organist/choral musician. Can you imagine Dr. Erwin and Estelle Bissey Funk having to "put up with" three organist/choral musicians in their family? Don referred to himself and me as "the outlaws" (word-play on "in-laws") of the family. The CHVAGO newsletter online of May 2010 gives quite detailed information abut the professional lives of Kay and Don, and for that we are very grateful. Thank you so much! Kay, Don, and Erwin were/are wonderful people and all of us who were privileged to know them are the better for having known and been influenced by them. I know that you have appreciated Kay and Don's professional work at Vassar College and in churches in the Poughkeepsie area, as well as their outreach far beyond their local area. We Page 3

4 are planning also to send review copies to the choral director of the retirement community in Florida where Kay and Don lived after leaving Poughkeepsie, and where Kay organized and conducted a large choral group. Incidentally, Kay purchased the music for that group from the former Onondaga Music Service in Syracuse, where I was the choral music manager. We will also send review copies to choral musicians in the Syracuse, NY area--where I retain my AGO membership-- as well as to choral musicians in other parts of the country, e.g. Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New England, Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Missouri. Augsburg-Fortress Publishing Company has recently released "In Thee Is Gladness" and will will be sending some complimentary copies to me to send to interested colleagues. If you would be interested in receiving one, please contact the newsletter editor, Susan LaGrande, by June 1, 2015, so she can forward the list to me. If you would like to get a sneak peek before ordering, go to the Augsburg web site at and type in "In Thee Is Gladness" in the search bar. The first item, with the green cover, is this setting by Carl J. Nygard Jr.. Kay, Don, and Erwin were/are wonderful people. We hope they will be looking in with joy when choirs sing this setting! Newsletter Mailings Because of the rising cost of postage, our default method of delivering our chapter newsletter is via . We notify you when a new issue is available and include a link to the Newsletter page on our web site, where you can view/download/print the current newsletter, or any of our archived newsletters. Of course if you are unable to receive , we will still be happy to send your newsletter via US Mail. If you require this service, please contact the Editor, Susan LaGrande, at List of Organ Substitutes The following chapter members have indicated on their membership application that they will serve as substitute organists. Please contact them directly if you would like more information. Please note that only CHVAGO members in good standing are eligible to be included in this list. If you would like your name listed, please contact the editor using the information above. Denise Bassen Barbara Bayers Joe Bertolozzi Nancy Brown Greg Citarella Reginald Earls Richard C. Ehlenberg James Fitzwilliam Justan Foster Janice Grace Alexander Green Eric Hepp Boyd Herforth Page 4 Sally Hitchcock Sarah Johnson Wesley Joseph Andrew Kryzak Timothy Lewis Glenn May Janet Nickerson Joanne Reed Anthony Rispo Laura R Russell Beverly Simmons Patrick Walker

5 List of Organ Teachers The following chapter members have indicated on their membership application that they are accepting new organ students. Please note that only CHVAGO members in good standing are eligible to be included in this list. If you would like your name listed, please contact the editor using the information above. Gregory Citarella Justan Foster Boyd Herforth Deadline for Next Newsletter Timothy Lewis Janet Nelson Nickerson Anthony Rispo We are always glad to receive input for the chapter newsletter in the form of calendar items, reviews of recent concerts and events, biographies, letters, photographs, etc. In order to make sure these submissions can be processed in a timely fashion, please make sure they are received by the 23 rd of each month. However, material such as calendar items may be submitted at any time; even if the material may not make it into the printed newsletter, it can be quickly posted on our web site at You may submit newsletter or web site material by mail, , fax or phone. Just contact the editor, Susan LaGrande, using the information given above. Remember, the deadline for the next printed newsletter, to be available the first week in June 2015, is May 23 rd. Editor s Corner This newsletter is published by the Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The editor is: Susan LaGrande 12 Montrose Lane Wappingers Falls, NY Phone: (home) - SUSANEL2@OPTONLINE.NET Position Openings Editor's Note - Hiring institutions are encouraged to check references from applicants' previous employers. It should not be assumed that applicants who learn of position openings via these listings are endorsed by the Central Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Position openings are listed without charge for three months unless an extension is requested. If you would like to place a listing, please contact the editor, Susan LaGrande at or SUSANEL2@OPTONLINE.NET. Editor s Note Due to space considerations, position openings may include only the type of position and hiring institution. Complete information about positions is available on our web site at or contact the editor, Susan LaGrande, at CHOIR DIRECTOR/ORGANIST (Part-Time) FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURC (UCC) POUGHKEEPSIE, NY The First Congregational Church (UCC), located at 269 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie, is an open and affirming congregation with rich history and musical heritage. Weekly worship service at Page 5

6 10:30 AM on Sundays. Full choir rehearsal prior to Sunday worship. Additional seasonal services. Prepare Handbell Choir seasonally. Candidate should possess knowledge across all musical genres of both organ and choral music (from Renaissance through the present) and be a competent choral director. Candidate must have command of the both organ and piano. The church has a Steinway piano and a 3-manual 1902 Midmer pipe organ, Austin console with approximately 50 ranks. The candidate must feel comfortable with and understand progressive and inclusive Christian theology. Bachelor s Degree in Music/Church Music with a minimum of 2-3 years experience is required. Salary commensurate with experience and AGO Salary Guidelines for an average of hours weekly. Two weeks paid vacation provided. A more detailed list of responsibilities and qualifications are available upon request from the church office:fccoffice@gmail.com. Please submit a letter of interest, a resume, and at least 3 references. For full consideration application must be received by April 8. Applications may be mailed to Rev. Heather Moody, First Congregational Church UCC, 269 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie, NY or ed to fccoffice@gmail.com. 3/15/2015 MUSIC DIRECTOR - (Full-Time) FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - KATONAH, NY The First Presbyterian Church of Katonah, NY - 31 Bedford Road, Katonah, NY is seeking a full-time Music Director. Interested candidates must be highly qualified to play the organ and the piano, as well as direct the vocal choir and the junior and senior handbell choirs. The church has been in our present location in the center of Katonah for more than 100 years. Our 325 active church members come from throughout northern Westchester County, Putnam County, and Connecticut. Our music program is a strong one and our congregation has a great love of all music, both vocal and orchestral, as it supports our worship. Two-manual Moeller Pipe Organ, Opus 9776, ca. 1962; 7 ranks. Renovations and upgrades have been made with Walker digital sub bass and trumpet, and adding 8' flute rank to pedal. Swell has solo reed. Great has II Mixture. Electro-pneumatic console with 4 combination pistons. No toe studs. No cancel piston. Swell Expression pedal and sforzando pedal. Well maintained. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in music or comparable music training; American Guild of Organist Service Playing Certification or proven experience as a church organist; Ensemble leadership, keyboard, and accompaniment skills as well as musical knowledge and organizational skills. Salary: Commensurate with experience/degree A more detailed list of responsibilities and qualifications is available upon request. Contact: Debra Lang(debralang18@gmail.com) 3/5/2015 ORGANIST - (Part-Time) TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH - GARNERVILLE (TOWN OF HAVERSTRAW), NY (REVISED) One Sunday service at 9:30 AM. Small choir, with occasional pre-service rehearsals. Additional seasonal services on Christmas Eve and Holy Thursday. Weddings and funerals extra compensation. No music in July and August. Pipe organ (builder unknown) from early 20th century, well-maintained and recently renovated by Rosenberry & Myers; two manuals and pedals, about 13 ranks. Salary: $150 per service. Trinity Episcopal Church, 28 Chapel Street, Garnerville, NY (Town of Haverstraw - 10 miles south of Bear Page 6

