Berkshire Chapter

Last updated: March 6, 2010

Message from the Dean

The AGO 2010 National Convention is in Washington, D.C. in early July. Please consult the color brochure recently sent to all AGO members for convention details. The same information can be found in all recent issues of The American Organist. An excellent web site for the convention may be found at www.AGO2010.org.

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The annual Member/Clergy Dinner will take place Sunday, April 18, at First Baptist Church in Pittsfield. Patrick Evans, Assosiate Professor in the practice of Sacred Music, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, will be our speaker. His subject is "How Can We Keep From Singing? Renewing Congregational Song as Pastoral Imperative." If you have not already invited your clergy to attend, now is the time to get the date on their calendars. It is a member's choice to invite clergy as his/her guest, or ask them to pay their way. The menu includes roast pork loin, roasted potatoes, vegetable medley, salad, and apple crisp. A vegetarian meal will be available. Cost per person is $22.00 and must be paid in advance no later than April 12. Send reservation and check to Lou R. Steigler, 15 Delancy Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

The Chapter's Annual/Picnic meeting is set for June 15 at The Chuch on the Hill, Lenox. Details later.

A program scheduled for March 7 at Trinity Church, Lenox, has been cancelled.

Local Events

Note: The calendar is updated as content is received. Please email calendar items to the Webmaster. If you attend these events, please let us know you saw it listed on this website. Thank you.
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Composer Mike Hutchinson currently has seventeen works available as PDF files, in addition to three published works found at www.zimbel.com. He will be happy to share with chapter members. There is no charge to get these files to your computer, but he requests a $10 fee to cover production and mailing costs if you wish printed copies of the set. For further information you may contact Mike Hutchinson by email at jmhutch@adelphia.net or by telephone 413-664-1007.

There is a 55 minute CD available of all these works and more, recorded in June 2009. There are notes included on each piece, including identities of the participants. The price is $1 if hand-delivered or $5 if mailed, which covers material and/or mailing costs.

The Association of Anglican Musicians holds its annual national convention in Hatford June 20-June24. Sunday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. Saint Joseph's Cathedral hosts "An Evening in Belgium," with the choirs of Saint James' West Hartford; Gaudeamus/Chorus Angelicus, Torrington; and Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. The choirs will present Flor Peeters' "Missa Festiva" and Joseph Jongen's "Mass, Op. 130." Monday, June 21, at 10:30 a.m., the Opening Festival Euchaarist will be celebrated at Christ Church Cathedral with the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson as celebrant. Other events during the conference include visits to Saint James', West Hartford, Trinity College Chapel, Woolsey Hall, New Haven for an organ recital by Jason Roberts, Christ Church, New Haven, and Trinity Church, Hartford. More information and registration prices can be found atwww.aamhartford2010.org
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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 maintain the chapter's site for the next several months. 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.
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The complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, recorded by James Kibbie on original baroque organs in Germany, are now available as free internet downloads. The University of Michigan's Block M Records label is offering free downloads of all 270 Bach works in MP3 and high audio-quality formats at http://www.blockmrecords.org/bach.

James Kibbie recorded the series on seven historic organs by Silbermann, Schnitger, Trost, Bielfeldt, and Hildebrandt. To date, there have been approximately half a million downloads from the site.

Membership

Please contact the Treasurer, Lucy Sherrill at LucySh@verizon.net, for an application and dues information.

MEMBERSHIP LIST
Berkshire Chapter's current membership list 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

JOB POSTING:

First Congregational Church, Monument Circle, Old Bennington, VT 05201. 802-447-1223. Website www.oldfirstchurchbenn.org

Organist. The Old First Church is seeking a musician to work collaboratively with its members to further develop its music ministry. The church has a Wicks Pipe Organ. Responsibilities will include playing Sunday mornings and at seasonal services, choir rehearsals, and providing music for weddings and funerals (or first right of refusal). This part-time position offers a competitive salary based on experience. For more information, please contact Nancy Andrews at 802-447-1223.

Posted Februry 18, 2010
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Position of Artistic Director of The Berkshire Concert Choir is open. The Director will select music for the choir, conduct rehearsals, engage qualified soloists for concerts, prepare program notes for concerts, provide information for publicity, select venues for performances, and conduct performances. Three of four concerts are presented annually with rehearsals starting in mid-September for the Christmas concert and mid-January for the May concert. A salary of $3,200 is offered. For further information contact Fran Stone at 413/243-0199 or at duncan52@verizon.net. Respond by March 10, 2010.

Posted February 11, 2010
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The East Longmeadow United Methodist Church in East Longmeadow, MA has an an opening for a part-time Music Director/Pianist/Organist. The Director of Music will plan and coordinate all music and anthems from diverse musical traditions for Sunday worship services in cooperation with pastoral staff, direct our established adult choir, and build a youth music program for pre-K through High School. The Director of Music will lead in worship by providing piano, organ and/or keyboard music for church services and act as primary accompanist for assigned choirs, ensembles and soloists. The candidate should possess enthusiasm for worship and the ministry of music. Strong music skills are needed with emphasis placed on teamwork, people skills, and creativity.

Number of Weekly Services: 1 (Sunday 10:00am)
Number of Weekly Senior Choir Rehearsals: 2 (1 Weeknight and Sunday Morning)
Hours per Week: Averages 10-15
Organ Description: Moller Pipe Organ
Piano/Keyboard Description: Anderson Upright Piano / Kawai Console

Annual Salary: $12,000 - $14,000 annually (based on experience)
Weeks of Paid Vacation: 4
Position Available: Immediately

How to Apply
Submit your resume, including your address, telephone, and/or e-mail address by any of the following means:

E-mail: SPR@elumc.org
Fax: (413) 525-7461
US Mail: Music Director Search
East Longmeadow United Methodist Church
215 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
For More Information contact Diane Chandler, Staff Parish Relations Team Leader at SPR@elumc.org or contact Reverend Kelly Turney, Pastor at (413) 525-7416 04 pastor@elumc.org.

Posted September 25, 2009/Updated January 29, 2010
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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.

Posting renewed July 10, 2009
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Links to positions organized by region are posted on the National Site at http://www.agohq.org/profession/indexjobs.html

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: Randall Krum, rbkrum@comcast.net

Visit the AGO National website