ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE DEAN

Transcription

1 ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE DEAN As many members may already know, Frank Dodd has taken a new job in music education in the Philadelphia area. Because of the distance from Lancaster, Frank felt that he could not successfully serve as dean of our local Chapter a position he was to have assumed by the time of this writing. Knowing that I have served as dean (and other positions), Frank asked if I would consider filling his term as the Chapter s dean. I have accepted Frank s request. Frank most capably served as sub-dean of the Chapter during the past two years. As part of the sub-dean s position, he chaired the Program Committee and also gave fine performances at our various public concert offerings. I feel Frank has been a wonderful asset to our Board and we all wish him well in his new job. We trust that his schedule will allow him to return to Lancaster and continue his performances here. I want to keep our Chapter s activity and presence in the community at the same level as our previous dean Doug Wimer maintained. This will be accomplished by our board of returning and new officers and members. This will be easily accomplished by members taking active roles in our Chapter s programming in the coming year. I am pleased to announce that Rob Horton will serve as sub-dean. Please share any and all program ideas for the year and beyond with Rob (our year is planned). As you plan your Fall music schedule, please do include the September 22 Organist & Clergy Banquet (yes, invite your colleague in ministry the pastor) on your calendar! More on this event appears in the Upcoming Chapter Events department inside this issue. I have attended Rev. Dr. Paul Westermeyer s presentations on several occasions and have had the opportunity to speak with him. I treasure his 1

2 book Te Deum: The Church and Music. A back page commentary of this title puts it most cogently. Father Edward B. Foley writes... Paul Westermeyer demonstrates that he possesses the keen eye of an historian, the critical mind of a theologian, and the heart of a musician. Paul speaks clearly and understandably to musician and clergy alike about the value, importance, and place of music in the Christian community. I hope that you will make your reservations as soon as possible. Soli Deo Gloria! MARK V. HERR, Dean UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENTS Organist & Clergy Banquet: An Evening with Paul Westermeyer Welcome! as the Lancaster Chapter opens the program year on Friday, September 22 with our distinguished guest and speaker the Reverend Dr. Paul Westermeyer. Chapter members are invited and are encouraged to invite their clergy associates as well as others involved in parish music ministries. The dinner and speaker event will take place in the Nottingham Room in the Heritage Hotel Lancaster (enter behind Loxley s Restaurant), 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA. Doors/seating open at 6:00 p.m. and the buffet-style dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. Westermeyer s presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. The deadline for reservations will be Friday, September 15. Complete details for the event are listed in the event s information block on page 3 An alumnus of Lancaster Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. Westermeyer recently retired from the post of professor of church music at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. He will present the program Celebrating the Reformation: Luther, Mercersburg, and the Organ to those attending our chapter banquet. An expanded biography and list of Rev. Dr. Westermeyer s publications will be featured in the September issue of The Herald Trompette. ROB HORTON, Sub-Dean 2 Rev. Dr. Paul Westermeyer

3 ORGANIST & CLERGY BANQUET Advance reservations are required! When: Friday, September 22, 2017 Time: 6:00 p.m. doors open and seating 6:30 p.m. dinner 7:30 p.m. speaker s program Where: Nottingham Room of the Heritage Hotel Lancaster, 500 Centerville Road (at the Centerville Exit of Route 30, next to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre), Lancaster, PA. Use the hotel entrance directly behind Loxley s Restaurant across from the swimming pool. Cost: $25.00/person Reservation deadline: Friday, September 15, 2017; your cash or check (payable to Lancaster AGO) will be your reservation. Give or mail to Pat Bleecker, 1989 Sterling Place, Lancaster PA Highlights of the buffet-style menu: House salad with dressing; vegetable melody (for this group!); garlic mashed potatoes; pot roast with vegetables; chicken breast with cream sauce; rolls and butter; apple pie; coffee, hot teas, and iced tea CHAPTER PROGRAMS Sept. 22, 6:00 p.m. Organist & Clergy Banquet: An Evening with Paul Westermeyer "Celebrating the Reformation: Luther, Mercersburg, and the Organ. Location: Heritage Hotel Lancaster, 500 Centerville, Road, Lancaster, PA. Oct. 8, 4:00 p.m. Recital: Hands & Feet Across the Counties: Lancaster Organists in Harrisburg. Location: High Center for Worship & Performing Arts, Messiah College. Oct. 13, 7:00 p.m. Presentation: "Improvisation in Hymn Playing," Balint Karosi. Location: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 10 Delp Road, Lancaster, PA. Oct. 14, 4:00 p.m. Concert: Balint Karosi. Location: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 10 Delp Road, Lancaster, PA. Nov. 3, 7:00 p.m. Recital: Hands & Feet Across the Counties: Harrisburg Organists in Lancaster. Location: First United Methodist Church, 29 E. Walnut Street, Lancaster, PA. 3

