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Berkshire Chapter |
| Last updated: October 25, 2008 |
Message from the Dean |
| Please view the current chapter information at the following address: http://home.comcast.net/~rbkrum/. Please continue to send Web content updates to WebOrganist@BerkshireAGO.org.
___________________________________________________________ DEAN'S MESSAGE: Lou R. Steigler The chapter Executive Committee has held four meetings this fall for general discussions of the goals for the current season. The newly appointed Program Committee has met several times to pursue program ideas. Members of that committee are Tracy Wilson, Edwin Lawrence and Lou Steigler. The Executive Committee has endorsed their recommendations, and details are now being confirmed. |
Local Events |
| For current listings, please visit our complete Chapter Site at http://www.berkshireago.org |
Newsletter |
| SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Joy Mullen has been appointed to chair the Scholarship Committee. Her colleagues on that committee are Anne Marie Enoch and Anne Marcure. Their task is to review past application requirements, make awards, and conduct a fund raising campaign during the current season to bolster scholarship funds. WEB SITE Randall Krum will continue to serve as webmaster for the chapter's site. Information about programs in member churches may be sent to him. Also churches seeking organists or choir directors may post such notices by sending Randy the necessary details. Please advise Randy of changes or updates to any such notices so that he will know when advertised position have been filled or program plans changed. To view our page visit http://www.berkshireago.org. NEWSLETTER Anne Marcure has agreed to periodically produce our chapter newsletter. Members wishing to post notices about coming events in their churches may send such items directly to her or to the Dean. ___________________________________________________________ 2009 REGIONAL CONVENTION SITE Boston Chapter has been chosen to host the 2009 Regional Convention. __________________________________________________________ A MESSAGE FROM E. LARY GROSSMAN • Our region’s Pipe Organ Encounter, July 20 – 26 at Assumption College, is fully enrolled! This is the second POE hosted by the Worcester Chapter. Consider sponsoring a young person from your own chapter or sending a cash donation earmarked for scholarship. There is no better way to spend your resources than by supporting the mission of the AGO in this way. Contact Frank Corbin, POE chair, at fcorbin@assumption.edu for more information. • There is still time to register for our National Convention in the Twin Cities, June 22 – 26, 2008. Visit http://www.ago2008.org for all the information. The Hilton hotel is full, but you can also get the convention rate at the nearby Marriott City Center. There will be a door prize at the Annual Meeting, so do not skip it – you must be present to win. It is a great prize: paid registration for the 2010 National Convention (Washington, D.C.)! • I will host the annual Regional Meeting during the Minneapolis convention on Thursday, June 26 at 4 pm. I promise to keep it short so that we all have time to eat dinner before bus departures. This meeting is for all members of our region, not just officers, so please encourage your chapter members to attend. It would be terrific to have a representative from each of our twenty chapters. As incentive, I am also offering a door prize, so please spread the word! • VOTE! This is an important election year for the Guild, as incumbents are vacating the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasure, and Councillor for Education. You can see extended bios on the candidates when you go online to vote at https://www.intelliscaninc.net/organists.htm. Please share this information with your members and encourage everyone to vote! I was nominated to run for a second term (my first term was only one year because of filling an unexpired term), and would very much appreciate your vote. • International Year of the Organ: Information about the October 19, 2008 Organ Spectacular is at http://www.agohq.org/events/index.html. So far, Springfield, Massachusetts is the only one of our twenty chapters that has an event listed. Perhaps others of you have planned a program, but have not yet taken the next step to list it on the National web page. Please do so soon. A media kit will be available soon to assist you with publicity for your event. The commissioned piece by Stephen Paulus is available at his website for $12. www.stephenpaulus.com. The winning composition, “Ornament of Grace” by Bernard Wayne Sanders will be available in May from Concordia Publishing. They are both good pieces and quite accessible. • National Council has approved the application for the New Hampshire Chapter to host a Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) in 2009 (chaired by Ken Grinnell). Also, keep in mind that our next Regional Convention will be July 1 – 4, 2009 in Boston (chaired by Michael Kleinschmidt). This convention, a joint event with Region II, promises to be spectacular! ___________________________________________________________ Region I Blog AGO Regional Councillor for New England E. Lary Grossman responds to requests often heard at Chapter meetings for a calendar of AGO events in our region. To facilitate that request and to provide a platform for me to communicate to all of the members, I have started a Blog (Web log) at www.agonewengland.blogspot.com. Please look at the site regularly and send me any programs you would like added to the calendar. |
Membership |
| Membership is open to all persons with an interest in furthering the playing and enjoyment of the pipe organ.
