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NJ Ocean County Chapter |
| Last updated: May 12, 2012 |
Message from the Dean |
| The 33rd annual Choral and Organ Festival of our Ocean County Chapter, held on Sunday, January, 29, at 3pm. was a great success! We were blessed with warm weather and were delighted to see a crowd of people in attendance at Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River.
The 33rd Choir Festival featured musicians and choristers from 20 different churches in the Ocean County area. The singers had been preparing for this festival since last September. As we got underway, the season was not without its challenges. One Saturday the choristers braved snow and sleet to make an early rehearsal- and, undaunted, 60 choir members showed up. And at 9:30 in the morning! The festival featured a few guest soloists. Amanda Gruber played the cello. She has been principal cellist in both the Garden State Philharmonic and the Monmouth Symphonies. She played Saint-Saens “The Swan” among other pieces. George Murphy accompanied her selections on the organ. Christine Kephart played the flute on Gabriel Farue's “Siciliene”, accompanied on piano by her mother, chapter member, Bernice. Christine is also a jazz vocalist, singing with small ensembles and swing bands. Mark Cook played a rousing piano duet arranged by Joel Raney, “Lord of the Dance”, accompanied by organist member Karin Gargone. Mark is also accompanist for the Shrewsbury Chorale. Many thanks to Co-Director of the festival, Barbara Taranto, and to all the members of the chapter for their hard work in bringing this concert to fruition. Also gratitude is due to Deacon Emily Holman, Polly Moore and George Murphy for hosting us at this beautiful church. I hope to see everyone next year at the 34th annual Choir and Organ Festival! Until then I am sincerely yours, 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TOMS RIVER CONCERT SERIES Sunday, May 20, 2012- 4:00 Sweet Sounds of Liberty Sanctuary Choir, Soloists, & Orchestra ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Newsletter |
| AGO Ocean Chapter - General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 The meeting came to order at 7:00 p.m. starting with a prayer. Ten people attended, and they were, Don Covert, Barbara D'Ippolito, Ernest F. Hamilton, Jr., Sara Hoey, Bernice Kephart, Dee Lepley, Mimi Mansky, Ernest (Jack) Milkovitz, George Murphy, and Barbara Taranto. Ideas of enriching the Chapter were discussed such as a class on hymn improvisation, similar to the one led by Karin Gargone, this past February for the Monmouth AGO chapter. Ernest Hamilton mentioned having a class in registration, the choosing of suitable organ stops for organ music. Ernest said that the registration chosen by a composer is not always the best, so it is up to the organist to decide what stops would enhance the piece being played. He also suggested starting classes in improvisation and the art of registration in the fall. Tuesday, September 18th, 7 p.m. was chosen as the night to have a registration workshop or mutual sharing during the meeting. This would be at Ernest's church, Community Reformed in Whiting. Another date, October 16th at 7 p.m. was also added; this will be a repertoire sharing workshop. Everyone should come bringing interesting pieces and information on how they get new music, and may be held at St. Pio's Church in Lavallette. Ernest is having his organ recital given by local organists on Sunday, October 14th at 3 p.m. at Community Reformed Church. Rehearsal dates for the Choral Festival are Friday, September 21st, and Friday, October 19th, at 7 PM. The Saturday rehearsal dates are January 12th and 19th, at 9:30 AM., and a final rehearsal at Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, January 25th at 7 p.m. The Festival is on Sunday at 3:00 PM on January 27, 2013 with a call time at 1:30 p.m. Barbara Taranto said she would find out if it was possible for us to use her church, for the Friday evening rehearsals. Barbara D'Ippolito is going to find out if her Church, St. Paul's Lutheran in Beachwood is having a congregational meeting, which might interfere with choristers and musicians who have to be at the church for rehearsal at 1:30 and performance at 3:00 p.m., the day of the concert. We also want to find out if other churches that others taking part in the choral festival will be having congregational meetings that same day, January 27th. Barbara Taranto said it was a good idea to have names and e-mail addresses on our website, but no telephone numbers are to be listed. Sara Hoey is waiting to hear back from Dr. David Tripold, from the Music Department at Monmouth University, regarding scholarship students. His scholarship focuses on American church music, especially church choirs and their