 |
Central North Carolina Chapter |
| Last updated: April 11, 2013 |
Message from the Dean |
| Greetings!
I hope your Lent has been a wonderful journey leading up to Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. It is probably, for me, the most meaningful time of the Liturgical Calendar. Many of you will be having Maundy Thursday Communion and Tenebrae and also Good Friday noon or evening services. Easter culminates the long week. With trumpets, organ, timpani et. al. music bursts forth with a celebration unlike any other Sunday of the Liturgical Year. Once again we will sing The Hallelujah Chorus and celebrate the Empty Tomb. Sing for Joy! Alleluia!! Please invite many of your friends and colleagues to come to Edenton Street UMC in downtown Raleigh to hear Mary Preston from Dallas, Texas on Friday, May 3 at 7:30 pm. She is a fabulous performer. The program is open to the public. A free-will offering will be taken. Mary will also present and MasterClass at St. Michaels Episcopal Church on Saturday, May 4th 9:30 - 12:00. If you would like to play for her please email David Cole, or myself as soon as possible. We will be announcing the 2013-2014 season in May. This year has been a very productive year with the chapter seeing an increase in attendance at programs. We are trying to provide a variety of programs to reach as many members interests as possible. If you have any suggestions please email David Cole. Please say thank you to your chapter officers, too! They have spent this year meeting monthly to plan, organize and facilitate the programs we have offered this year. As we come to the end of our 90th Chapter year may we always remember our motto---Soli Deo Gloria! Dr. William J. Weisser, Dean |
Local Events |
| Saturday, April 13th, 2013, 10 A.M. - Noon (Free Lunch will be provided) -- Organ Workshop on MIDI and Registration with MIDI, Rocky Ridge United Methodist Church, 1428 Old Charlotte Road, Concord N.C. Clinician: Dan Miller. Call Suzanne Smith at 800-419-4448 by April 10th to register
Sunday, April 14, 2013, 3:00 P.M. -- Dedication Concert on new Rodgers organ, Rocky Ridge United Methodist Church, 1428 Old Charlotte Road, Concord N.C. Recitalist: Dan Mill Recitalist: Dan Miller April 28, 2013, 8:00 A.M. - WCPE: Music and organ and brass Friday, May 3, 2013, 7:30 P.M. – Diane Meredith Belcher, Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 West Edenton St., Raleigh. (May AGO Meeting) Sunday, May 19, 2013, 8:00 A.M. – WCPE: The Glory of Boys’ Voices -- King’s College, Cambridge; Vienna Boys Choir; American Boychoir Sunday, May 26, 2013, 8:00 A.M. –WCPE Glory of the Organ. New and old instruments showcase the tonal palette and variety of compositions written for organ over four centuries Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 7:00 P.M. – Stephen Buzard, Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh June 2, 2013, 5:00 P.M. -- A Service of Choral Evensong, First United Methodist Church 217 South Church Street, Salisbury. Music of Richard Shepherd, Roland Martin, and Samuel Sebastian Wesley Wednesday, July 3 - Saturday, July 6, 2013 -- AGO Region IV Convention, Columbia, SC, http://www.regional2013.org/ Sunday, September 22, 2013, 3:00 P.M. – The Chenaults, Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh |
Newsletter |
| DIANE MEREDITH BELCHER RECITAL AT EDENTON STREET UMC MAY 2
Diane Meredith Belcher will play a recital at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Raleigh, on Friday, May 3 at 7:30 P.M. DIANE MEREDITH BELCHER Biography Internationally renowned organist Diane Meredith Belcher made her debut at age fifteen in her hometown just outside Philadelphia. In the decades since, she has performed throughout the United States, in Europe, and in Canada to the acclaim of critics and audiences alike. A graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music and The Eastman School of Music, she has studied with David Spicer, John Weaver, Clarence Watters, David Craighead, and Wilma Jensen. Laureate of both the St. Albans (England) and Chartres (France) international organ competitions, she also took the American Guild of Organists’ top prize in its professional certification examinations. Concert appearances have included Disney Hall, Los Angeles; Benaroya Hall, Seattle; Saint Thomas Church, New York City; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago; the 100th anniversary concert of the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, Philadelphia; West Point Cadet Chapel; Spivey Hall, Atlanta; Saint Alban’s Cathedral, England; Portland City Hall, Maine; Girard College, Philadelphia; Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City; First Congregational Church, Los Angeles; the Auditorium, Independence, Missouri; the Curtis Institute of Music’s 80th birthday celebration honoring Ned Rorem; the Cleveland Museum of Art; and the Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles. In May 2006 she was featured in recital on the opening weekend of the new organ in the Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Belcher has appeared regularly on the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia, in duo-recital with trumpeter Rob Roy McGregor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and as soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Philadelphia, Hatfield (England), Jacksonville, Syracuse, Memphis, Wichita, Columbus (Georgia), and Curtis Symphony orchestras. She has several recordings to her credit, including a JAV release which won The Absolute Sound’s Golden Ear Award for the year 2000, and is often featured on radio and television interviews and features such as Public Radio International’s Pipedreams. Diane Meredith Belcher is in frequent demand by her colleagues, having performed at numerous national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, and at the national conventions of the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the Organ Historical Society. Her sensational performance of the Jongen Symphonie Concertante with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the 2002 national convention of the American Guild of Organists created a thunderous standing ovation from an audience of nearly three thousand. She has led many workshops and master classes, and is in demand as a competition juror. Often she is asked to consult for pipe organ projects for churches or other institutions planning to install a new instrument. She has commissioned and premiered several organ compositions, and is herself the composer of a small body of sacred music. Ms. Belcher has served as a church musician for over three decades, and was the founding director of the Memphis Concert Chorale. She currently serves as Director of Music/Organist at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Beverly Massachusetts. Prior positions have included Organist/Choirmaster at Old St. Paul’s in Baltimore Maryland, and Co-Organist/Choirmaster at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia. She has taught organ extensively, serving on the faculties of University of Memphis, Tennessee, Westminster Choir College, and University of Pennsylvania, and freelances with such ensembles as the Buxtehude Consort and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. Laudatory reviews of her playing have appeared in such publications as Clavier, The New Records, The American Organist, Organists’ Review, The Diapason, and newspapers throughout the country and abroad. The Philadelphia Inquirer has described her playing as “alchemy … definitely among the afternoon’s high points,” and the Halifax Chronicle-Herald praised her “musical elegance, clarity, projection and mastery of style … an amazing display of musical virtuosity of the highest order.” Of her recordings, the German journal Orgel International states, “Diane Meredith Belcher’s playing is exemplary in every respect,” and American Record Guide calls her performances “glowingly brilliant, rhythmically vibrant, consistently expressive, and full of both atmosphere and personality – in short, everything that artistic organ playing should be.” Ms. Belcher is represented by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio. - - - - - - - - COOPER-MILLER SCHOLARSHIP NEWS Michael Scott Olson of Raleigh won the $1,000 Cooper Miller Organ Scholarship on February 23, 2013. For the audition he played In Dulci Jubilo by Marcel Dupre, Little Prelude in D Minor by J.S. Bach, I Need Thee Every Hour, arranged by Dale Wood, and the hymn For the Strength of the Hills. Michael is an organ student of David Lynch, a piano student of Judy Cardy, and a viola student of Christine Martin. The award will be used for lessons and to purchase music. MICHAEL OLSON Michael is a senior at Sanderson High School where he sings with and accompanies the Sanderson Sandpipers; he also plays viola with the Triangle Youth Symphony and Philharmonic and has attended All-State Orchestra three times. Michael is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Raleigh, where he accompanies two church choirs. Another active part of his life is Boy Scouts, where he is close to attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduation Michael plans to work for a year, and he hopes to continue his organ lessons with Dr. Lynch during that time. Later he is considering a mission trip for his church before going to college. The selection process among the four scholarship applicants was difficult; every one of these students is quite gifted and multi-talented, and they are all active, contributing members of their church’s music programs. The others were: JACOB MONTGOMERY Senior, Leesville HS; plays piano, organ, percussion; also is a competitive swimmer. Member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Raleigh where he accompanies several choirs and plays organ or percussion for services. Organ student of Clifford Badgely, piano student of Kent Lyman. ALEXANDRA KHARAS Junior, Raleigh Charter HS; plays piano, organ, violin, flute, clarinet, sax; teaches 2 piano students. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cary; piano student of Marlene Kelsey. IAN BOLET -CHEK 7th grader; plays piano, organ, clarinet, alto & tenor sax, handbells; has perfect pitch. St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, Apex; piano student of Marlene Kelsey. KATHERINE JOHNSON One visitor on Feb. 23 was Katherine Johnson. She auditioned in 2012 when she was only 12 years old; she did not win but received a small grant, which she used to purchase a book of J.S. Bach repertoire. This year she asked if she could visit the auditions to demonstrate that she has learned the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. She is an organ student of Phil Valera. We hope to audition her in the future and send her to a Pipe Organ Encounter summer camp. - o - The Chapter’s Executive Committee voted at their March meeting to give each registrant a one-year student membership in the national AGO, and a two-year membership to the student who wins first place. Thus, the participants will get not only the Chapter Newsletter but a year’s subscription to THE AMERICAN ORGANIST. - - - - - - - - HAYES BARTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ANNOUNCES RECITAL SERIES The generosity of members of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh, brings two organ recitals to Raleigh in the balance of 2013. Both recitals are free and open to the public. Stephen Buzard will play a concert on the Buzard Organ, Opus 39, at Hayes Barton on Wednesday, May 29th, at 7:00 P.M.  Stephen graduated summa cum laude from Westminster Choir College in 2010, studying organ performance with Ken Cowan. While at Westminster, Stephen served as organ scholar at Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton, and as director of music for the Episcopal Church at Princeton University. After graduation from Westminster, Stephen served for a year in England as senior organ scholar at Wells Cathedral. He then enrolled in the masters program at Yale which he will complete this May. During this time, he also served as organ scholar for Trinity Episcopal Church, New Haven, Conn., and as Co-Director of Music and Organist for the Berkley Divinity School at Yale. Stephen, recently released his first recording, In Light or Darkness, which can be obtained from Amazon as a compact disc or MP3 download. This recording showcases the large and colorful new instrument built by his father, John-Paul Buzard, at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Illinois, as well as his superb musicality. The equally colorful program includes works by Mendelssohn, Reubke, Howells, Vierne, Paulus, as well as a Schubertlied transcribed by the performer. We have also recently learned that Stephen will join the staff of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Manhattan after his graduation from Yale, serving as Assistant Organist. Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault, duo organists,  will play a concert on the Buzard Organ, Opus 39, at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, on Sunday afternoon, September 22nd, at 3:00 P.M.  Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault's frequent performances throughout the United States and Europe, their best selling recordings, and sizable contribution to the organ duet literature through their commissions have made "organ four hands, four feet" virtually synonymous with "the Chenaults."The Chenaults' duet career began in 1979 when Arthur Wills of England's Ely Cathedral composed "Toccata for Two" for them. This was followed by John Rutter's "Variations on An Easter Theme". Other commissions (composers now number over 40 and include Gaston Litaize, Naji Hakim, Ronald Arnatt, Stephen Paulus, Charles Callahan, Alan Gibbs, Gerre Hancock, Douglas Major, Phillip Moore, Daniel Pinkham, Myron Roberts, Richard Shepherd, Conrad Susa, Paul Lindsley Thomas Robert Hobby, Francis Jackson and Bruce Neswick) followed and the Chenaults were soon performing extensively each season. They have been featured artists at conferences and conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and in Charleston during the Spoleto Festival. Recitals at such locations as the Crystal Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral in London, York Minster and the Birmingham Town Hall in England have highlighted their schedule. Mr. and Mrs. Chenault, natives of Virginia, completed music degrees at Virginia Commonwealth University . Mr. Chenault received his Master of Music degree in organ performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Upon graduation Mr. Chenault became a Fellow in Church Music at Washington Cathedral. Teachers have included Harold Abmyer, Arthur Poister, Wayne Fisher, Paul Callaway, Lawrence Robinson, and John Fenstermaker.  Since 1975 the Chenaults have been Organists and Choirmasters of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Atlanta, where they play a large John-Paul Buzard organ.  After 31 years they retired in 2007 from the Lovett School where they taught choral music. The duo's recitals have been featured on public radio's "Pipedreams" and "Performance Today." They record for Gothic Records, have been named "Organists of the Year" by Sacred Music USA, and their commissioned works have been published by Warner Brothers/Belwin Mills as The Chenault Organ Duet Library. |
Membership |
| For membership information, email your name and postal address to cnccago@bellsouth.net, call Kenneth Kerr at 919-851-1655, or mail a request to Central North Carolina Chapter, 1800 Fairley Dr., Raleigh, N.C. 27607-4829
|
Placement |
| Employment opportunities are listed in the monthly C.N.C.C. Newsletter which is mailed to all chapter members.