Full voting membership, as well as Senior, Student, Friend, Dual and other categories is available. Please contact the Treasurer for an application and dues information. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE A membership committee, Nancy Clemens, Nancy King, and Lucy Sherrill, is at work gathering names of area church musicians who are not currently members of the AGO. Literature will be mailed to prospective members acquainting them with the goals and purposes of the Guild, and also to make them feel welcome to join Berkshire Chapter. MEMBERSHIP LIST Berkshire Chapter's membership list for 2007-2008 has been mailed to chapter members. Please examine details of your listing to confirm accuracy. In case of errors that may need corrections, please advise the Dean. Our only source of information is that shown on renewal forms at the time of dues payment each year. Sometimes handwriting in not completely legible, especially in the case of email addresses, and guessing doesn't always produce the most accurate result. |
Placement |
| POSITION AVAILABLE: ORGANIST/MUSIC DIRECTOR
St. James Episcopal Church in Arlington, Vermont, seeks a talented, energetic leader to lead a flourishing music program in a warm and welcoming parish. (Our current music director is leaving at the end of June.) The church has a newer two-manual Allen digital organ and an Essex baby grand piano. The position involves: • planning for and providing music for one Sunday morning service weekly, as well as occasional special services and programs during the year. • directing the parish’s 12-member adult and youth choirs for nine months of the year (excluding summers), generally involving one weeknight rehearsal. This part-time position (approx 8-10 hours weekly) offers a competitive salary based on experience, with two weeks paid vacation. Contact Information: For a complete job description, email stjamesparish@verizon.net with subject line Music Director Search. To apply for the position, send a resume and letter of interest to Music Director Search, P.O. Box 25, Arlington, Vt., 05250, or email stjamesparish@verizon.net. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Posted 5-20-08 ___________________________________________________________ POSITION AVAILABLE: DIRECTOR OF MUSIC & ORGANIST The Catholic Community of Adams in Adams, Massachusetts announces an immediate opening for a part-time (15-20 hours per week) Director of Music & Organist who will plan and lead the music for weekly worship. The Catholic Community of Adams (in the Springfield, Mass. Diocese) comprises two parishes, three church buildings (Notre Dame/St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Stanislaus Kostka) and a school in the beautiful Northern Berkshires. There are three weekend Masses with music. In addition to the salary, the Director has additional income from funerals (avg. 90-100/year) and weddings (avg. 12-15/year). The organs in Notre Dame and St. Thomas are both older model Allen Organs that have been repaired and upgraded (summer 2007). Notre Dame is contemplating the restoration of its 1902 three-manual Casavant. Saint Stanislaus Kostka houses a beautiful two manual Casavant (installed in 1979). Successful candidates will have complete familiarity with the work of a Roman Catholic Parish Director of Music. This includes the Rites and Liturgies of the Church Year, and the liturgical planning ability and knowledge of resources necessary for a congregation and adult choir utilizing a mix of traditional and contemporary music. The minimum proficiency of organ and piano playing shall be at the B.Mus. (organ performance) or AGO Service Playing Certificate level, with a more advanced level desirable. The candidate will also have the skills necessary to rehearse the adult choir (SATB, 25-30 members) weekly. There is also a funeral choir (SSA) of approx. 15 people who sing at each liturgy of Christian Burial. The annual salary of $20,000 includes two weeks vacation. Professional development and a book & music allowances are negotiable. Interested applicants should send their resume (including at least three professional references) and any other supporting material such as CDs, programs and reviews to Rev. Daniel Boyle, Pastor, Adams Catholic Community, Maple St., Adams, MA 01220. Please contact Fr. Boyle for any further information or questions at 413-743-0577. Posting Renewed April 30, 2008 ___________________________________________________________ A part-time experienced organist/director of music ministries position is available. 15-18 hours per week. 10:00 AM Sunday Service. Special services on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Easter. Weddings and funerals extra. Adult and children’s choirs. Casavant organ(49 ranks) for hymns, choir and worship music. Please send salary requirements, cover letter and resumé to: Christ Church United Methodist, 54 Bay Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801. Attention: Pamela Phelps Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
| Lary Grossman, Regional Councillor for New England, has sent us a flyer that National composed concerning the Service Playing Certificate examination. Please view the information (PDF) at the following address.
http://www.stpetersbenningtonvt.org/serviceplaying.pdf |
Contact Us |
| DEAN: Lou Steigler, somount@bcn.net
SUB-DEAN: Edwin Lawrence, elawrence@williams.edu SECRETARY: Joan Mannners, Kim99sam@aol.com TREASURER: Lucy Sherrill, LucySh@verizon.net WEB SITE: WebOrganist@BerkshireAGO.org |
Links |
| Springfield Chapter AGO
http://www.SpringfieldAGO.org First Congregational Church, North Adams http://www.northadamsucc.org/ St. James Episcopal, Great Barrington http://www.stjamesgb.org First Congregational Church, Greenfield http://www.firstchurchgreenfield.org St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Bennington, VT http://www.stpetersbenningtonvt.org Clark Art Institute, Williamstown http://www.clarkart.edu Berkshire Music School, Pittsfield http://BerkshireMusicSchool.org |
| Visit the AGO National website |