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Greater Bridgeport Chapter |
| Last updated: June 10, 2010 |
Message from the Dean |
| Special Message:
We are proud to be sponsoring two special events for 2010 as a Chapter: THE 2010 REGION I PIPE ORGAN ENCOUNTER, Sunday June 27 - July 2, 2010, centered at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. We have an exciting week planned. Visit us at www.agoevents.org/2010/poe/region-1 to learn all about our event. If you have any questions, you can let us know by contacting Stephen Roberts, Co-Director, at RobertsS@wcsu.edu . Total Cost is $450 and includes lodging, meals, lessons, recitals, group workshops, local transporation for the week. Registration is for all keyboard students is 13-18 and space is limited. Highlights of our Program include: • Daily lessons and practice time on exciting area pipe organs • Workshops for beginning and advanced students including hymn playing, improvisation, accompanying, organ mechanics, registration and performance techniques • Organ recitals by master musicians Chris Houlihan at the First Church Presbyterian, Stamford and Frederick Teardo at United Congregational Church, Bridgeport • Open keyboard time and social event at United Congregational Church, Bridgeport (try 4 different organs, 2 pianos, and a harpsichord!) • Silent Movie night with David Harris, demonstration of the Thomaston Opera House Marr-Colton Theatre Pipe Organ with Juan Cardona Jr, and chance to play this historic instrument • Excursion to the Yale University Campus pipe organs, music library, and New Haven Center church’s pipe organs where you will also have a chance to play • Faculty Recital at Cathedral of St. Augustine, Bridgeport, and Student Recital at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT Looking forward to hearing from you, Stephen Roberts, Co-Director, RobertsS@wcsu.edu Dr. John Michniewicz, Co-Director, michiewiczj@sacredheart.edu THE 2010 DR. M.LOUISE MILLER $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD will be awarded in July, 2010 to an undergraduate student pursuing study next autumn in an American college, conservatory or university, leading toward a career in organ performance and church music. The winner will also be invited to play a recital in Connecticut for the AGO. The application process includes writing a short essay, submitting a recording of two standard organ pieces (Bach and Romantic), and a DVD of the candidate performing (with or without an audience). Application deadline is June 15, 2010. For an application form and detail instructions please contact: Dr. Alice M. Caldwell, CaldwellAM@aol.com. DEAN's MAY MESSAGE ~ RoseAnne Homola Greetings and Salutations! As I sit here inside on the second beautiful sunny day of Spring – I am thankful for so many things – the sunshine, the spring flowers, the rain that went away finally, and economy that seems to be experiencing hopeful signs of recovery, and for our supportive Guild and all its activities. I want to especially thank each one of you for renewing your membership before June 30. If you know of anyone that should join our chapter, please do all that you can to encourage them to become members with us. You can still help us with the logistics of rehearsing 40 students daily at 20 area churches. We have more than half of our goal of 40 high school students registered for the 5-day “boot camp” for organ lessons, seminars and concerts. The entire POE Leadership Team, along with so many of the AGO Board, have worked very hard to make this a major milestone in the history of our chapter. You’ll get a chance to hear how you can make the most of this jam-packed week of public events and those events that will be open to just our AGO members and the POE students, faculty and recitalists. The programs for 2010-2011 include something for everyone. The 9th Annual Pipescreams concert has created a wonderful public following because of its great cast of musicians and volunteers. It produces hundreds of dollars in net proceeds for our Louise Miller Scholarship Fund and generates public interest for the organ and our talented church musician members. I am very proud to be part of such a dedicated Board. Meetings breeze by because we end them with wonderful potluck suppers, colleagues playing the organ and piano together, and learning how we can help each other. We have social programs in September as we kickoff the choir year at my home, and again after the hectic Christmas holiday for the annual Epiphany party at John Polo’s home. Learning how to improve is a key focus for our group. Connie Chase, a new member of the chapter, Choral Director for the Connecticut Chamber Choir and West Point Glee Club, and co-author of Prescriptions for Choral Excellence (Oxford University Press, 2006), will lead a special educational session titled “What A Great Choir”, improving your choir’s vocal techniques and keeping it that way. We end the year with a Member Recital on the new Klais pipe organ at First Church Congregational Fairfield, followed by our annual dinner and meeting. I think a message that my predecessor, Dr. John Michniewicz, used in this column last year at the same