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| Weekly Update | American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter |
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Dear AGO Cleveland Colleague,
Welcome to the Weekly Update from the Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists! Each week on Thursday, we publish this email newsletter to help you stay informed about activities and programs of the Cleveland AGO Chapter. Questions or comments? Please let us know: admin@agocleveland.org Have a news item for a future issue? Send to: newsletter@agocleveland.org. The deadline each week is Wednesday at noon for Thursday publication.
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From the Dean
 | | Fern Jennings |
John Ferguson was my first college organ teacher way back in 1969 at Kent State University. John was a young and dynamic powerhouse then, juggling a large load of organ students, working on a Doctorate, and working as music director and organist at the Kent United Church of Christ. The church had a new Holtkamp organ that we took our lessons on. Also during his time at Kent John was the program chair of the National AGO convention held in Cleveland and finished a doctoral dissertation which became the book "Walter Holtkamp: American Organ Builder". He was an inspirational teacher to a generation of organists many of whom are still active in the Cleveland area.
We followed John's career as he moved on to a full-time church job in Minneapolis and then to a position as professor of organ and church music at St. Olaf College. His published organ and choral music became staples of our repertoire. His name became synonymous with hymn playing as he performed his unique and creative hymn festivals around the country. We would catch up with John when he returned to the area for hymn festivals sponsored by local AGO chapters. Generally after these events John could be found in close conversation with a young person discussing their future as an organist. Recruiting, yes, but John has always genuinely been interested in the young organist and encouraging their aspirations to this profession we engage in.
Following his retirement in May from St. Olaf College it is fitting that our program committee has invited John to present this weekend's hymn festival for our chapter. We can only imagine what kind of post-retirement projects John has in mind. I hope to see you at some of the events of this weekend's chapter Hymn Festival. You will be inspired.
Fern
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Upcoming Cleveland Chapter Events
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NOVEMBER CHAPTER EVENT
HYMN FESTIVAL WEEKEND, November 10-12
led by John Ferguson
 | | John Ferguson |
Saturday, November 10th
Messiah Lutheran Church
21487 Lorain Road, Fairview Park
9:45 am- 12:30 pm - Massed Choir Rehearsals
12:30 pm - "Lunch with Ferg" for choir directors and organists by reservation.
Sunday, November 11
Messiah Lutheran Church
4 pm - Hymn Festival Concert
"Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving"
100 + singers, brass, bells, percussions, readers and reception
Free parking in the adjacent church lots and across the street.
Monday, November 12
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
28455 Center Ridge Road, Westlake
7-9pm Hymn Playing Class with Dr. Ferguson for all area organists. Contact Don Jackson donclef@aol.com for further information or if you would like to play in the class.
As our chapter prepares for this busy and exciting weekend I want to thank members of the Hymn Festival Committee for their assistance with these events - David Gooding, Judith Higbee, Linda Kempke, Don Jackson, and Brian Wentzel. In addition to the committee another twenty Cleveland AGO members are involved in reading scripture, playing Orff and percussion instruments, serving as greeters, ushers, and serving refreshments following the program. Ten of our member's church choirs will be represented in the Massed Choir for the festival.
The most important part of the Festival is you, your friends and your church members as our singing congregation. We need you to fill the church with joyful sounds as we praise God together in this season of Thanksgiving. Please contact me with any questions and see you this weekend.
Barbara MacGregor, Sub-Dean/Program Chair macmus@roadrunner.com
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NEXT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
January 28 7:30-9pm, First Unitarian Church of Cleveland
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THIS DATE IN MUSICAL HISTORY
 | | G.F. Handel |
In 1720 Handel's second set of organ concertos, op. 6 was published. Handel composed the organ concertos to showcase himself on the organ. Movements of the organ concerti were played during oratorio performances. They are secular pieces intended to be played on the small continuo organs used for the oratorio performances. Here is a link to an article about the organ concertos: http://www.hoasm.org/XB/XBOrganConcertos.html. |
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Concerts of Interest
Some of our concert listings have been gleaned from ClevelandClassical. For a complete list of concerts plus previews, reviews and more from Cleveland's classical music scene click the link www.clevelandclassical.com.
Tuesday, November 13 7:30 p.m. Oberlin College Choir, Jason Harris, conducting. Music by Palestrina, Pärt & Hogan. Mary Queen of Peace Church, 4423 Pearl Road, Cleveland. Freewill offering.
Wednesday, November 14 12:15 p.m. Lucineh Hovanissian, Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland. Trinity's Creative Fusion artist-in-residence shares her talents as composer, pianist and singer.
Wednesday, November 14 12:15 p.m. Florence Mustric, organ. "Playing Favorites". Music Near the Market Series. Beckerath organ. Trinity Lutheran Church, W. 30th & Lorain, Cleveland. Freewill offering.
Friday, November 16 7:30 p.m. Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH MOZART BY CANDLELIGHT. Benefit for Music and Art at Trinity Cathedral. All Mozart Program. Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622. Louis Gangale, clarinet. Exultate Jubilate, K. 165. Judith Overcash, soprano. Requiem, K. 626. The Trinity Cathedral Choir, The Trinity Chamber Orchestra. Todd Wilson, conductor. $50, includes concert and dessert reception.
Friday, November 16 at 8:00 p.m. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 North Prospect Street in Downtown Akron, Ohio. Christian Lane, organist.
Sunday, November 18 3:00 p.m. Samantha Gossard, mezzo-soprano, Kirsten Docter, viola & Karel Paukert, organ & harpsichord. Music by J.S. Bach, Eben, Franck, Honegger & Britten. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Hts. Freewilll offering.
Sunday, November 18 3:30 p.m. St. Sebastian Church, 500 Mull Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44320. St. Sebastian Organ Dedication Concert. Lynn Frey-Steward, CAGO, MM, Director of Music/Choirmaster/Organist, ARCO, Parish Choir and String Quartet
Sunday, November 18 4:00 pm. Stephen Tharp will play a concert at the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, 627 McKinley Avenue NW, Canton, Ohio. He will play works of Arthur Wills, Edward Elgar, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and Alexandre Guilmant on the 78 rank 2004 Kegg Organ.
Sunday, November 18 4:00 p.m. Christopher Houlihan, organ. J.S. Bach's Passacaglia & Fugue in c, César Franck's Grand Pièce Symphonique & Louis Vierne's Symphony No. 6 in b. E.M. Skinner organ. Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 5th Avenue, Youngstown. Tickets: 330.747.5175.
Monday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. B'nai Jeshurun Congregation, 27501 Fairmount Boulevard, Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Rather than a prayer service, it is a festival of the artistic abilities reflected in the different faith traditions of northeast Ohio.
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About Us
The purpose of the American Guild of Organists is to promote the organ in its historic and evolving roles, to encourage excellence in the performance of organ and choral music, and to provide a forum for mutual support, inspiration, education, and certification of Guild members.
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Contact Us
American Guild of Organists Cleveland Chapter
21600 Shaker Blvd
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
216-751-2320
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A Note About Job Postings
Gerry Mass, our Cleveland Chapter Placement Officer collects and updates job openings in the area. Although they are not listed in the weekly updates, there is a link in the "Quick Links" section every week that will take you to the updated list on the chapter website. Questions or need help finding a position? Email: placement@agocleveland.org
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