Greater Greensboro Hymn Festival and Masterclass

Rob Ridgell, director of Music-Organist at Christ Church, Charlotte, led a masterclass and hymn festival for the Greater Greensboro chapter. The improvisation masterclass was well attended with three performers gracing the bench. The hymn festival, entitled "The Gift of Creation", included a choir of around 25 singers from area churches. Pictured below are Ridgell and some of the hymn festival participants:

A Tennessee Centennial

The AGO has been in Tennessee for 100 years (1914-2014)! On Sunday evening, I had the pleasure to attend “Night of 100 Stars: Organ Concerto Concert” at Bartlett United Methodist Church. 

The orchestra? The GPAC Youth Symphony (GPAC=Germantown Performing Arts Center!). The program? In addition to the opening of “Also sprach Zarathustra” and the Overture to Candide, we were treated to Widor’s Symphonie pour Orgue et Orchestre, Op. 42 (different performers for each mvt: Jane Gamble, Eva McPeters, and Karen Strawhecker) and the world premiere of Dennis Janzer’s Concerto No. 2 for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 24. Oh, what a night!

From left, performers of the Widor Symphony: 

Jane Gamble, Eva McPeters, and Karen Strawhecker

Dennis Janzer following the premiere of his organ concerto. 

Movement titles: Intrada, Basso Ostinato, Flourishes and Fanfares

Earlier posts on this blog have outlined the yearly events – check it out, perhaps you can attend one of the remaining concerts!