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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 |
Last Friday I put on my other hat I wear for the chapter and recorded two CAGO tests for applicants from our chapter. These were sent to National for grading. If you have not taken one of these tests you might consider doing so. You will join many of your colleagues who have passed one or more exams. Their names can be found in your member directory.
The Service Playing test consists of playing repertoire and hymns, doing some transposition, sight-reading and accompanying two anthems. Everything can be prepared in advance. The test can be played on an instrument you play regularly. This test can take place anytime during the year. Most applicants start at this level. The next level is the Colleague test, CAGO. The repertoire is more difficult as are the other parts of the test. This level includes harmonization and improvisation as well as the other skills. There is one more opportunity to take this test in May. The CAGO test is recorded on an instrument on which the candidate does not regularly play. The test for Associate, Choir Master and Fellow are given over two days in June. These tests are given at an exam center, of which we are one, with on-site judges. They also include extensive written tests. For a complete list of requirements and application form see the National AGO website: agohq.org. Members who have taken the tests report significant satisfaction with the discipline required to prepare for the exams. Successful passage at the CAGO level and above entitles the individuals to use the appropriate letters after their name as a credential. Best to you, Fern (CAGO) |
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Upcoming Cleveland Chapter Events
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DECEMBER CHAPTER EVENT
 Christmas Concert: Todd Wilson, organist and conductor
Jody Guinn, harp Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - 12:10 pm
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
2230 Euclid Ave. at East 22nd St. Downtown Cleveland.
Britten: Ceremony of Carols, treble voices and harp; Carols for harp and organ.
This performance is one of the Wednesday 12:10 p.m. BrownBag concerts held in the gothic splendor of Trinity Cathedral.For more information about Trinity Cathedral Music and Art events see
http://trinitycleveland.org/music-and-art/
AGO members will sit together at the concert - look for a member with the AGO sign. A freewill offering will be received. Bring a lunch or purchase one for $5. to eat during the program. Those who want to have lunch together following the concert will go to Elements Bistro, www.elementsoneuclid.com. Please send reservations for lunch at Elements to Elizabeth Lenti - elenti@dohio.org by Friday, December 7. Parking information: Trinity Cathedral and Trinity Commons are located on the southeast corner of East 22nd Street and Euclid Avenue, in downtown Cleveland. The Trinity parking lot entrance is on Prospect Avenue, east of East 22nd Street. Overflow parking is available in the Cleveland State University Prospect garage, east of the Trinity parking lot. Parking at Trinity is free for those attending Cathedral events. To exit the Trinity parking lot you will need to pick up a ticket from Trinity's Reception Desk. If you have parked in CSU's Prospect Garage, your ticket can be validated at Trinity's Reception Desk. Questions? Please contact 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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FROM THE TREASURER
Dear Colleagues, Several years ago the IRS stopped accepting canceled checks as proof of tax deductible donations. I have compiled a list of donations to date this year and will be sending IRS compliant letters to donors in early January. If you would like to make a donation to the chapter and receive credit for 2012 tax reporting, be sure your donation is postmarked no later than December 31, 2012. Donations should be sent to: Donald Jackson, Treasurer Cleveland Chapter, AGO 20508 Hilliard Blvd. Rocky River, OH 44116 Undesignated donations will go into the general fund for current programming. You may also designate a gift to any of three special funds: scholarship, competitions, and concerts. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Don Jackson, treasurer donclef@aol.com
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YEAR-END AGO SCHOLARSHIP FUND DRIVE
The Cleveland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists sponsors a scholarship program for organ students in the Cleveland area. The scholarships pay for a portion of the costs for private lessons or college fees for qualified students. Many of our area's top teachers assist this program with reduced fees for lessons, helping to locate practice facilities, providing music, and other resources. Funding for these scholarships comes from the Cleveland AGO Scholarship fund, and from donors. Please consider this opportunity to support our educational program with a tax-deductible contribution today. Donors will be recognized in the weekly AGO update and in our Annual Report. Gifts can be made in honor of or in memory of a special person. All checks should be made payable to Cleveland Chapter, American Guild of Organists with Scholarship Fund on the memo line. Please mail your check to Don Jackson, AGO Treasurer, 20508 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH 44116-3325 If you are interested in sponsoring a specific scholarship, please contact Carol Neff, Scholarship Chair; 216-970-5654, carol8861@aol.com
The donation form to give to the Cleveland Chapter Scholarship Fund can be downloaded as a PDF from the chapter web site home page. The form to apply for a scholarship can also be found at the bottom of the chapter site home page, or use this link.
