 |
Southwest Jersey Chapter |
| Last updated: May 6, 2012 |
Message from the Dean |
| May, 2012
Dear Colleagues, I hope you are all enjoying the beauties of Spring. When we moved to our rural area of Salem County almost ten years ago, I finally understood why New Jersey is called the Garden State! It is such a delight to drive past acres of orchards in bloom. April was surely an action packed month for local organists! In addition to Palm Sunday and Easter early in the month, there were many other special programs in the area, our chapter organ crawl to the beautiful chapel at Villanova University to see the Patrick Murphy organ, and on Saturday the 21st, the AGO Annual Gala at the Kimmel Center, honoring the lifetime achievements of Dr. John Weaver. The group from our chapter who attended the latter was extremely impressed by all the participating organists, not to mention Dr. Weaver himself, whose performance of Cesar Franck’s Choral No. 1 was memorable. My favorite concert in the non-organ category was my first experience of a performance by the Curtis Symphony Orchestra – it is just amazing to see and hear so much young talent all at once! Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra was the perfect piece to showcase their abilities. There are just two events left on our chapter calendar this program year: an evening of interesting organ performances on DVD at the home of our Sub-Dean, Chris Daly, and our Annual Meeting and Picnic, to be held at the home of Larry DePasquale. Please note that this last event is earlier than in previous years, taking place on the last Sunday afternoon of June. More details will be in next month’s newsletter. Cordially yours, Evelyn NOTICE IN PERPETUITY Trinity Presbyterian Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, wrongfully terminated a member of the American Guild of Organists on November 23, 2010, for which no resolution has been reached. When an Institution is found to have wrongfully terminated a Member of the AGO, no Guild Member, individually or collectively, may serve that Institution as an employee or independent contractor, in an interim, temporary, substitute, regular or permanent capacity beyond a 90-day period following the date of this finding, that is, May 13, 2011. CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE We have Chapter Scholarships available for persons interested in learning to play the organ. The Scholarship provides 14 free lessons for any pianist who is at an Intermediate level of pianistic ability. Members who teach piano may have a student who would be interested. For information contact Chair of Scholarship Committee Vernon Williams (856-235-0811; vwilliams@trinitymoorestown.org). |
Local Events |
| Sunday, May 6, 2:30 pm - Kennett Square PA The Delius Society presents Michael Stairs at Longwood Gardens; free with Gardens admission.
Sunday, May 6 at 4:00 pm - Burlington. Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church will present a service of Solemn Evensong for The Feast of Saint Florian, honoring the Burlington fire services, including music of Anton Bruckner and Malcolm Archer. Ringing of Saint Mary’s bells will precede the service at 3:45 p.m. Free-will offering; 145 West Broad Street. For further information contact the Parish Office at (609) 386-0902 or at parishoffice@stmarysburlington.org or visit www.stmarysburlington.org. Friday, May 11, 8 pm - Kennett Square PA Peter Richard Conte at Longwood Gardens; ticketphiladelphia.org or 215-893-1999 Sunday, May 20, 4 pm - Burlington. A Cordus Collection: music by the male a cappella ensemble Cordus Mundi, including Chesnokoff, Billy Joel, Brahms, the Beatles and others; at St. Mary's Church. Freewill offering and reception following. Sunday, June 3, 7 pm - Moorestown Gala 175th Anniversary Celebration Choral Concert, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 207 W. Main Street. Freewill offering. |
Newsletter |
| PROGRAMS FOR THE 2011-2012 YEAR