repertoire. Stockton College in south New Jersey was mentioned, but they don't have an organ department. Rowan (formerly Glassboro), does issue a Bachelor's Degree in Music/Organ Performance; however, they do not have a Master's Degree program. Barbara Taranto passed around a folder of a concert given by jazz pianist Dick Hyman. He is 86 years old and still going strong. Barbara also mentioned a problem with Allen Tiger's recording microphone for the festival. She said it sounded as though it "cut off". Dee and Mimi said they hadn't noticed this problem when listening to the CD of the festival. Alan said the microphone has a "cut off" when volume reaches a certain level, and the microphone needs time to adjust to changing volume. Ten anthems were played, accompanied by Barbara D'Ippolito, Sara Hoey, and George Murphy. These are listed on a separate page, but not yet finalized. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Mimi Mansky Recording Secretary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next meeting at Christ Episcopal Church May 29, 2012 - 7:00 PM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We report the death of chapter member SUSAN SHANAHAN on April 16-17, 2012. She was a long time organist at Christ Evangelical Church in Whiting. She accompanied the Cedar Glen Lakes Chorus and for many years, was active in the Crestwood Chorus. She also accompanied other choruses in the Whiting area and assisted in performance presentations. She was a willing accompanist and organist whenever she was asked. We will miss her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
Membership |
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MEMBERSHIP LIST AS OF DECEMBER 2011 Peggy Bendel ----pbendel[@]verizon.net Timothy Brendler ----seashoretim[@]hotmail.com Louis Castano ----luigi2319[@]aol.com Don Covert ----tahope[@]comcast.net 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 Trudy Jones ----trudyrocky[@]aol.com Bernice Kephart ----bkzipo22[@]aol.com Dee Lepley ----billdee3[@]comcast.net Ruthelaine MacIntyre ----nbk21179[@]yahoo.com 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[@]comcast.net George Murphy ----gmurphy18[@]optonline.net Jan Niemann ----musicaljan1[@]aol.com Phyllis Scardena ----scar345[@]comcast.net Susan Shanahan ----sshanahan51[@]hotmail.com Brian Shannon ----brianshannon[@]optonline.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 Jeffrey Vander Wende ----organmaster214[@]aol.com Thomas VanDuyne ----thomas.vanduyne[@]ihumc.org Sara Wittekind ----swittekind10[@]verizon.net AVILABLE FOR SUBSTITUTE WORK: September 2011 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 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 |
| We are looking for an Organist for the Union Chapel by-the-Sea in Ocean City, New Jersey on Sundays for a traditional service that starts at 10:15 a.m. and ends about 11:30 a.m.
If you are aware of anyone that would be interested, please have them contact me. Mike Watkins President of Trustees Union Chapel by-the-Sea 5501 Asbury Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226 Telephone 609 398-2405 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH PART TIME ORGANIST POSITION 213 MADISON AVENUE, LAKEWOOD, N.J. 08701 TWO CHOIRS: An adult Choir which meets before the 10:30 AM Sunday service and a growing Jr Choir where we hope to find someone who can teach music, sight reading and voice training with a rehearsal during the week. Both Choirs will sing on Sundays. Position includes music for a growing vibrant congregation. Salary based on Education and Experience Small 2 Manual Pipe Organ Pleae send resume to the above address or Email to:ALLSTSLAKEWOOD@OPTONLINE.NET Submitted by Eva La Brozzi, Parish Administrator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LONG BRANCH Organist (or keyboardist)/Choir Director, First Presbyterian of Long Branch (Cedar Ave. in Long Branch)To play and conduct choir at Sunday 11 a.m. services (the church has an electric keyboard and a pipe organ)To develop and rehearse the existing choir, Thursday evenings 2 to 4 times a monthTo begin ASAPContact: Rev. Hugh MacKenzie, 908-675-2248 for more information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LAKEHURST The Presbyterian Church at Lakehurst, NJ, seeks experienced church musician to play the Rodgers Micasko series two-manual organ for its traditional Sunday service at 10 am, and direct the 14-voice volunteer choir. Choir practice is mid-week. The salary, depending on a finalized position description, will be commensurate with experience. Please send resume to lakehurstpreschurch@verizon.net 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 m139139[@]comcast.com TREASURER - Barbara D'Ippolito,dippolito04[@]comcast.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 |