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This is an archived edition of Bombarde!
Click HERE to view the current issue or HERE to go to the Bombarde! Archive.

 

AUGUST 2009

From the Dean:

I find the beginning of August is a time of great anticipation. Because I have children in grade school and I teach at a college, my life flows according to the academic year as much as by the liturgical year. Our Guild programming follows the same pattern, so many things are about to begin.

For some in the Guild, it has already been a busy summer with the successful hosting of Pipe Organ Encounter. It was an exciting, exhausting experience, and the enthusiasm of the twenty-two teenagers involved was extraordinary. As always, it seems we gain as much from these events as we give, and I hope we can fan the spark and build on that enthusiasm. I applaud the POE committee for all their work. Dare I say that I hope we host our next POE sooner than the nineteen years it’s been since the last one? Please see the report from the POE committee below in this Bombarde.

It takes many people to make things happen in our Guild. Most of the committee chair positions have been filled. I would encourage you that if someone calls and asks you to participate in a committee, to please consider it. We can only get things done if we have broad support from our membership. I think the POE was a good example for us to keep in mind.

If you have not sent in your membership renewal, please do so TODAY. If you can’t find the one you should have received in the mail or need to give one to a friend, they are available for download at http://www.kcago.com/pdfs/KCAGO_Registration_09-10.pdf. They must be in by September 1st to be included in the directory.

Our program committee has worked hard to offer an interesting variety of events for the coming year. The complete program can be found on our website, www.kcago.com. Our first event is Monday, September 14 (please note that this is the second Monday of the month) at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, MO. Our guest recitalist is Lynne Davis, internationally known concert artist and now on the faculty at Wichita State University. Our Guild dinner will begin at 6:15, followed by the recital at 7:30. Ms. Davis is a brilliant performer, and it will be an exciting start to our season. I hope to see a large crowd.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Rosi Penner Kaufman, Dean

**REMINDER TO BOARD MEMBERS: Our first Board meeting will be Saturday, September 12 at 10:30 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church. All committee chairs are asked to attend.

 

Guild Member remembers our history

Virginia Strohmeyer-Miles, a long time Guild member now living in Little Rock, Arkansas, has done significant research into the life of Franklin Fisk, organist at Grace Church (later Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral), B'Nai Jehudah and Independence Blvd. Christian Church during the early years of the 20th century. He was also one of two organists representing Kansas City at the St. Louis World’s Fair. She discovered that he is buried in Union Cemetery, but that there was no gravestone marking his burial site. She has purchased and placed a marker on his grave. She is inviting interested organists and friends to join her for a brief service of remembrance at the Cemetery on Saturday, September 12 at 1:00.

 

Locally Commissioned Work Published

An Advent organ suite commissioned from Rick Deasley by Terry Foster, organist/choirmaster at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Kansas City, has just been published by MorningStar Music Publishers, St. Louis, Missouri. Titled "Pictures of Mary", the 4-movement work is based on hymn tunes which carry Marian texts. It was commissioned by Terry for St. Mary's 150th anniversary in December, 2007. Suitable for worship or recital use, medium difficulty. More details are available on the web at www.morningstarmusic.com/viewitem.cfm/item_id/10-025

Greater Kansas City AGO Chapter Pipe Organ Encounter, June 21 – 26, 2009

From the first dazzling sounds of Chelsea Chen’s opening recital to the closing improvisational composition of the POE participants, the GKCAGO POE was a wonderful success. Six girls and sixteen boys ranging in age from 12 and a half to 18 years came from the states of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and Ohio. They had six lessons and practice sessions, sang heartily at a hymn fest using readings and hymns on the theme of FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH presided over by Mark Ball and Ann Marie Rigler to the spirited hymn playing of Ted Stewart, attended classes on Efficient Practice Techniques (Ted Stewart), Improvisation (Scott Elsholz), and Hymn Playing (Mary Ellen Sutton). The students learned how organs work (Barry Wenger), and experienced mechanical action (Roseann Penner Kaufman and Christopher Marks). In addition to Chelsea Chen’s recital they participated in a workshop on performance anxiety given by harpist, Dr. Carrol McLaughlin and assisted by organist, John Schaefer. The evening included a recital. The following evening faculty members performed pieces ranging in style from Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor BWV 565 to a transcription on a theme from STAR WARS (Scott Elsholz). Teachers Scott Elsholz, Melody Steed, Jan Kraybill, Christopher Marks, Mary Ellen Sutton, Barry Wenger, Ann Marie Rigler, and Roseann Penner Kaufman impressed their students with a variety of styles of organ compositions. Additional teachers were Chelsea Chen, Sharon Hettinger and Ted Stewart. In a third recital young artists Kristen Walker, