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SAGINAW VALLEY CHAPTER (Michigan) |
| Last updated: August 6, 2012 |
Message from the Dean |
| HERALDINGS FROM THE DEAN, AUGUST 2012
Dear Colleagues: I am honored to once again serve as Dean of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Our chapter is directed by a strong Executive Board that is committed to offering excellent programming, scholarship opportunities, and mentoring to young musicians. This board represents well a membership dedicated to the same standards and willing to encourage collegiality and high standards in performance. In addition to the season’s program calendar, this newsletter edition includes links to websites. Though seemingly minimal, our chapter’s online presence allows us to network with organ enthusiasts in the region and colleagues nationwide. We are the sole representatives of sacred music and the pipe organ in Northern Lower Michigan, especially the Great Lakes Bay Region. What a tremendous responsibility. Use these tools to spread word. Use these tools to save the chapter money. Use these tools to learn important information. Within weeks you will receive an updated chapter roster. Please use this guide to nurture relationships, develop carpools, and extend the hand of fellowship. In the same way, members Ed Soehnlen and Jim Gladstone will strengthen bonds between our chapter and friends belonging to the Flint Chapter and the Greater Lansing Chapter. A failure to acknowledge ties within our own membership results in a parochial mindset that divorces us from the larger goals of our organization. Lead by doing! Thus, we begin the 2012-2013 season with a renewed and shared sense of inspiration. We have much to celebrate as a chapter – let us do so in solidarity. S. D. G. Nicholas E. Schmelter Dean, Saginaw Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists 1205 Burbank Saginaw, Michigan 48638 989.980.9912 516.439.0445 schmelternick@hotmail.com Director of Music, First Congregational Church 403 S. Jefferson Ave. Saginaw, MI 48607 989.754.6565 n.schmelter.fccsaginaw@gmail.com |
Local Events |
| 2012-2013 PROGAMS - A SEASON OF CELEBRATION
September 21, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. September 22, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. September 22, 2013 – 6:30 p.m. September 23, 2012 – 3:00 p.m. ORGAN DEDICATION Memorial Presbyterian Church, Midland, MI David Baskeyfield presents identical recitals at 6:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings, September 21 and 22, including the music of Bach, Mozart, Alain, and Duruflé. He will also provide organ accompaniment to the silent film The Phantom of the Opera. Baskeyfield is the winner of the first prize and audience prize at the St Albans International Organ Competition, 2011. Following success in a number earlier competitions (1st prize, audience prize, Miami International Organ Competition 2010; 1st prize, Mader Memorial Organ Competition, LA, 2010; 2nd prize, Dublin International Organ Competition 2011, 1st prize, Rodland 2011; and 1st prize and audience prize, AGO National Competition in Organ Improvisation 2011) he has launched a performing career encompassing both interpretation and improvisation. Currently a doctoral student at the Eastman School of Music under David Higgs and William Porter, David read Law at Oxford as organ scholar at St John's College, studying with John Wellingham and David Sanger. Between Oxford and Eastman he spent a year as organ scholar of Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Mr. Baskeyfield's appearances are courtesy of Letourneau Pipe Organs of Quebec. An event just for kids takes place Saturday afternoon, September 22, at 2:00 p.m. "Kids: ORGANIZED!" features interactive demonstrations, games, and hands-on experiences at the console. The organ is officially dedicated September 23, at 3:00 p.m., with a festival service accompanied by Dr. Adrienne Wiley. Parry’s “I Was Glad” and Stanford’s “Magnificant in G” are joined programmatically with the compositions “What Sweeter Music” (Rutter) and “A Joyful Song” (Gawthrop). Gawthrop’s composition was commissioned by The Chancel Choir of the Memorial Presbyterian Church for the occasion; it will be given its world premiere. Singers from mid-Michigan are invited to join the festival choir for the September 23 service. Rehearsals for guest singers take place Saturday mornings, August 25, September 1, 15, and 22, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Pre-service rehearsal on Sunday, September 23, begins at 2:00 p.m. Members of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists are especially encouraged to sing welcomed by member Guy Lynch, glynch95@aol.com, 989.941.1400, who can answer your questions. All these events are free and open to the public. October 13, 2012 – 5:00 p.m. October 14, 2012 – 4:00 p.m. A ROBERT J. POWELL CELEBRATION First Congregational Church, Saginaw, MI Trinity Episcopal Church, Bay City, MI Members of the Saginaw Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists celebrate the eightieth birthday of composer Robert J. Powell in two afternoons of music for organ, choir, solo voice, and instruments. The composer will be present for all performances. Look forward to more updates about the weekend’s events. November 11, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. KENT S. DENNIS MEMORIAL RECITAL Memorial Presbyterian Church, Midland, MI Dr. Steven Egler performs the annual Kent S. Dennis Memorial Recital on the new pipe organ located at the Memorial Presbyterian Church. Monies donated by the audience will help fund future scholarships given to encourage and enrich the musical education of present and future church or synagogue organists. Stay tuned for a list of recital repertoire. March 17, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. BACH’S ORGELBÜCHLEIN Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland, MI Days before Bach’s birthday, members perform each of the chorale preludes in the great master’s teaching collection. April 13, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. SAGINAW ORGAN CRAWL Saginaw, MI Chapter members and the public gather in Saginaw for the third annual organ crawl including organ music, architectural tours, and food. More information will follow in coming months. May 18, 2013 – 4:00 p.m. CLOSING SERVICE; HISTORIC ORGAN VISIT Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Sandusky, MI Visit this special worship site that contains two historic instruments. Join in fellowship with members of the local chapter celebrating a season of music, outreach, collegiality, and service. |
Newsletter |
| Contact Brian Sutherland to receive the most updated SVCAGO Newsletter.
Newsletter Editor Brian Sutherland 604 Townsend St. Midland, MI 48640 989.835.1962 briands@tm.net |
Membership |
| Please visit the AGO national website at www.agohq.org for detailed membership information.
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Placement |
| Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
Contact Us |
| 2012-2013
Dean Nicholas Schmelter 1205 Burbank Pl. Saginaw, MI 48638 989.980.9912 n.schmelter.fccsaginaw@gmail.com Sub-Dean Robert Sabourin 4609 Wild Pine Ct. N. Midland, MI 48640 989.631.4996 sabourinrobert@sbcglobal.net Past Dean Thomas Wegener 2303 Cleveland Midland, MI 49640 989.631.5877 tedium@charter.net Secretary Andrea Alexander 2420 Morning Dawn Dr. Midland, MI 48642 989.598.0820 aralexan17@gmail.com Treasurer Robert Van Nostrand 611 N. Chilson St. Bay City, MI 48706 989.686.2385 Newsletter Editor Brian Sutherland 604 Townsend St. Midland, MI 48640 989.835.1962 briands@tm.net Member-at-Large Edward Soehnlen 1012 Ivy St. Saginaw, MI 48603 soehned@charter.net Member-at-Large John Olson 3791 S. Carter Rd. Auburn, MI 48611 989.662.6635 johnrolson@hotmail.com Member-at-Large Jim Gladstone 917 Van Buren St. Saginaw, MI 48602 989.401.3933 cantorjim@gmail.com |
Links |
| www.rcco.ca
The prestigious Royal Canadian College of Organists. www.rco.org.uk England's own Royal College of Organists. www.organsociety.org The official website of the Organ Historical Society. www.organstops.org An indispensable, comprehensive site for anyone with a penchant for organ stop trivia. www.cyberhymnal.org Scores and midi files for an impressive collection of hymns. www.geocities.com/organtour A "virtual" trek through the great organ locations of Britain. www.ondamar.demon.co.uk/organs.htm One man's obsession with organ trivia and his own collection of "dream organs." www.casavant.ca The Web home of renowned Canadian organ builder Casavant Freres. www.acchos.org Visit this page and support the preservation of the world's largest organ - the 1930 Midmer-Losh in Atlantic City's Convention Hall. |
| Visit the AGO National website |