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NJ Ocean County Chapter |
| Last updated: February 21, 2013 |
Message from the Dean |
| Our Ocean County Chapter of AGO held its 34th annual choral and organ concert on Sunday afternoon,January 31st, at Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River. Festival Co-Director, Barbara Taranto, and myself, were delighted to have 18 participating churches this year, singing praises to the Lord.
The choristers worked hard on the music, and had to rearrange their schedules with us, changing the final rehearsal from Friday night to Saturday evening, due to snow! We have been fortunate in recent years to have enjoyed good weather in the month of January. But once in a while, Mother Nature throws us a curve. Sunday afternoon, however, we were again blessed with sun and a dry atmosphere. It was a year to be grateful for what we have, and for our trust in the Lord, especially in lieu of Hurricane Sandy. Many of our choristers and our AGO members came out to sing, having suffered and continuing to suffer the effects of this terrible storm. Several people are displaced. My colleague and friend, Bernice Kephart, called me after Christmas and asked for a loan of the music we would be singing at the festival. All of her music for herself and for her choir members was at her church, St. Pio, in Lavallette, not due to be open for a long while. I feel grateful for our chorister, John Thorn, rejoining us for the festival all the way from South Carolina- a mere 10 hour drive. John retired from his post at Church of Brielle some three years ago, and each year has come back to practice and sing with the AGO choir. Wow! I know I speak for all our members and choristers when I say that we are saddened over the loss of our senior tenor, Carl Tucker, who passed away in mid January. Carl had sung in the AGO choir festival and for his own choir at Christ Episcopal, for as long as I can remember. He was a comsummate musician, playing flute in his younger days for the Philadelphia Symphony. Known for his feisty personality, a friend remarked on his passing that "Carl is up in heaven, raising a ruckus with the angels". Our first anthem, Mozart's "Gloria in Excelsis" was dedicated to his memory and served as a celebration of his life. We were pleased to have two trumpeters joining the choir on a few anthems, and, by themselves, with just the organ- these talented gentlemen were Jim McIlvain and John Luckenbill. I am grateful for Polly Moore and Mother Joan for hosting us at the beautiful Christ Episcopal church, and for all the talented and hard-working members of our chapter for making this concert a success. Sara Hoey, Dean |
Local Events |
| HAZEL BLAKELOCK ORGAN SCHOLARSHIP
Application for the Hazel Blakelock Scholarship Up to $2,000 each year will be awarded through the Ocean County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and First United Methodist Church of Toms River, NJ. This scholarship will be given to a junior or senior in college or a graduate student who is pursuing a music degree with an organ concentration. You must have a New Jersey home address to be considered for this scholarship. Residents of Ocean County are preferred. To qualify for this scholarship, you will need to appear for an interview. You will also need to play two organ compositions of your choice in contrasting styles, for example, a work from the Baroque era and a work from the twentieth or twenty-first century. The deadline is April 1st for submitting the completed application with the requested documents attached. Please send them to Dean Sara Hoey, 803 Hastings Lane, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742. Thank you for your interest and best wishes for success in your studies. 1. Please give your contact information here. Name Home Address Email Address Phone Number (include cell number if applicable) 2. On a separate sheet of paper, describe your post-high school education (include year, name and address of each school, and music courses completed). Attach a transcript for each school attended. 3. On a separate sheet of paper, describe your experience in sacred music (include year, name and address of each church or other organization, your title, and your responsibilities). 4. List the contact information (name, address, email, and phone number) for three references. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ORGANLIVE.COM a broadband radio program from Missouri, produced by organist Brent Johnson. This is a computer based program for organ music 24 hours a day. There is even a way to request composers, pieces and performers you would like to hear. Please contact Bill Todt of Monmouth County AGO for further information. His email address is wmtodt@aol.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONCERT SCHEDULE - THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TOMS RIVER March 3, 2013- 6:30 p.m. 14th Annual Handbell Festival, Handbell Choirs from Area Churches Guest Director: Kathleen Wissinger April 21, 2013- 4:00 p.m. Thomas Pandolfi, Concert Pianist May 19, 2013- 4:00 p.m. Mozart Requiem The Sanctuary Choir, Soloists, & Orchestra ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Newsletter |
| AGO OCEAN CHAPTER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2013 Sara Hoey, Bernice Kephart, Mimi Mansky, George Markey, Polly Moore, and Barbara Taranto gathered for a lovely dinner, prepared and hosted by Bernice Kephart at her beautiful home in Bayville. Some of her cats joined us in the dining room, curiously sniffing at us during dinner. After dinner, the six of us went through four boxes of music that had belonged to the late Susan Shanahan. Barbara, Sara, Bernice and George made their choices and took the remainder of the boxes home with them. Mimi had taken a box of music at an earlier time, explaining that a member of the AGO Monmouth chapter had lost most of her music due to hurricane Sandy. Originally, the music had been at Christ Evangelical Church in Whiting, where Susan had been the organist for over 20 years. Pastor Gary Luckenbill who serves this church, graciously gave Barbara Taranto and Mimi permission to look through the music and take whatever we wanted. He informed us this past week that there was still some boxes of music left over, and to let him know when we wanted to return to the church to collect it. If anyone else is interested in going to the church to look through the remaining music, please call Pastor Gary Luckenbill at (732) 350-0330. The address of Christ Evangelical Church is, 300 Schoolhouse Rd., Whiting, NJ 08759. Submitted by Mimi Mansky, Secretary AGO Ocean Chapter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW YORK CITY — The American Guild of Organists (AGO) will sponsor a Recital and Gala Benefit Reception honoring Marilyn Keiser on Friday, April 5, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City. Dr. Keiser will perform a solo recital featuring works by Alec Wyton, Herbert Howells, Margaret Sandresky, Josef Rheinberger, and Louis Vierne. The gala benefit reception will follow in the Cathedral’s St. James Chapel. Recital and Gala Benefit Reception Tickets are $100 ($75 tax deductible) and can be purchased online at www.agohq.org or by calling 212-870-2311, ext. 4308. Gala ticket holders will be offered preferred seating in the Great Quire with a view of the performer. The names of those who purchase their tickets by March 15 will be printed in the commemorative program book. Tickets for the recital only ($25) can be purchased at the Cathedral immediately prior to the recital; general seating will be provided in the Crossing and Nave. Display advertising is offered in the commemorative program book for an inside cover ($1,500 and includes four gala tickets), full page ($1,000 and includes two gala tickets) and half page insertion ($500 and includes one gala ticket). Advertising orders can be placed online at www.agohq.org. E-mail gala@agohq.org for further information. The advertising deadline is March 15. The publication will become a part of the American Organ Archives. Those unable to attend the Recital and Gala Benefit Reception can make a contribution to the AGO Endowment Fund in honor of Marilyn Keiser online at www.agohq.org. These names will also be published in the program book; all contributions received by March 15 will be included. All proceeds will benefit the AGO Endowment Fund in Dr. Keiser’s honor. MARILYN KEISER Marilyn Keiser is Chancellor’s Professor of Music Emeritus at Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., where she taught courses in sacred music and applied organ for 25 years. Prior to her appointment at Indiana University, Dr. Keiser was organist and director of music at All Souls Parish in Asheville, N.C., and music consultant for the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, holding both positions from 1970 to 1983. A native of Springfield, Ill., Marilyn Keiser began her organ study with Franklin Perkins, then attended Illinois Wesleyan University where she studied organ with Lillian McCord, graduating with a bachelor of sacred music degree. Dr. Keiser entered the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she studied organ with Alec Wyton and graduated summa cum laude in 1965 with a master of sacred music degree. Her sacred music doctorate from Union Theological Seminary was awarded in 1977. Upon graduation from Union Seminary, Marilyn Keiser became assistant organist of the Riverside Church in New York City, and one year later was appointed associate organist and choirmaster of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, a position she held from 1966 to 1970. In constant demand as an organ recitalist and workshop leader, Dr. Keiser has appeared throughout the U.S. in concerts sponsored by churches, colleges and AGO chapters. She has been a featured artist at AGO Regional Conventions and at the AGO National Conventions in Dallas and in Washington, D.C., where she played with orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, she has appeared as featured artist for the International Congress of Organists in Cambridge, England; in concert at the Royal Victoria Hall with the Singapore Symphony; at the