The Old Colony Organist Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter

Last updated: May 20, 2013

Message from the Dean

Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter
American Guild of Organists
Our Member Recital at Church of the Pilgrimage, Town Square, Plymouth on
Sunday, May 19, 2013 was a smashing hit! Richard W. Hill, Unity Church, North Easton began the program with works of three Boston composers:
Toccatina George Whiting (1840-1823)
Cantilena Arthur Foote (1853-1837)
The Thunder Storm Thomas Philander Ryder (1836-1887)

Jim Moore from Norton followed with the Adagio for Strings of Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Natsumi Malloy, Organist First Church of Christ Scientist, Winchester dazzled us with her performance of "Dieu parmi nous" by Olivier-Eugene-prosper-Charles Messiaen (1908-1992)

Philip Jones, Organist Christ Congregational Church UCC Brockton played
Variations on ‘From Heaven Above’ by Walter L. Pelz
These variations are based upon the Advent/Christmas chorale ‘Vom Himmel Hoch’ which is found in Valentin Schumann’s Geistlich Lieder of 1539
Theme
1st variation – lento – (Canon at the fifth)
2nd variation – tranquil (Listen out for a quotation from ‘Silent Night’)
3rd variation – lento (Chorale melody decorated)
4th variation – fugato finale
Philip's selections exhibited several contrasting registrations.

Michael Eaton (Organist, Church of the Pilgrimage , Plymouth) concluded the program with 'Via Dolorosa' (1992) of Aivars Kalējs b. 1951: Aivars Kalējs (b.1951) is the organist at the Cathedral in Riga, the capitol city of Latvia in eastern Europe.  During the Soviet occupation of Latvia, the Cathedral in Riga, known as the Riga Dom, was allowed to remain open as an historical artifact.  Most religious items including the altar were removed and the building served as a concert hall.  Today the Riga Dom once again serves as the Cathedral church for Latvia.
The composition Via Dolorosa was written by Aivars Kalējs in 1992 soon after the fall of the Soviet regime.
The score is headed by the following inscription:

Offered in remembrance of the sacrifices made during the Soviet Occupation in Latvia 1940-1941, 1945-1991; especially for the lost Latvian families deported to Siberia.

Michael concluded the program with two stunning pedal solos: "Intermezzo and Final" from "Trois Esquisses" by Denis Bedard (1950 The concert was followed by supper at the John Carver Inn.

Richard W. Hill first studied organ with Nina Bollivar of Taunton, MA and the late John Fesperman at New England Conservatory of Music. For the last 35 years he has been Music Director and Organist at Unity Church, (Unitarian Universalist) in North Easton, MA A popular recitalist, he performs every fourth Wednesday at 12:15 PM at Unity Church He has played on several recital series. He has also performed for conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the International Society of Organ Builders, the Unitarian Universalists Musicians Conference, and the Organ Historical Society. He can be heard on CD’s of “Historic Organs of Connecticut,” “Historic Organs of Boston,” and the recently released "Historic Organs of Southeastern Massachusetts." I He is secretary and past dean of the Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter, American Guild of Organists and for several years has served as chair of the Organ Advisory Committee of the Boston Chapter, AGO.

Jim Moore has a math degree from Tufts University, Medford, but took many courses in music, his true passion, and earned a second major. Later in life, even while a full time engineer and father, Jim was encouraged to use his passion and talents in the Church. He took lessons from J. Kimball Darling in Attleboro, oftentimes practicing after 11PM. He began substituting and has been a fulltime organist and choir director for about 20 years. Now retired from high-tech, Jim also uses his talents as a pianist with chamber groups, a teacher and as an accompanist. He also directs and sings in a vocal group which specializes in “doo wop” a capella entertainment among other activities. Jim served at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Taunton for over 12 years.

