The Lancaster AGO is pleased to feature Ken Cowan, Isabelle Demers and Herndon Spillman in 2011-12
Click here for more information on the Lancaster Organ Showcase, including dates, times, venues and ticket prices.
Next Chapter Meeting - January Jumpstart!
Make your plans now to join our Chapter at the 9th annual January Jumpstart - hosted once again at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. This annual workshop will take place Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is free to our members. Click here for registration details. Each year, these workshops are packed full of new ideas to inspire your planning and ensure an energetic start to 2012!
This year’s theme is Celebrating the Clergy/Musician Partnership, and you are encouraged to invite your own clergy partner; registration AND lunch are free for clergy guests. The luncheon costs $15 for chapter members and others. You’re always welcome to bring your own lunch and join the assembly.
Members of the Lancaster Chapter are encouraged to carpool. While we have in the past chartered a bus, it has become a more economical and convenient option for our members to carpool. Our chapter will reimburse the mileage for cars with two or more members (or clergy) traveling together. Feel free to use the Google Group to start these carpooling conversations: http://groups.google.com/group/lancasterago.
We hope you’ll attend this very rewarding event; it’s not to be missed!
2011-2012 Chapter Events
Mon., September 26, 2011: Basic Arranging and Composing for Choirs, presented by Raymond Weidner, at Lititz Church of the Brethren; 7 p.m.
Sat., October 15, 2011: Adapting Piano Accompaniments to the Organ presented by Gary Garletts; continental breakfast at 9:00 a.m. with morning workshop from 9:30-11:30.
Sat., November 5, 2011: Workshop on Organ Pedagogy with Ken Cowan.
Sat., January 14, 2011: January Jumpstart at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian. The Chapter will reimburse carpooling for its members (for 2+ in a car).
Mon., February 13, 2011: Members’ Recital at Lancaster Church of the Brethren. Musical theme to focus on Lent and Easter music.
Sat., March 24, 2011: Organ crawl by SDG Organ Company and hosted by Harold Ulmer.
Mon., May 7, 2011: Members' Recital and Annual Meeting at Church of the Apostles, keyboard duets (any combination of 4 hands, piano and/or organ).
Thurs., June 14, 2012: Lancaster Summer Arts Recital at First United Methodist Church, Lancaster.
2011-2012: A thrilling year for organ concerts in Lancaster
Peter Brown, organist and director of music at Trinity Lutheran Church on Duke Street in Lancaster, remarked recently that in his 35+ years of being in Lancaster he cannot remember any year that promised so many organ recitals. Mr. Brown noted that many of the concerts feature nationally acclaimed artists, as well as numerous highly skilled Lancaster musicians. “I can remember when there were only three churches in town that would offer organ concerts and that was only several times a year. The coming year simply amazes me.” Indeed the schedule between September and April will feature twelve concert options to local audiences who love organ music.
The first concert of the season will occur Saturday, September 24, when Gordon Turk will present the 5th anniversary concert (in celebration of the installation of the new Schantz organ) at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Delp Road and the Lititz Pike, as part of their concert series. Turk was the original dedication organist in 2006 and was such a hit with the audience that filled the sanctuary that the concert series committee invited him back to offer the 5th anniversary concert. Turk plays and resides in Wayne, PA, but during the summer months is the organist at the Ocean Grove Auditorium.
Three performances are slated for October. As part of the “First Friday” calendar, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, presents Don Kinnier, “premier silent film accompanist”, performing during the showing of a silent movie on October 7. Hector Olivera will be the featured artist at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Rohrerstown on October 9, an organ dedication concert sponsored by the Buch Organ Company of Ephrata. Then on Sunday, October 23, Philip Scriven, sub-organist at both Westminster Abbey and Winchester Cathedral, will play a recital at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster.
Now in its third year, the Lancaster Organ Showcase, a subcommittee of the Lancaster Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, opens its three concert season with Ken Cowan, organ instructor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University and nationally recognized concert artist on November 6. The event will be hosted by Evangelical United Methodist Church in New Holland. Two concerts occur on November 13. In the afternoon Grace Lutheran Church (Lancaster) presents German organist, Stefan Engels. In the evening, Lancaster Church of the Brethren holds its organ dedication concert and features their Sanctuary organist, Margaret Marsch.
The 2012 concerts begin at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oregon Pike, and will feature their Director of Music and organist, Patricia Bleecker in a program titled “50 Years of My Favorite Things” on Friday, February 25. On Sunday, March 4, Caroline Robinson, artist-pupil of Alan Morrison from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia will play the Trinity Lutheran, Lancaster, instrument in their concert series program. Then on March 11, Zion Lutheran Church in Landisville is the host for the second Lancaster Organ Showcase and presents Isabelle Demers in a Sunday afternoon recital. The Showcase series is completed on April 15 with Herndon Spillman performing on the Zimmer organ at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Oregon Pike.
The final organ concert of the season will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oregon Pike, on April 21 when Ross Ellison, Millersville College organ instructor, and Anita Renfroe, harpsichordist, combine talents. That makes TWELVE organ concerts within SEVEN months and in NINE different church locations – what a year!!
Our Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the American Guild of Organists is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, and education of Guild members.
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