Deans Meeting in Vero Beach

Deans in southeast Florida met at Community Church in Vero Beach on Friday, March 23 to share the highs and lows of the current AGO season and offer ideas for future programming. Thanks to District Convener Michael Hunter and host Ryan Kasten for organizing such a great event! 

Pictured from left to right: Ryan Kasten (Dean, Treasure Coast); Michael Hunter (District Convener for Florida); Laura Ellis (Councillor, Region IV); Glen Arfsten (Dean, Palm Beach County); Richard Hobbs (Representative, Space Coast); Loretta Scherperel (Dean, Fort Lauderdale); and Christopher Harrell (Dean, Miami). 

The Inaugural Taylor Organ Competition in Atlanta

The Atlanta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is pleased to announce the establishment of The Taylor Organ Competition.  The first competition will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church (435 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA) from 12noon-5pm.  With prize money of $15,000, a first prize of $10,000 plus a solo recital in Atlanta, and undergraduate competitors only, this is an event NOT to be missed!  Entrance is free.


The finalists are:  Benton Blasingame (Eastman School of Music), Samuel Gaskin (Indiana University), Justin Murphy-Mancini (Oberlin College), Caroline Robinson (Curtis Institute of Music) and Benjamin Sheen (Julliard School of Music).   The judges will be Douglas Cleveland, David Higgs and Wilma Jensen. More information can be found at:  http://taylororgancompetition.com/about.html

Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter Present Members’ Recital Featuring Music from African-American Composers

On February 13, 2012, members of the Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter presented music from African-American composers in a members’ recital that took place at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, NC. Organists Thomas A.J. Bloom, David G. Cole, Joseph Kitchen, Thomas Kraska, Jacob Reed (16 years old), and Daniel Steinert performed on the 1969 Austin Opus 2501 organ. Music from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Adolphus C. Hailstork, Dennis Janzen, George Shearing, Ralph Simpson, and Calvin Taylor were performed in a fitting celebration of Black History Month.

             —Submitted by Lyn Francisco, member, Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter AGO

Above: Organists who performed in the February 2012 Members’ Recital (l to r): Jacob Reed, David Cole, Thomas Bloom, Daniel Steinert, Thomas Kraska, Joseph Kitchen.

Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter and Chapel Hill Music Teachers Association Meet

On January 14, 2012, thirteen members and spouses of the Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter of the AGO and the Chapel Hill Music Teachers Association (CHMTA) gathered at the home of Sub-Dean Laurel Siviglia to celebrate the Epiphany and to have a joint meeting to further co-operation for the betterment of both organizations. As a result of the meeting, several piano teachers have expressed interest in taking students to experience the organ. Members of the AGO who were present included: Daniel Steinert, Dean; Laurel Siviglia, Sub-Dean; Lyn Francisco, Treasurer/Registrar; Mila Karamushka, Member-at-Large; Tim Baker, Marianne Kremer, Van Quinn, and Linda Reeder. Members of CHMTA present included Cynthia Crittendon, Margery Gates, Tanya Smirnoff, Meg O'Brien, Mila Karamushka, Nina Alperin, and Laurel Siviglia.

                                         —Submitted by Linda Reeder, member, Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter AGO