4 NEWS OF THE CHAPTER Local Organist Presents as NCOI Finalist Rob Horton, Director of Music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, recently returned from the AGO/RCCO convention in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he participated in the semifinal round of the AGO National Competition in Organ Improvisation. The competition began in October 2016 with a recorded preselection round. Rob traveled to Alexandria, Virginia for a proctored recording session on the new Taylor and Boody Opus 70 organ in Immanuel Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary. Eight other candidates submitted recordings. An anonymous panel of judges selected five semifinalists to play in the live round at Montreal's Presbyterian Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul. The July 5 competition ended with the jury s selection of three finalists: Kalle Toivio (New York, New York), Douglas Murray (Nashville, Tennessee), and our chapter s own Dr. Rob, who serves as sub-dean of the Lancaster chapter. Rob will travel to Kansas City, Missouri for a final round of live competition at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral (Episcopal) in July NCOI Finalists: Rob Horton (front row, far left), Kalle Tovio (front row, third from left), and Douglas Murray (front row, fourth from left). JUNE BOARD MEETINGS HIGHLIGHTS Meeting of June 5, The Executive Board met on June 5, 2017, at the offices of Buch Organs in Ephrata, PA. 2. The Board voted that beginning in 2017 money from the offering received at the Summer Arts organ recital will be divided between the Beginning Organist and Lunt-McConnell scholarship funds at the discretion of the Board. 3. Scholarship Committee: $500 from the Beginning Organist fund will be divided equally between William Messick and David Schulz. $900 from the Lunt- 4

5 McConnell fund will be divided equally among Genevieve Hash, Michelle Lopez-Rubio, and Morgan Hess. 4. Dean Wimer reviewed what he considered the accomplishments of his term: 1. Public programs helping to fund programs, website renewal, and concerts; 2. Active publicity operations to improve both community and member awareness of programs; 3. Proactive advanced planning and budgeting. 5. At the annual meeting the following were elected: Frank Dodd, dean; Robert Horton, sub-dean; members at-large: Mark Herr, Jennifer Fritsch, Eileen Laurence. 6. Frank Dodd announced his resignation from chapter offices, since he will be moving from the Lancaster area. 7. The Board asked the dean to ask Mark Herr to take either the dean or subdean position depending on his preferences and those of Dr. Horton. 8. Frank Dodd led a discussion on the future of the chapter newsletter, which would become primarily an electronic document. The dean was asked to contact potential editors. Meeting of June 19, iiThe and Executive Boards met on June 19, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster. Doug Wimer presided. 2. The offering from the Summer Arts organ recital will be divided as follows: $345 to Beginning Organist Scholarships and $300 to Lunt-McConnell scholarships. 3. The Board elected Mark Herr as dean with Robert Horton as sub-dean. This opened a member at-large seat on the Board. Jennifer Fritsch and Eileen Laurence, having been elected at the Annual Meeting, were allotted twoyear-term seats. The new dean was asked to invite the candidate with the next-highest number of votes, Nancy Maurer, to fill the term left unfilled after the previous election. 4. The Program Committee will be: Robert Horton (chair), Margaret Marsch, Karl Moyer, and one other member to be determined by the chair. 5. The Scholarship Committee will be: Matthew Weaver (chair), Ross Ellison, and one other member to be determined by the chair. 6. Scott Chambers, who attended the meeting, expressed interest in working on the chapter newsletter and website. 7. The next meeting of the Board will be August 28, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster. Respectfully submitted, TERRY HEISEY, Secretary000 5 TREASURER S REPORT Balances as of 5/1/2017 Bank Accounts Checking $ 8, Concert Savings 4, B.O.S. Savings 2, Lunt/McConnell 3, Concert CD 5, Total of Accounts $24, Submitted by... PAT BLEECKER Treasurer

6 AREA POSITIONS AVAILABLE Please check for the current list. It is published as a courtesy by the Lancaster AGO Chapter. The Lancaster AGO Chapter assumes no responsibility for the musicianship or reliability of substitute organists. If you wish to list available positions here, please your info to Dr. Terry Heisey: terryleb@aol.com More details are available at the Chapter website: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, PA Handbell Director, two hand-bell choirs plus possibilities for expanding the program; approx. 5 hours/week. Contact Pat Bleecker at bleecker@westpca.com for application and job description. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA Organist or Pianist for Sunday services, 10:30 11:30 a.m.. Call Patsy Smith at (717) Willow Street UCC, Willow Street, PA Part-time Accompanist and/or Organist. Piano proficiency is required, but organ preferred. Gundling Organ. Approx. 3 5 hours/week on site and private practice as needed. Sight-reading desired. Playing by ear and improvisation a plus. Send cover letter and résumé to: hrwsucc@comcast.net. Olivet United Methodist Church, Coatesville, PA Organist to coordinate with the Pastor and MoM selecting music for worship services, accompany the choir (Thurs. rehearsal), provide all service music, work with the MoM to present two cantatas per year, accompany soloists 6 during the summer months, attend Worship Committee and Staff meetings, and be available for consultation, assistance and participation in special services, including weddings and funerals. 2 8 hours per week. résumé with references and salary requirements to: office@olivetumc.org. St. Paul s UM Church, Elizabethtown, PA Organist for Sunday service. Must have excellent organ and piano skills of differing styles and ability to improvise and embellish accompaniments as needed. Opening January Send résumé to office@spumcetown.com. Call the church at (717) for more info. St. Paul s UM Church, Mountville, PA Organist and/or Music Director. Threemanual organ. The music director would lead the choir, hand chimes, and instrumentalists. Must play piano. résumé, salary, and expectations to office@stpaulsmtv.com or mail to 100 W. Main St., Mountville, PA Call (717) for more info. Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Columbia, PA Part-time Organist or Pianist. Unique experience for a student. The responsibilities can be crafted to maximize the growth opportunities to the successful candidate.

7 The duties of the position are playing the organ or piano for the Sunday 9:30 a.m. service one time/month. For further information and an interview/audition, contact Pastor Mary Anne Kingsborough at the church office, (717) or The Presbyterian Congregation of Middletown Part-time Organist/Choir Director for 10:30 a.m. Sunday service as well as special services during the year. The job description for this hours per week position is available at Please résumé to or by mail to: Presbyterian Congregation of Middletown, 290 North Union St., Middletown, PA (717) St. Richard Catholic Church, Manheim, PA Part-time organist-piano/choir director for weekend Mass on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 8:00/10:30 a.m. as well as special services during the year. Should be accomplished in one or more of the following areas: organ, piano, voice, and choral direction. Contact Fr. Steve Weitzel at (717) or send résumé to (May mail résumé to St. Richard Church, 201 Adele Ave., Manheim, PA 17545, Attn: Fr. Stephen Weitzel.) Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, PA Organist for 10:15 a.m. Sunday service, Wednesday choir rehearsals (Sept. June), and some additional services. The salary and vacation time are dependent on experience. Send résumé and references to the Church at 15 S. 4th Street, Harrisburg, PA or to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lititz, PA Organist for two Sunday services, Director of Choirs (choral, instrumental, and bells), and Music Ministry Leadership (selection of hymns, development of worship liturgies/services, and management of St. Paul Concert series). The positions may be filled by either two individuals (Organist and Director of Choirs) or one person for all duties listed above. These are part-time. Interested applicants should submit résumé and cover letter to attention: Jane Brye. You may also mail them to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 200 W. Orange St., Lititz, PA Contact the church office at with any questions. THE HERALD TROMPETTE is a monthly publication (no July issue) of the Lancaster Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The deadline for publication in the September 2017 issue will be August 20, Forward all material to: ago_lanc_news@comcast.net Lancaster Chapter Officers Dean Mark V. Herr (2019) (717) minstrel52@hotmail.com Sub-Dean Rob Horton (2019) (717) bombarde16@gmail.com Secretary Terry Heisey (2018) (717) terryleb@aol.com Treasurer Pat Bleecker (2018) (717) pbleecker@dejazzd.com Chapter Chaplain Rev. Robert Kettering bobket@juno.com Members at-large Jennifer Fritsch (2019) (717) f @windstream.net Glenn Lehman (2018) (717) office@harmonies.org Eileen Laurence (2019) (914) laurence@concentric.net Nancy Maurer (2018) (717) nmaurer@embarqmail.com Placement/Substitutes Terry Heisey (717) terryleb@aol.com Newsletter Scott Chambers (717) ago_lanc_news@comcast.net 7