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MEMBER NEWS
Harvard University Organist Christian Lane played Anne Wilson's "Toccata" on his November16 concert at Holy Trinity Church in Akron. Here is a link to a review of the concert in Cleveland Classical. http://clevelandclassical.com/112712lanerev
Welcome New Member We welcome Connie Sykes as a new member. Please add the following information to your Membership Directory. Connie Sykes 31733 Lake Shore Blvd Willowick OH 44095-3529 Home: (440) 585-1667 (440) 585-1667 Mobile: (440) 223-8459 conniens@roadrunner.com
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KENNEDY CENTER ORGAN DEBUT
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NOTES ON THE FERGUSON WORKSHOP
About twenty-five organists attended the November 12 John Ferguson hymn playing workshop at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church hosted by Don Jackson. Six participants including organ students from Oberlin College played a hymn and received comments from Dr. Ferguson. The class was based on a hand-out "Improvisation in Service Playing". The first order of business was to define improvisation as "Spontaneous Composition". Ferguson says that we do this every time we play a hymn in church. Ferguson exhorted the organists to sing the hymn through a capella before practising and then to sing along during the congregational singing. He advised players to set the tempo in their mind before playing and "enter something that has already started." Organists should think the "Tactus", the largest note unit, to give forward motion to the hymn. Most 4/4 hymns are in 2, 3/4 hymns are in 1 and 6/8 hymns are in two. Another area of focus was text. He asked participants to think what the text suggests in terms of tempo. If there are many complex words and ideas the tempo should probably be slower. He asked the players to breathe with the text. Ferguson gave advise on intros- "If everyone knows the tune we may not need to play much of it." He demonstrated some simple elaborations- the Pedal Point- "Stay on it till you can't stand it", the "Paul Manz kick" and the "Ferguson crunch". His advice for registration- "think like an orchestra". Attendees were given many ideas to work with for their own hymn playing. In trying some of these ideas a number of us just may find our way out of the blah hymn trap we have fallen into. -Fern Jennings
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(ALMOST) TODAY IN CLASSICAL MUSIC HISTORY
 | | Andrew Carnegie |
November 25 was the birthday of American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, born in Dunfermline, Scotland (1835), the son of a weaver and political radical. His father instilled in young Andrew the values of political and economic equality, but his family's poverty taught Carnegie a different lesson. At the age of 12, the boy worked as a milkhand for $1.20 per week. When the Carnegies immigrated to America in 1848, Carnegie was determined to find prosperity. One of the pioneers of industry of 19th-century America, Andrew Carnegie helped build the American steel industry, which turned him into one of the richest entrepreneurs of his age.
In 1868, at age 33, Carnegie wrote himself a memo in which he questioned his chosen career, a life of business. He kept the letter for his entire life, carefully preserving it in his files. In the memo, he vowed to retire from business within two years, believing that the further pursuit of wealth would degrade him. Carnegie eventually sold his steel business and gave his fortune away to cultural, educational, and scientific institutions for the improvement of mankind.
Over the course of his life, Andrew Carnegie endowed 2,811 libraries and many charitable foundations as well as the internationally famous Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He also bought 7,689 organs for churches. The purpose of the latter gift was, in Carnegie's words, "To lessen the pain of the sermons." |
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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.
Friday, November 30 7:30 pm - CSU Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, Brian Bailey & Victor Liva, conducting. Handel's Messiah, Part I. Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland State University, 2100 Euclid Ave. Free.
Friday, November 30 7:30 pm - Daughters of St. Paul Choir (Boston), Sr. Bridget Charles Ellis, director. "Christmas with the Daughters of S. Paul" . Helen D. Schubert Concert Series. Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, E. 9 & Superior, Cleveland. Free. Free Parking in the Cathedral Garage, Rockwell & E. 9th.
Friday, November 30 8:00 pm - B-W Singers and Women's Choir, Stephen Gross & Robert Vance, conducting. Program tba. Kulas Music Hall, Boesel Musical Arts Center at B-W, 49 Seminary St., Berea. Free.
Friday, November 30 8:00 pm - Oberlin Collegium Musicum, Steven Plank, conducting. Monteverdi's Missa in illo tempore (1610) & Ave Maris Stella, Gabrieli's O Jesu Christe, Gombert's Regina coeli & settings of O Magnum Mysterium by Gombert and Lauridsen. Fairchild Chapel (Bosworth Hall), Oberlin College, 50 W. Lorain St. Free.
Satuday, December 1 3:00 pm - Kent State Chorale, Scott MacPherson, conducting, with Eva Chang, piano. "Carols & Confections". Works by Mark Burrows, Victoria, Zespedes & Guerrero. Reception following. Cartwright Auditorium, Kent State University. $12, $10 seniors, $5 students with ID or under 18.