Born in Osaka, Japan, Natsumi Malloy started playing music on a toy piano that was a gift from her grandmother on her first birthday. Natsumi began taking electronic organ lessons when she was five, which was also when she started composing. While studying at Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo, she became a performer under contract with Yamaha Electone City Shibuya, Tokyo. After graduating from Kunitachi College, she worked as an arranger of Yamaha Music Media, a music teacher, and a performer. Natsumi was a member of ‘Sendai Kinen Company’ and performed during the Japan tour ’94 -‘98. Coming to the U.S. in fall 2000, she entered Berklee College of Music, Boston. Graduating from Berklee College, she worked as an intern piano teacher and accompanist for a music theater at Bennington College, Vermont. She recently graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston with Masters in Music Theory, and after playing organ and piano at Unitarian Universalist Church in Middleborough for three years became organist at the First Church of Christ Scientist in Winchester, MA.

Philip Jones was born in 1949 in Preston, Lancashire, England. He studied music privately and at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Appointed organist to various churches from an early age Jones has worked continuously as a school and private teacher, organist and accompanist. He has been the Director of Music at Christ Congregational Church (UCC) Brockton since 1998

As a composer he has three albums of organ music published (Asian Praise, Variations on Kum ba Yah and the Hildegard Versets) He has also written vocal, choral and instrumental music. A recent performance of ‘The Prayers of Dag Hammarskjold’ was given by the University of California-Riverside Choral Society conducted by Dr Edward Bruner.
Organist Michael Eaton has served as a church musician for nearly thirty years.  In addition to several churches in Massachusetts, he has served as organist in New Hampshire and North Carolina.  He is currently Organist at the historic Church of the Pilgrimage UCC in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  He has given recitals in Nantucket, Boston and New York State as well as serving as organist for the Greensboro Hornets, a minor league baseball team in North Carolina.
            Michael is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.  He has studied with John Skelton, Kathryn Eskey, Yuko Hayashi and William Porter.  Mr. Eaton has for twenty-two years worked at the Andover Organ Company designing, building, and maintaining pipe organs throughout the eastern United States.
            Michael lives in Weymouth, Massachusetts with his wife Katherine and their children Mary and William.

Local Events

Coming Events

Program of Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter

Our Annual Organ Crawl Attleboro Organs was a great success. The weather was perfect and we kept to the time schedule. William MacPherson played the opening recital on the 1968 Herman Schlicker at Second Congregational Church. The organ was in perfect condition and Bill gave us a fine tour of its sounds

Next stop was at Attleboro Evangelical Covenant where the 1978 Kinzey Angerstein organ was put through its paces by Cheryl Duerr, Organist of that church. Cheryl gave us a nice tour of this historic opus #2 tracker.

Central Congregational UCC in Attleboro Falls was the next stop where Philip Jones made an eight rank organ sound like a 20 rank instrument . Rebuilt in the 1970's this Potter Rathbun Organ showed that its best stop was the room that maximized its sounds.

Murray Unitarian Universalist Church has an 1882 Hook & Hastings Opus 1111 installed in 1993 by Bob Newton and the Andover Organ Company. Dennis Fergusson, Organist there for some 25 years showed how lucky he is to have such an instrument.

We had lunch before visiting the Old Post Road Church in North Attleboro and its 1865 2-12 Geo. Stevens. Richard Hill played this charming instrument with its 13 note pedal board.

Saturday, May 11, 2013 7:00 PM Unity Church 13 Main Street North Easton
Annual Mother's Day Concert to Benefit "A New Day", the local shelter for battered women and children: Donations at the door for "A New Day.": Vacherweill String Ensemble, NoteAble Blend Barbershop Chorus, Bob Champagne-Willis and Anthony Wilson, Jordan Potash, Pianist; Unity Church Handbells, Richard Hill, Organist, Susan Maffa, soprano; Unity Church Band, Unity Church Choir

Sunday, May 19, 2013 3:00 PM Member Recital and Dinner with Annual Meeting: Church of the Pilgrimage Town Square, Plymouth A recital will precede adjournment to a local restaurant.
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Town Square Plymouth

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 12:15 PM Unity Church 13 Main Street North Easton; Richard Hill, Organist and Jim Moore , Pianist in Duet Concert ; works of Charles Callahan, Faure, Arensky, Debussy, Behnke, and Joel Raney
Admission Free