A list of substitute organists, prepared from the roster information submitted by our members each year, is available upon request. Send an email to cnccago@bellsouth.net to receive the list. Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
Contact Us |
| CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER
AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS (The Oldest Chapter in the Carolinas - Chartered November 23, 1922 - Our 91st Year) 1800 Fairley Dr. Raleigh, N.C. 27607 CHAPTER OFFICERS Dean: Dr. William J. Weisser, 1214 Currituck Dr., Raleigh, N.C. 27609 (H) 919-787-7364 (email) bweisser@mindspring.com Professional Concerns Sub Dean: David Cole, 9909 Grettle Court, Raleigh, N.C. 27617 (cell) 443-974-8431 (email) coledavid@hotmail.com Program Chairman Secretary:Ruth W. Hoffman, 12910 Morehead, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27517 (H) 919-933-7633 (email) rwhorg@aol.com Professional Development Coordinator, Positions Available Treasurer: Kenneth H. Kerr, 1800 Fairley Dr., Raleigh, N.C. 27607 (H) 919-851-1655 (email) kennethkerr@bellsouth.net Membership status, new member applications, substitute organists, web page editor, Newsletter Editor Historian: No�l Hamm, 1001 Beringer Place, Apex, N.C. 27502 (H) 919-362-9226 (email) noel2bach@yahoo.com Scholarship Committee Chair: Lorraine M. Magnuson, 8825 O�Neal Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27613 (H) 919-870-6942 (email) raineymag @nc.rr.com |
Links |
| Pipedreams: http://www.pipedreams.org/
Organ Historical Society: http://www.organsociety.com/ The Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America: http://www.apoba.com/ Encyclopedia of Organ Stops: http://www.organstops.org/ Organ Clearing House: http://www.organclearinghouse.com/ The American Institute of Organbuilders: http://www.pipeorgan.org/ American Theatre Organ Society: http://www.atos.org/ AGO Region IV Blog: http://agoregionivblog.blogspot.com/ 2013 Region IV Convention Website: http://www.regional2013.org/ 2014 National Convention Website: http://www.agoboston2014.org/ History of the Organ: http://www.zzounds.com/edu--historyoftheorgan Organ Clearing House: http://www.organclearinghouse.com/ The American Institute of Organbuilders: http://www.pipeorgan.org/ American Theatre Organ Society: http://www.atos.org/ A Few Organ Builders: www.casavant.ca - Casavant Fr�res Limit�e Sainte-Hyacinthe, Qu�bec, Canada www.cbfisk.com - C.B. Fisk, Inc., Gloucester, Massachusetts www.dobsonorgan.com - Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd. Lake City, Iowa www.letourneauorgans.com - Orgues Letourneau Limit�e Saint-Hyacinthe, Qu�bec Site features choices of background music on Letourneau instruments www.taylorandboody.com - Taylor and Boody Organbuilders, Inc. Staunton, Virginia |
| Visit the AGO National website |