Saturday, September 17 - 9:00-12:30 "Improve your Skills" Workshops at St. Vincent Pallotti in Westmont. Program includes Wesley Parrott discussing Ornamentation in the Works of Bach, plus information from various other professional musicians' groups. Sunday, October 16 - 4 pm Guild Service at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Burlington City, with Chapter Banquet following at Cafe Gallery Saturday, November 19 - 10 am Master class by David Higgs at First United Methodist Church, Haddonfield Sunday, November 20 - 7 pm Recital by David Higgs, at First United Methodist Church, Haddonfield. Saturday, January 14 - 8 am January Jump Start Workshops at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Friday, January 20, 6:00 pm Covered Dish Supper at the home of Dean Evelyn Larter Sunday, February 26, 3 pm Members' Recital at St. Rose of Lima RC Church, Haddon Heights: Ruth Fink, Dr. Ted Kiefer, Irina Nenartovich, Mary Johnson, Christopher Daly, Robert Gladden, and Evelyn Larter, organists, and Anthony Falatico, baritone, performing. Friday, March 23, 7:30 pm Demonstration of the Hauptwerk Virtual Organ, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Kings Highway, Cherry Hill Sunday, April 15, 2:30 pm- Visit to the new Patrick Murphy organ at Villanova University, PA Saturday, April 21, 3 pm - Concert Honoring John Weaver at the Kimmel Center Friday, May 18, 7:30 pm A DVD Tour of Historic Organs and Performers, at Sub-Dean Daly's home. Sunday, June 24, 4 pm - Annual Meeting and Picnic at Larry DePasquale's home in Pitman CHAPTER EMERGENCY FUND Our Chapter has begun the sponsorship of a fund to provide short-term emergency aid to Chapter members who find themselves temporarily in need of assistance. No dues money will be used for this aid, but tax-deductible contributions will be welcome at any time, and the free-will offering from this year's Members' Recital has been dedicated to this fund. A committee of three, consisting of the Dean, the Chair of Professional Concerns, and another member of that committee, will award aid as the need arises. Any Chapter member may recommend a member in good standing who, for reasons such as illness or unemployment, deserves our help, by contacting the Dean or the Chair of Professional Concerns. All cases of course will be confidential. If you would like to contribute to this cause, please send your tax-deductible donation (made out to SWJersey Chapter AGO) to our Treasurer Gail Gassaway, marked for "Musicians' Emergency Fund." CHAPTER PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE-- Our Professional Concerns Committee has published the first edition of the brochure SO YOU'RE THINKING OF HIRING A CHURCH MUSICIAN... Topics included are, Where to begin your search, the AGO Code of Ethics as applicable to hiring procedures, Formula for Determining Workload, as well as a Worksheet for Determining Workload, Job Description Form, Guidelines for the Interview and Audition, sample Working Agreements, and a copy of our latest edition of Guidelines for the Compensation of Church Musicians. These brochures will be sent by our Placement Director to all institutions listing positions in our publications and website; you may also request a copy from the Professional Concerns Committee Chairperson. Also available from the Professional Concerns Committee - "Guidelines for Compensation" (see below); Sample "Working Agreement for Church Musicians;" and "Copyright Law Simplified" (revised Sept. 2005). PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE SURVEY OF COMPENSATION - (revised April 2012) Based on a response of 32% of the membership, the following recommendations represent reasonable expectations for compensation in our geographical area. (Topics of further interest, such as other forms of compensation, budgets, benefits, etc. will be posted in the coming weeks.) A printed version of the Guidelines is also available - please request your copy from The Professional Concerns Committee (see Contact Us below). The guidelines below are based on ONE SERVICE 52 weeks per year. For each additional Sunday service ADD 30% to the salary base. For weekday or Saturday services, and services of a different format, add $150 or more per service. Organist only, no choir: (6 to 8 hours per week) With Private study - $7,200-7,800 With a