St. Anthony of Padua Church
1359 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02746
MUSIC at ST. ANTHONY’S
2013-2014 Organ Recital and Concert Series
Sunday Afternoons at 3:00 PM

Holy Cross Chapel Artists Series St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, Worcester

Fridays at 12:15 pm in Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston
2012 - 2013 recitals schedule:

May 24: Christopher Dekker
May 31: Mark McClellan

June 7: Christine Yoshikawa

The Ballou Channing Music Conference was held on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Murray UU Church in Attleboro. The day began with coffee and pastries during the registration. Some 60 musicians were gathered from Falmouth, Martha's Vineyard, Barnstable, Middleboro, Bridgewater, Taunton, Laconia, NH St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Haverhill, Newton, Concord, North Easton, Plymouth and parts unknown.

The opening service was preceded by the Frank Bridge Adagio in E played on the 1882 Hook and Hastings by Richard Hill. The morning workshops included : Social Justice Music by Beth Norton;  Keyboard repertoire for UU services: New Ideas, and New Approaches by John Kramer; Contemporary Vocal Technique Awareness and Wellness by Jeannie Gagné; Chanting and Sacred CircleDance by Kaeza Fearn; and "Be Lifted" by Nick Page

A delicious lunch was served after which Anne Watson Born conducted the repertoire session accompanied by pianist Susan Land Hotchkiss. Nick Page led the closing service.

This was an action packed day full of music and good fellowship.

BRITISH ORGAN TOUR

Leslie Peart will be sponsoring his TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL ENGLAND AND WALES ORGAN, CHORAL, AND PALACE TOUR, July 16 - 29.

Included will be several organs in London, three days at the Southern Cathedrals Festival at Chichester Cathedral (including the choirs of Salisbury and Winchester Cathedrals), and organs all along the west side of England, in cities such as Bath, Bristol, Hereford, Worcester, Birmingham, Lichfield, Cirencester - a visit to Blenheim Palace, and optional BBC Proms concerts at Royal Albert Hall, London

For complete information, please go to our website - www.organtours.com, where reviews and slide shows of several past tours can be seen.

Thank you

Leslie Peart
Dean, Corpus Christi Chapter, AGO
LESLIE P. PEART
937 Salem Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412
USA
361-461-3451

May Birthdays
1 Leo Sowerby 1895, Dirk Flentrop 1910
2 Alessandro Scarlatti 1660
3 Marcel Dupre 1886, Virgil Fox 1912
4 Frederic Jacobi 1891
5 T. Tertius Noble 1867
7 Johannes Brahms 1833
11 Harold Friedell 1905
12 Gabriel Faure 1845
13 Arthur Sullivan 1842
16 Andreas Silbermann 1678
17 Eric Satie 1866
19 Gordon Balch Nevin 1892 Albert Hay Malotte 1895
23 Gerald Near 1942
27 G. Wallace Goodrich 1871
29 Emile Pessard 1843
30 Gustav Leonhardt 1928, James R. Gilette 1886
31 R. Deane Shure 1885

Membership

e mail Richard Hill: smhill42ne@earthlink.net for membership form.

Our chapter covers the 53 towns and cities south of Boston, north of Cape Cod and east of Rhode Island. It includes the cities of Brockton, Taunton, Attleboro, Fall River and New Bedford along wth several small towns, many with historic pipe organs. The oldest continually active E & GG Hook pipe organ in the United States, an 1834 installation is in the Berkley Congregational Church. Our programs are held throughout the region and celebrate organs and organ music throughout the year. To join the Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter, E Mail Jim Moore at jimm88@comcast.net for the membership application.

Placement

2012-2013 Compensation for Sacred Musicians

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS Fee Guidelines recommended by the Professional Concerns Committee for churches and synagogues in the Boston area.
The resident organist of a church, synagogue, or temple has the right of first refusal for all weddings and funerals in the employing institution. No AGO member shall accept any engagement in any institution without the prior apporval of the resident organist. Fees are paid prior to the wedding or funeral unless other agreement has been made.