7 Mountain Bridge). Contact: Ellen Head, or at Renewed 11/3/2014 Calendar of Events Please note: Due to space considerations, this Calendar of Events may exclude the following: Events taking place outside the area served by the Central Hudson Valley Chapter Events which conflict directly with chapter sponsored events Events listed in the calendar are not necessarily endorsed by CHVAGO. Please contact the editor if you have an event to be publicized. Boxed items are Central Hudson Valley AGO Chapter events. Names listed in bold face are chapter members. Saturday, May 9, :00 PM Sunday, May 10, :00 PM Sunday, May 10, :00 PM "The World Is Full of Poetry" - Mother's Day Concert Cappella Festiva Treble Choir, directed by Christine R. Howlett, will perform a range of repertoire that includes songs in Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, and English. Mozart's famous Laudate Dominum and a new arrangement of Donaudy'sSpirate pur, Spirate will open the program. The Treble Choir will perform Mo li hua, a Chinese folk song accompanied by Jingyi Gao on the "Erhu", a traditional Chinese instrument, and two selections from Earthsongs by David Brunner. Bob Chilcott's emotional Can you hear me? will include sign language, and the program will culminate in a rousing setting of Walk in Jerusalem by Rollo Dilworth. Please join the Treble Choir in their exploration of these different languages and styles of music. Christ Episcopal Church 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie. Freewill donation at the door. Info: "Ode to Beethoven" String Quartet Concert Newburgh Chamber Music presents the renowned American String Quartet in the grand finale of its "Ode to Beethoven" series at St. George Episcopal Church, 105 Grand Street, Newburgh, NY. Tickets at the door or online at Adults: $25, Students $5. Handicapped accessible with parking across the street. The concert is followed by a reception with the artists. Info: "An Afternoon with the Classics" - Organ Concert by Sarah Johnson Sarah Johnson, a student at Vassar College, will present a concert at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 775 Main Street, Poughkeepsie. The concert will feature works by J.S. Bach, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Klaas Bolt, and Theodore Dubois. Suggested Donation (at the door) - $10/adult; $5/child; or $25/family. Proceeds to benefit the charitable works of the Knights of Columbus. Page 7

8 Saturday, May 16, :30 AM Saturday, May 16, :30 PM Sunday, May 17, :00 PM Saturday, May 23, :30 PM Workshop: "Creative Hymn Playing and Effective Choral Anthem Accompanying at the Organ" David Enlow, FAGO is Organist and Choir Master of the Church of the Resurrection in New York, where he directs a professional choir. As a concert organist he has received critical acclaim for his recent recording of the complete major organ works of César Franck. Reformed Church, 70 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie. Info: Janice Grace Organ Recital by David Enlow David Enlow, FAGO is Organist and Choir Master of the Church of the Resurrection in New York, where he directs a professional choir. As a concert organist he has received critical acclaim for his recent recording of the complete major organ works of César Franck. Reformed Church, 70 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie. Info: Janice Grace Kairos: A Consort of Singers - Bach Cantata Series Kairos: A Consort of Singers, under the direction of Edward Lundergan, will present Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata No. 101, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, with chamber orchestra, at Holy Cross Monastery, 1615 Route 9W, West Park, NY. In addition to the cantata, the concert will feature Andante and Allegrofrom Sonata in F for English horn by Italian Baroque master Benedetto Marcello ( ), performed by oboist Joel Evans. Kairos will also perform several movements of the Missa pro defunctis (Requiem Mass) by Tomas Luis de Victoria (c ). This is the second concert of the 2015 season in Kairos s critically acclaimed Bach Cantata Series, now in its 10th year! The cantata, requiem movements, and sonata will be performed within the context of an evensong service in the Monastery chapel. The service is open to the public with a $10 suggested donation, which helps fund the Bach Cantata Series and ensure future performances. It is suggested that you arrive at the venue at least 20 minutes before the performance to ensure adequate seating. For further information and directions, visit or call Bagpipe Music Marginalia: in search of the Medieval Bagpipe. Presented by Peter Walker. Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie. Tickets at the door: $12; students free. Page 8