Service Playing Certificate - $7,920-8,580 With Bachelor in Music or CAGO - $8,360-9,625 With Master in Music or AAGO, ChM - $9,350-11,140 With Doctorate in Music or FAGO - $10,230-12,650 Organist OR Director, 1 choir: (7 to 15 hours per week) With private study - $8,750-11,100 With SPC - $9,625-11,210 Bachelor in Music or CAGO - $10,395-12,760 Master in Music or AAGO, ChM - $12,210-14,410 Doctorate in Music or FAGO - $15,950-19,060 Organist OR Director, 2 choirs; OR Organist/Director, 1 choir: (14 to 22 hours per week) With private study - $10,400-14,500 With SPC - $11,440-15,950 Bachelor in Music or CAGO - $12,210-20,020 Master in Music or AAGO, ChM - $13,200-21,560 Doctorate in Music or FAGO - $16,940-24,225 Organist OR Director, 3 choirs; OR Organist/Director, 2 choirs: (18 to 28 hours per week) $21,010-48,950 depending on nature of position and qualifications of musician. Organist OR Director, 4 or more choirs; OR Organist/Director, 3 or more choirs: ( 40+ hours per week) $37,180-89,100; positions of this nature are full time and demand salary plus benefits, depending on the scope of the position and qualifications of the musician. Pay for Substitutes: For a basic service consisting of one Sunday service and no choir rehearsal, the recommended fee is $150 per week. Additional contiguous services should command an additional $100 per service. Additional weekday or Saturday services should command an additional $150 per week. Non-contiguous rehearsals should command $75 per rehearsal. Long-term substitutes should be paid in accordance with the Guidelines above. When travel is a consideration, paying mileage is appropriate. Pay for Weddings: The resident organist shall play for all weddings, memorial services and funerals in the employing institution. If the resident is unavailable, a substitute may be employed. If the resident organist is available but an outside organist is requested by the family, the church organist is entitled to the regular fee. Wedding service fee - $150 to $250, not including any rehearsals. Each rehearsal (whether with wedding party, soloist or instrumentalist) - $75 additional. A deposit of $50 paid in advance to reserve the wedding date is recommended. Funeral and memorial service fee: $150, or higher if local custom dictates. REPORT ON WORKING CONDITIONS FOR SOUTHWEST JERSEY CHAPTER MEMBERS (revised April 2012) Salary and Training by David Rhody, Member of the Professional Concerns Committee The survey elicited 35 responses, or 32% of our membership. The SWJAGO membership continues to include highly educated musicians with 71% possessing degrees in music. These degrees include SPC, CAGO, AAGO, ChM, FAGO, B.A., B.Mus., and M.Mus. According to the 2011-12 Membership Directory, professional certification numbers are the following: SPC-11, CAGO-5 (including 4 who list both CAGO and SPC), AAGO-3, FAGO-1. The 2012 survey shows a wide disparity of salaries, which range from zero to $83,000 per year. Approximately 10% choose to volunteer as organists and receive no compensation for their service. The trend appears to be that salaries are very gradually rising, although they are much below the compensation levels of other professions. Positions with the highest salaries are held by members with degrees in music. The results are as follows (gaps in the figures occur where no one reported a salary: Category...Salary.....Percent of answers A. 6-8 hours per week... $3,900-7,000........17% B. 7-15 hours per week.. $10,555-30,000......11% C. 14-22 hours per week..$19,480-28,000......26% D. 18-28 hours per week..$21,000-40,641......14% E. 40+ hours per week....