Wedding or Funeral (includes one consultation) $250=$400
Wedding Rehearsal (one hour) $125-$200
Ancillary Musician Rehearsal $100-$150
(per hour; minimum half-hour fee)
Special requirements (including contracting musicians) negotiated on a case by case basis

Substitute Organists
Substitute Organist for one service $200-$350
Substitute Organist and Choir Director $250-$400
Extra rehearsal accompanying soloist or choir $100-$150

Trumpet Player seeking Easter Service

Name: James Sheehan
Instrument: Trumpet
Email: jsheehan@student.bridgew.edujsheehan@student.bridgew.edu>
Currently studying music at Bridgewater State University

POSITION AVAILABLE
Part Time Music Director Starting Sept 2013
The First Congregational Church of Sharon, MA a UCC affiliated church is seeking a regular part-time 15 hr/wk Organist/Choir Director beginning September 1, 2013. FCC of Sharon has a strong music tradition with a committed and energetic 25-30 member adult choir, a pastor who loves music and working with music leaders, and many gifted musicians, adults and children, within the congregation. Organ: 1985 Roche Organ Company, mechanical key action, electric stop action and stopkey combination action, 21 ranks, 3 keyboards.

The Music Director will be responsible for all aspects of the spiritual music ministry in conjunction with the Pastor and Music Chair, including but not limited to serving as the primary organist/pianist and senior choir director, and overseeing the development of a children/youth music program. Primary responsibilities will include planning and providing organ music for all regular and holiday services, directing and accompanying the senior choir during weekly Tuesday night rehearsals and Sunday 10am worship, up to two special choir programs yearly and engaging others (vocalist and instrumentalists) from the congregation in music ministry of the church. Additional services such as weddings and funerals may be performed for additional compensation.

A successful candidate will have demonstrated proficiency in organ, choral conducting, and working with children and youth. A Bachelors’ degree in organ, sacred music, choir master, CAGO Certificate or its equivalent and a minimum of 3 years experience in church music or related experience is required. Compensation will be commensurate with education and experience.

Please send letter of interest and resume with references to:

Contact: Martha MacMillin, Music Committee Chair
First Congregational Church of Sharon
P.O. Box 423
29 North Main Street
Sharon, MA 02067
781-784-2631
mmacmillin@uwalumni.com

Website: http://fccofsharon.org

Music Director Needed for Union Congregational Church
East Bridgewater
Union Congregational Church seeks a Music Director to lead the music for Sunday worship services and other special programs, direct the choir, (including weeknight and Sunday morning rehearsals), prepare/play the organ and piano, and work with the bell choir leader (approximately 10 hours per week). Must be versatile and skilled accompanist, commitment to the Christian faith, team player, patience and a sense of humor. Please email resume and cover letter to Kathryn.young44@gmail.com or mail to Union Congregational Church, 105 Pleasant St., East Bridgewater, MA 02333, office@uccofeb.org

Union Congregational Church
105 Pleasant Street East Bridgewater
1884 1-8 Steere and Turner #196

Manual 61 notes
8 Open Diapason Bass 12 Pedal 27 notes
8 Open Diapason Treble 49 16 Bourdon 27
8 Melodia 61
8 Salicional 49 Manual to Pedal Coupler
4 Octave 61
4 Violin Bass 12
4 Flute 61
2 Fifteenth 61
8 Oboe 49
Tremolo

John Wesley Steere & and George William Turner both trained as organ builders with William Johnson, the celebrated Massachusetts builder. Steere & Turner opened their doors in 1867, and produced hundreds of organs until 1921 when Ernest Skinner purchased the business and merged it with the Skinner Organ Company.

First Parish Church, Unitarian Universalist
19 Town Square
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-747-1606

Position: Organist/Pianist

Membership: 80

Submission Deadline: Until Filled

First Parish Church, Plymouth, MA, the oldest church in North America, is seeking a ¼ time organist/pianist effective mid August 2012. Music is an integral part of the life of this historic church and an important element of our growth process.