American Cathedral in Paris, the Southern Cathedrals Festival in Winchester, England and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. An active member of the AGO, Dr. Keiser has been a member of the national council, has served as national registrar, a member of the national nominating committee and dean of the Western North Carolina chapter. She holds AGO Associate, Choirmaster, and Fellowship certifications. THE GREAT ORGAN AT ST. JOHN THE DIVINE The Great Organ was completed in 1911 by Ernest M. Skinner, and enlarged and rebuilt in 1952 by G. Donald Harrison of the Aeolian Skinner Organ Company. The Great Organ has several extraordinary features which immeasurably heighten its tonal effect, including the famous high-pressure State Trumpet at the West End, the magnificent high-pressure Solo Tubas, a battery of Bombard reeds, and remarkably effective 32' voices. The organ pipes are divided between two large chambers above the floor of the Great Quire on the north and south sides. The console is located in the gallery above the South Choir stall. On December 18, 2001, the Great Organ and the other two Aeolian-Skinner organs in the side chapels were heavily damaged by smoke from a devastating fire that broke out in the unfinished portion of the North Transept. All three organs were silenced until they could be cleaned and restored. In 2005, the Great Organ was removed for cleaning and repair by Quimby Pipe Organs. It was brought home to the Cathedral along with a new four-manual console with solid state combination action, replicating the style of the original 1911 Skinner shell and the console interior as rebuilt on location by Aeolian-Skinner. Today, the Great Organ has 151 ranks of pipes, 118 speaking stops, and 8,514 pipes on 7 divisions spread over 4 manuals and pedals. ___________________________________ F. Anthony Thurman, DMA Director of Development and Communications American Guild of Organists National Headquarters and THE AMERICAN ORGANIST Magazine 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260 New York, NY 10115 212-870-2310 212-870-2311 Ext. 4308 (Direct) FAX: 212-870-2163 E-Mail: fathurman@agohq.org Web: www.agohq.org |
Membership |
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MEMBERSHIP LIST AS OF OCTOBER 2012 Peggy Bendel ----pbendel[@]verizon.net Timothy Brendler ----seashoretim[@]hotmail.com Louis Castano ----luigi2319[@]aol.com Barbara D'Ippolito ----dippolito04[@]comcast.net Ruth Ann Diaz ----jrchimo[@]aol.com Karin Gargone ----kgargone[@]ocean.edu Thomas E. Halpin ---thalpin{@}stjosephtomsriver.org Ernest F. Hamilton Jr. ----efhamiltonjr[@]aol.com Harold Hawkes ----hhawkes141[@]comcast.net June Hillner ----jhillner[@]comcast.net Sara Hoey ----saritavepoint[@]comcast.net Ron W. Howell ----no email address Bernice Kephart ----bkzipo22[@]aol.com Dee Lepley ----billdee3[@]comcast.net Mimi Mansky ----manchester75[@]comcast.net George Markey ----gemtype[@]aol.com Josh Melson ----joshm[@]pctr.org Jack(Ernest)Milkovitz ----jmilkovitz[@]comcast.net Polly L. Moore ----pollylmoore[@]verizon.net George Murphy ----gmurphy18[@]optonline.net Jan Niemann ----musicaljan1[@]aol.com Phyllis Scardena ----scar345[@]comcast.net William Shoppell ----billpat2[@]optonline.net Barbara Taranto ----MOMDADTR[@]AOL.COM John Thorn ----organman59[@]aol.com Nancy Thorne ----thornept[@]comcast.net Christine Urban ----music201[@]verizon.net Barbara Wheeler --barbara.wheeler[@]louisville.edu Sara Wittekind ----swittekind10[@]verizon.net AVILABLE FOR SUBSTITUTE WORK: October 2012 Please contact these members directly via the email addresses listed Peggy Bendel - Organist - Monday-Thursday, Saturday Louis Castano - Vocal soloist - Sept-May Ruth Ann Diaz - Organist - weddings and funerals Karin Gargone - Organist - Saturdays only Harold Hawkes Bernice Kephart - Organist - weddings and funerals Mimi Mansky - Organist Barbara Taranto - Organist/Choir director Nancy Thorne - Organist Christine Urban - Organist and vocalist any time Barbra Wheeler - organist Since Ocean County is one of the fastest growing counties in NJ, we know that there are many musicians who are moving into our communities. If you are an organist, conductor, pianist, singer or music minister, we invite you to join our chapter and participate in the planned activities of O.C. AGO. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To add infomation to our web site, contact Phyllis Scardena at scar345@comcast.net |
Placement |
| Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
Contact Us |
| DEAN - Sara Hoey, saritavepoint[@]comcast.net
SUB DEAN - Bernice Kephart, bkzipo22[@]aol.com SECRETARY - Mimi Mansky manchester75[@]comcast.com TREASURER - Barbara D'Ippolito,bobandbarb1985[@]verizon.net MEMBERS AT LARGE: '12 Ernest Hamilton efhamiltonjr[@]aol.com '10 Jack Milkovitz Jmilkovitz[@]comcast.net '11 Christine Urban music201[@]verizon.net FESTIVAL COORDINATORS - Barbara Taranto, Sara Hoey |
Links |
| www.giamusic.com
www.jwpepper.com www.ocp.org www.wlpmusic.com www.npm.org www.cpdl.org (Choral Public Domain Library) www.njchambersingers.org |
| Visit the AGO National website |