$26,520-83,000......14% Benefits by David Rhody, Chair of Professional Concerns Committee Based on responses to our survey, four-fifths of our members (80%) now receive one or more fringe benefits in addition to salary as part of their compensation, the most common being paid vacation (80% of respondents)ranging from 2 to 6 1/2 weeks, the most common being 4 weeks; and compensation for continuing education (26%). Another 11% have professional dues paid by their employer, and almost a quarter also receive paid major medical insurance, dental plan and pension (23%). Most of those respondents with benefits are in salary categories B, C or D as listed above. Members should remember when negotiating with their employers that benefits are often an attractive alternative to a pay increase in the eyes of the employing institutions, since they may involve tax consequences favorable to the employer. Our Professional Concerns Committee offers a sample "Agreement between Musicians and Religious Institutions" which you are welcome to request from David Rhody, Chair (856-795-6735; drhody1@comcast.net). Weddings and Funerals; Demographics by Joyce Ann Routon, Member of Professional Concerns Committee Wedding Fees- These fees have remained about the same as on our last survey four years ago, varying from $110 to $250, with the majority still receiving $150-200. $250 - 3 people $200 - 9 $175 - 3 $150 - 12 $100 - 21 Funeral Fees- These fees also remain about the same. Fifteen people receive $150 or more, while two donate their services. $200 - 1 person $175 - 1 $150 - 13 $125 - 5 $100 - 6 Services donated - 2 Rehearsals- Most of you who are paid for extra rehearsals still receive $50. $100 - 1 person $50 - 5 $40 - 1 $25 - 2 Substitute Fees- The lowest fees reported are at least $35 higher than four years ago, but the fees still vary widely, with most asking $150. $300 - 1 person $200 - 2 $175 - 2 $150 - 8 $130 - 1 $125 - 4 $100 - 4 $80 - 1 Extra Services- Only three reported being paid for extra services, the rest reporting that extra services are considered included in their annual salaries. $200 - 1 person $133 - 1 $50 - 1 Pay Increases- The majority either receive pay increases annually or not at any time recently. Annually - 12 people Every 2 years - 3 Every 5 years - 1 Varies with the Economy - 2 Not recently - 9 Job Description Changes- Most have remained the same; but of the ones who have changed, their duties have been expanded. One church has reduced the number of services from 2 to 1. Another person still plays the same number of services, but at two different churches that have merged. Duties Expanded - 6 Duties Reduced - 1 Signed Contract or Working Agreement- The great majority have no contract or working agreement. Contract - 8 Job Description - 7 Verbal Agreement - 1 Denominations- The survey showed six denominations responding, with the majority being Presbyterian or Episcopalian. Presbyterian - 9 Episcopal - 8 Lutheran - 5 Catholic - 4 Methodist - 4 Baptist - 1 Size and Attendance of Churches- There is a huge variation in the sizes of the churches where you are employed. The churches range from 70 members to 3500, while the attendance shows 25 to 600. The average percentage of attendance ranges from about 13% to 95%, with most falling in the 30% to 50% range. Type of Community Served- Most of you work in a suburban community. Urban - 4 people Suburban - 21 Semi-Rural - 1 Rural - 3 When asked about employment issues that could be addressed at a Chapter meeting which would benefit you, only two replied. One requested seasonal anthem-reading sessions. The other was a plea for a way to explain to clergy, lay people and non-musicians how much work is involved in preparation for services and rehearsals. |
Membership |
| JOIN OUR CHAPTER TODAY ---
Regular Membership categories: Regular Voting Member - $92 Over 65, Under 21, Disabled - $67 Full-time Student - $37 Partner Voting Member (second member at same address) - $67 Dual Voting Member (Regular member of another chapter) - $36 Student Dual Member - $15 Chapter Friend (non-voting) - $36 Please contact our Registrar for further information (see Contact Us below) |
Placement |
| POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Reminder - although a position no longer appears, that does not necessarily mean it has been filled. You may reach the Chapter Hotline at 856-424-8666. Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Haddonfield, NJ - Part-time Organist/Accompanist to provide organ and piano music at regular Sunday Worship Services 8:00, 9:15, & 10:30 am as well as additional special events on the Church calendar year; adult choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 8:00 - 9:30 pm. Send your cover letter and resume to John Drozdal (john.drozdal@gmail.com) or to the church at 204 Wayne Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033 attn John Drozdall. Electronic submissions are preferred.(5/12) Avondale Presbyterian Church, Avondale, PA (near Kennett Square) - Part-time Organist/Accompanist to provide organ and piano music at our regular Sunday Worship Services 8:30 & 11:00 am as well as additional special events on the Church calendar year; choir rehearses on Thursday evenings 7:30 to 9:00 pm; Allen organ. Send your resume to Avondale Presbyterian Church, P. 0. Box 446, Avondale, PA, 19311 or E-mail to avondale.pcoffice@verizon.net to the attention of Mrs. Marge Pickel.(4/12) Tabernacle United Methodist Church, Erma NJ (near Cape May) - organist/pianist for 1 traditional service, 1 choir. Contact Jessica Thomas, 702 Seashore Road, Cape May,. (3/12) First Baptist, Pedricktown- Pianist, 2-3 Sundays a month, weekly Thursday rehearsal, accompany traditional choir anthems, soloists, congregational hymns. Contact Brian Heintzelman, Music Director at 856-678-7280. (1/12) Calvary Lutheran, Medford- O/D, 10:00 service, electronic instrument, 6 in Adult Choir, Contact Gordon Lockhart 609-654-6935. (10/11) Holy Angels Catholic Church- Woodbury & St. Matthew's Catholic Church- National Park - 10:00 in Woodbury, 12:00 National Park. These positions are available individually or can be yoked since they are 1 1/2 miles from each other. No choir rehearsals. There is a pre-mass warm-up with the cantor. Mike Plunkett at 856-853-0019. (9/11) Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, Hainesport- O one or two services on Sunday at 10:30 and/or 12:00 noon. Occasional Saturday evening at 4:30. The only rehearsal is to warm up with the cantor. 2m Allen, Contact Diane Dannenfelser at 609-233-1377 or dianedann123@comcast.net. (8/11) Church of the Loving Shepherd, West Chester PA- Organist, 10:00 service with a minimum of three Sundays per month, 9 R Wissinger Tracker, Steinway B grand piano, additional information at www.Lovingshepherd.org. Resume to Starrscb@aol.com (7/11) SUBSTITUTE LIST This list is published as a courtesy to chapter members. The AGO assumes no responsibility for the musicianship or reliability of substitutes. Substitutes who have passed AGO certification exams are so noted. If there is an error in your listing, please notify us so we can correct it. You may reach the Chapter Hotline at 856-424-8666. These musicians are available on Sundays and also for weddings and funerals other days: Pauline Ahern 856-234-8318 (Mt. Laurel area)pahern@ausinc.com Miriam Bisbing 856-627-9434 (Sicklerville) April through November only Marion Constable 609-324-7862 (Columbus)mconstable09@comcast.net John Dow 856-327-1739 (Millville) jedowfam@aol.com Anthony Falatico 856-854-9373 (Collingswood)- Falametz03@verizon.net Gail Gassaway 856-848-6787 (West Deptford)cloaked17@verizon.net Mary Johnson 856-468-5464 (Mantua) mebayjohnson@yahoo.com Dr. Ted Kiefer 856-694-3693 (South Jersey area) Sunday services 8:00 or earlier chadorgan@gmail.com Barbara Knight 609-871-1204 (Burlington area)baknight@comcast.net Carol McDaniel 856-428-0911 (Haddonfield) cfmcdaniel@verizon.net substitute organist and director Nancy McLoud 856-667-6127 (Maple Shade)nairmc@verizon.net George Mitchell 856-795-0970 (Cherry Hill) babayaga430@aol.com Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC 856-321-3465 (Cherry Hill) knenartovich@hotmail.com Joanne Owen 856-769-3212 (Woodstown) lbjkowen1982@comcast.net Karen Scepansky, SPC 856-667-2119 (Cherry Hill kascep@verizon.net Kathleen White 609-267-3349 (Hainesport) KWBoots@aol.com These substitutes are available for weddings and funerals or Saturday work only: Alice Brown, SPC 856-455-9179 (Bridgeton) ABrown1929@comcast.net Evelyn Larter, SPC 856-358-1112 (Elmer) ERLarter@juno.com Lee F. Milhous 215-348-8872 (Burlington area) leefmilhous@verizon.net Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild's National Website. |
Certification |
| Would you like to prepare for or take one of the exams for AGO certification?