We are seeking an organist/pianist for Sunday morning worship services (one service at 10a.m.) and other special church services (e.g. Thanksgiving Day Interdenominational Service, Christmas Eve, etc.) This music professional will accompany the church choir under the leadership of the Music Director and provide service music such as preludes, interludes, postludes, and occasional anthems. He/she must be comfortable with a variety of musical styles, including:
classical, contemporary, multi-cultural, and gospel, in keeping with the spirit of Unitarian Universalist beliefs and principles. Access to and wide knowledge of organ and keyboard repertoire is highly desirable. Choir rehearsal is scheduled for Sunday morning at 8:30; occasional rehearsals are added for special events.

We seek someone who is a good communicator and brings creative energy to his/her work. This position reports to the Music Director.

Percent of fulltime: 1/4 time, 12 months per year (Six Sundays of leave per year.)

Salary range: $6,000 to $8,000 (in accordance with UUA Salary recommendations for small church in Region 4)

Organ: Allen Organ Model ADC-500. Purchased in 1987

Website: www.FirstParishPlymouth.org

Organist (pianist), weekends 3 masses (all or some), Contact Fr. Daniel Gray, Pastor, St. Anthony Church, Portsmouth, RI 401-683-0089 stanthonych@msn.com

Pearl Sreet United Methodist Church
415 Pearl Street Brockton, MA 02301
Pianist/Organist Needed 1914 2-8 Estey Tubular
Sunday Service 11:00 AM
Choir Rehearsal Thursday 7:30-9:00
Salary $135.00 weekly
Contact Janice Schuster
schusterjanice@gmail.com
508 801 8414

First Baptist Church Scituate,MA is looking for person who will be a good fit for a team-oriented staff to lead music for their traditional Sunday morning worship service (10:00am). The full time position needing to be filled is that of a pianist/organist who would accompany the church choir at worship services, play other service music as well as direct choir rehearsals on a weekly basis (day/time is negotiable) The person that would be considered is familiar with traditional hymns, praise/contemporary music and some anthem presentations on special occasions. Sight-reading is a must. The church is now accepting requests for auditions. The audition will include playing a hymn from sight, a praise/contemporary song from sight and playing certain choral responses on the organ (2 manual Allen). Contact the office at 781-545-0058 or praisebe@comcast.net for application. Applications due by May 31st, 2012.

Available: Lowry Electronic Organ 50+ years old
Come and get it: vhgboiros@comcast.net

Organist/Choir Director - Whitman
Posted On: August 23, 2012
Contact: Music Committee
E-mail: UCCWhitman@verizon.net
Phone: 781-447-5557
Address: 519 Washington Street, Whitman, MA 02382
Position Start Date: TBD

Please send letter of interest and resume with references by September 30, 2012

Description:
First Congregational Church of Whitman, MA, seeks a music director to lead our volunteer choir of 10-12 singers and to play the organ through out services. Our ideal candidate is a creative individual that can read music. For many years our church has used traditional hymns from the Pilgrim and New Century Hymnals and sung classically based four part anthems. There is an interest within the church to integrate more modern music and explore musically appropriate ways to showcase the choir of mostly non-musically trained individuals whose ages range from 12 to 80.

Weekly responsibilities Include:
• As keyboardist/organist, he or she shall provide music for all regular and holiday worship services. Music will consist of (i) appropriate preludes, offertories, and postludes selected by the keyboardist, (ii) accompaniment for choirs and congregational singing (anthems, hymns, Doxology, offertories, and responses), and (iii) additional background music at the request of the pastor.
• As keyboardist/organist, he or she will accompany the choir rehearsals, one hour prior to services (in most cases 9 AM September through June).
• As music director, he or she shall prepare for services by selecting music and practicing as needed.
• As music director he or she will assist in the preparation of a children’s choir and or bell choir.
Compensation: $9,115 (annually). Calendar year begins January 1st.
*if hired October 1, 2012 or after- salary would be prorated based on weeks remaining in year.
Organ: A 2010 digital Rogers organ.
Website: www

Substitute List

David Baker
Email dgb137@mac.com or call 617-367-4260.