time bears repeating - the goal of our chapter is to provide support, education, inspiration, and fellowship for organists and church musicians throughout the Greater Bridgeport area. Although we all do juggle many roles and responsibilities, it is important for us all to support the work of our organization and work to make it stronger. I believe the organ has a bright future; there is an audience and appreciation, as well as students and young people who are enthusiastic about the glorious music and inspiration that our instrument can provide. Gleefully volunteer for any opportunity to serve – you get so much more out of our Guild when you jump in with both feed and a smile! Be sure to check the newsletter and emails of upcoming programs and events. Mark those dates down and plan to attend. You’ll be so happy you did! Warmly, RoseAnne Homola, Dean rosehomola@charter.net |
Local Events |
| Our 2010 - 2011 Programs
• Sunday, September 13, 2010 – 3:00 PM Meeting; 4:00 PM Potluck Picnic – RoseAnne Homola Home, 39 Fairview Avenue, Trumbull. • Saturday, October 30, 2010 – 4:00 PM – 9th Annual Pipe Screams Concert - United Congregational Church, Bridgeport, John Michniewicz/John Polo host – reception • Sunday, January 9, 2011 – 4:00 PM - Annual Epiphany Party – John Polo Home, 25 Plymouth Avenue, Trumbull. Executive Committee to meet at 2:30 PM. • Saturday/Sunday, February ??, 2011 – AGO/Connecticut Valley Theatre Organ Event to bring back the historic Austin Theatre Pipe Organ in a Pops program at Shelton High School – (Pending the complete organ overhaul reinstallation and school schedule.) • Sunday, February/March ??, 2011, 4:00 PM - Mass Choir Concert, United COngregational Church, Bridgeport. Continuing the successful June 6 AGO Choral Festival with a chance to add more choirs and involve more community outreach. • Saturday, March 26, 2011 – 10:00 AM – What a Great Choir! Techniques for getting there and staying there. Constance Chase, Choral Director, Connecticut Chamber Choir and West Point Cadet Glee Club, Unity Hill Church, Trumbull. Registration fee (TBD) will include the cost of the book. • Sunday, June 5, 2011 – 4:00 PM – Member Recital & Annual Dinner Meeting, First Church Fairfield. Celebration of the new Klais pipe organ, host Dr. Paul Knox. Artists include Dr. John Michniewicz, Galen Tate, Jeffrey Wood, Stephen Roberts, Michael Lantowski, Dr. Joe Utterback - dinner follows and open to all friends of the Guild and First Church Fairfield. • Sunday-Wednesday, July 3-6, 2011 – Region I and II AGO Convention, Morristown, NJ. For any questions on our 2010-2011 programs please contact Michael Lantowski, pipeorgmik@yahoo.com . |
Newsletter |
| The Greater Bridgeport Chapter issues a bi-monthly e-newsletter with printed copies mailed on request.
Send articles and inserts to: Allen W. Fanslow, Editor; The Bridgeport Organist; 31 Bridgeview Place, Stratford, CT 06614-3625 or fanslow@juno.com |
Membership |
| For membership information, please contact John Polo at john.polo@charter.net |
Placement |
| For information on available substitutes or current job openings in our area, please contact Carole Fanslow - fanslow@juno.com
Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
| For certification information, please contact Paul Knox - pknox@firstchurchfairfield.org |
Contact Us |
| CONTACT US:
Dean - RoseAnne Homola - rosehomola@charter.net Sub-Dean - Michael Lantowski - pipeorgmik@yahoo.com Secretary - Frank Martignetti - frankmartignetti@gmail.com Treasurer - Michael Karpilow - mibakarp2@yahoo.com Historian & Placement - Carole J. Fanslow - fanslow@juno.com Chaplain - The Rev. Meg Williams - megwillia@gmail.com Scholarship - Alice M. Caldwell - caldwellam@aol.com Newsletter Editor - Dr. Allen Fanslow - fanslow@juno.com Nominating/Certification - Paul Knox - pknox@firstchurchfairfield.org Professional Concerns/Membership/Publicity - John Polo - john.polo@charter.net Board Members 2008 - 2011 Ruth Cernera - ruthcernera@gmail.com Paul Thoma - thomapr@sbcglobal.net 2009 - 2012 Flora Major - fhmajor112@yahoo.com Dr. John T. Michniewicz - michniewiczj@sacredheart.edu 2010 - 2013 Dottie Cameron - c2488@optonline.net Laurie Birch - birchlaurie@sbcglobal.net |
Links |
| Chapter Member Dr. Joe Utterback, jazz pianist and composer, recording artist - www.joeutterback.com
Chapter Member Frank Martignetti, choral conductor, educator, vocalist, pianist, organist - www.frankmartignetti.com Chapter Member David Harris, pianist, organist, accompanist - choral groups/silent films, vocalist, recording artist - www.davidharrisproductions.com Winner of the M. Louise Miller Scholarship 2005: www.ScottMontgomeryMusic.net Choristers Guild - www.choristersguild.org PipeDreams Public Radio - www.pipedreams.org The Organ Hour Radio - www.wjmj.org Roger Bourland Blog - topics surrounding classical and organ music http://rogerbourland.com/2006/05/30/music-news-is-the-organ-dying-alongside-classical-music/ Cameron Carpenter - www.cameroncarpenter.com - astonishing organ virtuoso Conductor Itay Talgam, www.ted.com/talks/itay_talgam_lead_like_the_great_conductors.html - presentation at TED on Conducting/Leadership |
| Visit the AGO National website |