Contact Ruth Fink, education coordinator: (856)829-6604. pkcruth@verizon.net. These members currently hold AGO certification, as listed in our Membership Directory: Rae Ann Anderson, CAGO Alice Brown, SPC Helen C. Carrell, CAGO Charlene Cranmer, SPC Lawrence DePasquale, CAGO Ruth O. Fink, AAGO, ChM Ethel H. Geist, CAGO Barbara A. Knight, SPC Evelyn Larter, SPC Sister Emily McMullen, SPC Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC Marilyn Rabbai, SPC David L. Rhody, SPC Glenn L. Rodgers, AAGO Joyce Ann Routon, CAGO, SPC Karen Scepansky, SPC Marilyn Shellenberger, SPC Helen K. Taylor, AAGO Dr. Harry Wilkinson, FAGO |
Contact Us |
| DEAN: Evelyn R. Larter (SPC) 856-358-1112 erlarter@juno.com
SUB-DEAN and PROGRAM CHAIR: Christopher T. Daly (PhD) 856-783-5116 acddaly@comcast.net TREASURER and REGISTRAR: Gail A. Gassaway 856-848-6787 cloaked17@verizon.net SECRETARY: Charlene Cranmer, SPC 609-265-1601 ctcranmer@comcast.net HISTORIAN: Miriam Bisbing 856-627-9434 CONCERT LISTINGS: fax (856)795-7166 drhody1@comcast.net PLACEMENT COORDINATOR: Peter Homon (856)424-8666 lapajar@yahoo.com EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Ruth Fink, AAGO pkcruth@verizon.net MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSON: Glenn L. Rodgers, AAGO 856-461-1268 Glenn@MeetWithGod.com PUBLISHER AND WEBMASTER: David Rhody, SPC (856)795-6735 drhody1@comcast.net EDITOR: Barbara Knight, SPC baknight@comcast.net NOMINATIONS: Glenn Rodgers, Chairperson CARES & CONCERNS: Anthony Falatico (856-854-9373) PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS: David Rhody, Chairperson drhody1@comcast.net EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Class of 2012 - Christine Robinson, Joyce Ann Routon CAGO, Vernon H. Williams Class of 2013 - Miriam Bisbing, Lawrence DePasquale CAGO, Kathy Gunsallus, John Sankey, Jr. Class if 2014 - Gae Finch, Joanne Owen, Jonathan Stark and Kathleen White |
Links |
| Some of the world's largest and most interesting organs are located in our area - here are a few of them:
Information concerning the Midmer-Losh organ in Atlantic City Convention Hall, including the newly published booklet "The Story of the World's Largest Pipe Organ," can be found at www.acchos.org. For information on the large Hope-Jones Organ in the Ocean Grove Auditorium, visit www.oceangrove.org For the Wanamaker Organ at the Lord and Taylor Store in Philadelphia, see www.wanamakerorgan.com The US Naval Academy Chapel, where our member Erik Meyer has been Assistant Organist, can be found at www.usna.edu/Music/organ.html And the Princeton University Chapel Mander Organ is featured at www.mander-organs.com/html/body_princeton_university_chapel.html Publications of the ORGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY are available at www.ohscatalog.org Compositions by ROBERT FARRELL for organ or choir are available free from the composer at www.rfarrell.net/free Links to other musical institutions in the area: Westminster Choir College: http://westminster.rider.edu The Philadelphia Orchestra: www.philorch.org The Curtis Institute: www.curtis.edu The Bach Choir of Bethlehem: www.bach.org The Estey Pipe Organ (A Virtual Museum) is a new website devoted to the organs manufactured by the Estey Company in Brattleboro, VT, and may be found at www.esteyorgan.com. In addition to a listing of all opus numbers, the site includes hundreds of photographs of organs and the people connected with them. An on-going project, the site is always looking for additional materials about Estey pipe organs, especially those instruments which are still in existence. The site's owner, Philip Stimmel, may be contacted by email at phil@esteyorgan.com or by phone at 802-254-8470. |
| Visit the AGO National website |