Fred Brewer 508 586 9527

Ron Brown 508 226 1565 (All) $125. minimum
bachfanbrown@comcast.net

Claire DeCusati
decusati@verizon.net
781-582-8722

Bruce Gardzina
Brugar244@aol.com
508-951-0899

Richard W. Hill July and August 2013
rwsmhill@verizon.net
508 238 6081

Jim Moore available long term
61 Oak Street
Norton, MA 02766-1103
jimm88@comcast.net

Joan Nahigian No Sundays September-June
81 King Philips Pathe
Marshfield, MA 02050
pinkltink@verizon.net
(781) 834-4105

Brandon Santini - 781-331-0930
Available for Funeral & Weddings

Beverly Jerold Scheibert, MM, AAGO
508-339-0579
bvjerold@aol.com
I play all denominations, and am available weekends and weekdays.

Sarah Hostetter 781-740-1283
sarahhostetter@verizon.net
303 Linden Ponds Way, Apt. T-20
Hingham, MA 02043

Robert Johnson 508 226 8991 maxinejohnson@comcast.net

Howard Phelps 508-224-8475. email address: howard703@verizon.net.

Pat Potter 508-226-2277 weekdays and Saturdays
prpotter@aol.com

Maria Rivera 774 222-3352 mdlarw@aol.com
BM Eastman MM Juilliard

Jim Russell jimrussell52_@yahoo.com

Ronald P. Shepard: organsub@gmail.com 413 783 4280
860 243 7424

Mary Whelan mwhelan@wheatonma.edu 508 222 5762
weekdays and Saturdays

Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website.

Certification

The AGO PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM dates from 1896, when the Guild received its charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York to administer a comprehensive series of examinations for professional certification. The following certificates are offered under the auspices of the AGO Committee on Professional Certification: Service Playing Certificate (SPC), Colleague (CAGO), Choir Master (ChM), Associateship (AAGO), and Fellowship (FAGO). While the lower-level Guild examinations (CAGO and SPC) test competence in a number of skills that an organist uses regularly, such as hymn playing, accompanying, and sight-reading, the more advanced examinations also test the candidate's literacy and musicianship at a higher level. For example, tests in writing counterpoint, accompanying from a figured bass, and essay questions in music history are included in the upper-level exams.
"An AGO certificate benefits the member, contributing to professional advancement and to an increase in confidence in performance, and it strengthens the Guild in its mission to maintain standards in organ playing, choral conducting, and worship music," notes Philip Gehring, PhD, FAGO, immediate past director of the AGO Committee on Professional Certification. "A Guild with a large number of certified members sends a message to the public that we are serious about quality in the practice of our profession." Approximately 10% of the AGO membership is certificated. Of those, 39% hold the Service Playing Certificate; 29% hold the Colleague; 7% hold the Choir Master; 18% hold the Associateship, and 7% hold the Fellowship.

Contact Us

Officers for 2012-2013

Dean - Dr Steven Young, AAGO 508 823 0504
68 Briarwood Drive Taunton, MA 02780-3754 s1young@bridgew.edu
Old South Union Congregational, Weymouth

Sub-Dean - Philip Jones FRCO 508 583 3022 pjones345@comcast.net
127 Tilton Avenue, Brockton, MA
02301-3029 Christ Congregational Church UCC Brockton

Treasurer/Registrar/Membership - Jim Moore 508 223 9646
61 Oak Street, Norton MA 02766-1103 jimm88@comcast.net
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Taunton

Secretary/Newsletter/Webmaster - Richard Hill 508 238-6081
18 Main Street North Easton, MA 02356 1430
Unity Church of North Easton (Unitarian Universalist)

Education Coordinator - Fred Brewer 508 586 9527
40 Ellen Road Brockton, MA 02302=2527

Professional Development Coordinator - Philip Jones

Director - Dennis Ferguson 508 528 6292
41 Prospect Street Franklin MA 02038-3401
Murray Unitarian Universalist, Attleboro

Visit the AGO National website