9 Saturday, June 6, :30 PM Saturday, June 6, :30 PM Saturday, June 13, :00 PM Friday, June 19, 2015 and Saturday, June 20, BachFest Choral Concert Cantata No. 4, Christlag in Todesbanden and Cantata No. 21, Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis - BachFest Festival Choir & Orchestra; Ich lasse dich nicht, BWV Anh BachFest Chamber Choir. Christine Howlett, choral conductor.brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050, Edward Lundergan, orchestral conductor. James Fitzwilliam, organ. Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie. Suggested Donation: $20; Students and Youth Free. Info: Wanamaker Organ Grand Evening Concert Peter Richard Conte at the Wanamaker Organ with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra under maestro Louis Scaglione, and includes thrilling organ and orchestra masterworks by Shostakovich, Richard Strauss, Mahler, Saint-Saens and Seyfried. The ticketed concert caps the mainly free Wanamaker Organ Day. Thrill to the world's largest pipe organ, with Peter Richard Conte, The Philadelphia Brass, Peter Krasinski, Andrew Ennis and Rudy Lucente using the full resources of the 29,000-pipe organ. Featured at 5:00 PM is The Philadelphia Brass and Tympani in thunderous popular favorites with patriotic flourishes. Rounding out the festivities are pipe-chamber tours, audio-visual presentations and the silent movie "It" on our magnificent Greek Hall Wurlitzer. Full details are at wanamakerorgan.com. One Quiet Plunge with Composer, Josh Groffman Josh Groffman is a local composer, performer, and music theorist. A program of environmentally and spiritually themed works by Hudson Valley composers. Christ Episcopal Church, 20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie. Tickets at the door. Info: The Muse s Voice: A Musforum Conference A two-day conference in New York City celebrating the accomplishments of women organists, composers and conductors. Please share the invitation with your students and area colleagues all women and men are welcome. Friday, June 19: -- West End Collegiate Church: :00 PM: Keynote Speaker :00-4:00 PM: Concert featuring Pamela Decker & Karen Holmes ---- *A catered lunch will be served* -- Immanuel Lutheran Church: :30 PM: Cocktails :00 PM: Concert featuring Artek ---- *Dinner will not be served* Saturday, June 20: Page 9

10 -- Church of the Transfiguration: :00 AM: Concert featuring Christa Rakich :00-11:00 AM: Conversation led by Louise Mundinger & Libby Larsen with artist Debra Weisberg. Hilary Tann will also be speaking about her new work Embertides (2014) :00 AM-12:00 PM: Young Women Artists Concert featuring Mary Copeley, Katelyn Emerson, Ashley Snavley & Emma Whitten ---- *A catered lunch will be served* :00 PM: Concert featuring Marie Rubis Bauer :00 PM: Evensong featuring Claudia Dumschat with the Choirs of the Church of the Transfiguration :00 PM: Cocktails and Dinner -- St. Patricks Cathedral: :00 PM: Concluding Concert featuring Kimberly Marshall, Gail Archer, Sarah Jane Starcher Germani & Jennifer Pascual Sunday, June 28 through Friday, July 3, 2015 Sunday, June 28 through Wednesday, July 1, 2015 Sunday, July 26 through Friday, July 31, 2015 With 4 persons in a room the Wellington Hotel is offering us as little as $70 for a one night stay which will be valid until May 5, Conference registration: Standard - $100; student - $75. To register, contact Gail Archer at Organ Historical Society's 60th Annual Convention Based in Springfield, this convention (local for us) will feature a wide variety of instruments all over the Pioneer Valley. Info: AGO Northeast Regional Convention New Haven, CT. Combining the instruments at Yale University and those at churches in the downtown area, New Haven offers a wealth of organs of different styles, housed in interesting and beautiful locations. Within walking distance of the elegant Omni Hotel, convention participants can experience world-class organs, a distinguished music library, and a famous instrument collection, along with the beautiful Yale campus and New Haven's renowned restaurant scene. Info: Brooklyn POE 2015 Since 1988, approximately 2,500 teen-age musicians have been introduced to the King of Instruments through Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) hosted by dozens of AGO chapters across the country. At the Brooklyn POE, for the first time special attention will be given to skills and repertoire needed for use of the organ in Roman Catholic Liturgy and African American worship. Info: Eric Birk, Page 10

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12 Central Hudson Valley Chapter AGO Susan LaGrande, Newsletter Editor 12 Montrose Lane Wappingers Falls, NY Soli Deo Gloria Page 12