Sunday, December 2 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm - River Valley Ringers, Elizabeth Lucas, conducting. Holiday music for handbells. Holiday CircleFest event. Judson Manor Recital Hall, 1890 E. 107 St., Cleveland. Free.
Sunday, December 2 3:00 pm - U of Akron Concert Choir & Chamber Choir. Program to be announced. Guzzetta Recital Hall, 157 University Ave., Akron. Free.
Sunday, December 2 7:30 pm - West Shore Chorale and members of West Shore Chorale Orchestra with "The Merples" from Avon Lake High School, John Drotleff, conducting. "Carols and Choruses of Christmas". Seasonal music and antiphonal double choruses by Gabrieli, Praetorius, Vivaldi, Biebl and others. Magnificat Performing Arts Center, 20770 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. $15, students free. Tickets available online.
Monday, December 3 7:30 pm - CSU Chorus, Brian Bailey, conducting, with James Binion, guest soloist. Program to be announced. Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland State University, 2100 Euclid Ave. Free.
Monday, December 3 7:30 pm - Oberlin Collegium Musicum, Steven Plank, conducting. Monteverdi's Missa in illo tempore (1610) & Ave Maris Stella, Gabrieli's O Jesu Christe, Gombert's Regina coeli & settings of O Magnum Mysterium by Gombert and Lauridsen. Rocky River Chamber Music Society series. West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. Free.
Wed. December 5 12:10pm- A Jazz Christmas, Trinity's own Gateway Jazz Band will swing you into the holiday season! Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 2230 Euclid Ave. at East 22nd St. Downtown Cleveland.
Friday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 50 North Prospect Street in Downtown Akron, Ohio. Lessons and Carols. Trinity Choir, Brass, Bells.
Saturday, December 8 3:00 pm & 8:00 pm - BW Men's Chorus Holiday Concert, Frank A. Bianchi, conducting, with Mr. Sun's Echo. Candlelight processional, soloists, organ, brass ensemble & audience sing-along. Gamble Auditorium, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, 96 Front St., Berea. Tickets $10 general, $15 reserved seating.
Saturday, December 8 3:00 pm - Chagrin Valley Chamber Music: Handel's Messiah, Michael Gelfand, conducting the Western Reserve Academy Chorus & Cleveland Virtuosi Orchestra, with Margaret Karam, soprano, Lara Nie, mezzo-soprano, Daniel Doty, tenor & Brian Keith Johnson, baritone. Chagrin Valley Chamber Music Series. Valley Lutheran Church, 87 East Orange St., Chagrin Falls. $25 preferred seating, $20 general, $15 students. Call 440.836.3179. www.chagrinmusic.org
Sunday, December 9 at 4:00 p.m.: Fairlawn Lutheran Church, 3415 W. Market Street, Fairlawn, Ohio. Christmas Concert, Master Singers Inc. Chorale.
Sunday, December 9, 2012, 3:00pm Buxtehude Advent Music, First Lutheran Church, 603 Washington Ave. Lorain, OH 44052" "Unique opportunity to hear choral and instrumental music by Dieterich Buxtehude. Organ, choral, and instrumental music by Buxtehude will be set in a reflective service of Evening Prayer. Four violins and a viola da gamba will join First Lutheran's Adult Choir under Director of Music Brian Wentzel. Free and open to the public."
Sunday, December 9 9:00am and 11:00 am The Federated Church, 76 Bell St. . Chagrin Falls, OH 44022. " Laud to the Nativity" (Respighi) with choir, soloists and instrumentalists, freewill offering.
Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. The Music of H. Leslie Adams. Selections from "Nightsongs" sung by Mark Doss, Grammy-Award Winner ("Best Opera Recording") and Lead Bass-baritone, Teatro Regio de Torino. Cleveland Music School Settlement 11126 Magnolia Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Tuesday, December 11 7:30 p.m.: Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. Apollo's Fire. Sacred Mystery - A Celtic Christmas. Jeannette Sorrell's celebration of Celtic artistic traditions interweaves renaissance choral music with ancient pagan carols, folk dances and joyous fiddle tunes. A colorful band of bagpipes, flutes, strings and Celtic harp joins the exquisite Apollo's Singers. Tickets: www.apollosfire.org
Wednesday, December 12 12:10pm Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 2230 Euclid Ave. at East 22nd St. Downtown Cleveland. A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. The sopranos and altos of the Trinity Cathedral Choir with harpist Jody Guinn present this holiday favorite. Sponsor: Doug and Mary Ann Caston in honor of Carola Boehm Hunt, for her love and devotion to music and arts in Cleveland.
Wednesday, December 12, 7:30pm Fairmount Presbyterian Church, CityMusic Cleveland Concert. Conductor Stefan Willich and oboist Rebecca Schweigert lead a program including the Mozart Oboe Concerto and Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4.
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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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