2013 Region IV POE

The Birmingham Chapter announces the POE 2013 for Region IV will be held July 14-19 in Birmingham, Alabama. The chapter is proud to be hosting a POE for the second time. Please see the following link for all sorts of information on POE 2013: http://POE2013.BirminghamAGO.org/.  

 

Please share the information with all your chapter members, area piano teachers, and interested students!

ECU's 7th Annual Organ Competition for High School Students

The East Carolina University Young Artist Competition for Pre-College Organists is an innovative outreach program designed to inspire young musicians in our region to strive for the highest level of musicianship and technical accomplishment in organ performance. The competition is open to any pre-college student in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida.    From the recorded application round three finalists will be chosen to compete live on April 13, 2013.

For more information: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cfac/music/organsacredmusic/fisk.cfm

Happy New Year & let's welcome to a new face in the national office

Happy New Year to all my AGO colleagues in Region IV! Time for us all to energize for the new year (and, perhaps watch a bit of football?). 

Speaking of new things . . . . we have a new person in the national office in NYC (he started in December!). Joining the AGO 'team' is Bill Valentine, our new Director of Information Technology and Digital Communications. Bill comes to the Guild with an extensive background in Information Technology. For fifteen years he worked as a programmer, systems analyst, and project manager developing large-scale Student Information Systems at Columbia University and NYU. The challenges he confronted there are similar to the ones he faces at the AGO—creating systems that simultaneously serve a central administration, local offices, and individual constituents. More recently Bill has worked as an independent website designer and developer with experience in content management systems, e-commerce platforms, and mobile solutions.

Bill is a native of Connecticut. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a Certificate in Computer Technology & Applications from Columbia University. A resident of New York City, he regularly attends performances of the Metropolitan Opera and the Allman Brothers Band. He has played the guitar for over forty years.

Joby Bell visits Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter

On Saturday, November 3, Joby Bell, University Organist at Appalachian State University, came to Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill to lead a workshop on tips and tricks in hymn playing. Over 20 organists, young and old, were present. He led it in an informal style, encouraging questions from the attendees. Several hymns, including ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty’, ‘Holy God, We Praise Thy Name’, and ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’ were used to demonstrate techniques such as effective hymn leading, tempo, pulsing, rhythm, and registration. Bell also demonstrated, with good humor, ways to lead a congregation astray, and he solicited ideas on how to avoid those issues to be a more effective leader from the bench. He also asked for volunteers to demonstrate their ideas in hymn-playing. In the question and answer session, some great questions were asked, including what to do if someone were to complain the organ was too loud (watch the tuning, and get information about why this perception is made), how to break up repeated bass (pedal) notes, and how to play more pianistic hymnody on the organ. It was a very effective workshop.

Central North Carolina Chapter celebrates 90th Anniversary!

The Central North Carolina Chapter celebrated it's 90th anniversary on Friday, November 16th at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh. Your Regional Councillor was able to join them for this exciting event! The evening included a social gathering, dinner, short program, and a hilarious presentation of the 10-Minute Messiah. A great time was had by all.

The picture below includes all former CNCAGO chapter deans in attendance. From L-R: Laura Ellis [Region IV Councillor], Carolyn D. Brockwell [1982-1983], Dr. W. David Lynch (1970-1971],  Lee Harris [2003-2005], Leonard A. Smith [1980-1982, 1985-1986], David Witt [1986-1987],  Janet Cherry [2001-2003], Dr. William J. Weisser [1976-1978, 1984-1985; 2011-current]. 

Congratulations Central North Carolina!

Three Florida chapters join for Organ Crawl

On Saturday, November 11, three Florida chapters (Central Florida, Jacksonville, and Gainesville) met in St. Augustine for an organ crawl. We visited The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, Trinity Parish (Episcopal), and Memorial Presbyterian. What a fun day! Thanks to the Central Florida chapter for organizing the trip and inviting the rest of us. The photo shows some of the attendees in front of the door of the Cathedral Basilica (I'm excited to point out that University of Florida organ studio members grace the front row!!!!)

UNCSA/Salem College/Winston-Salem AGO HS Festival and Competition

Attention High School Organist (& their teachers): UNCSA/Salem College/Winston-Salem AGO HS Festival and Competition application and CD due December 14. For more info, visit: www.timothyolsenorganist.com/OrganCompetition.html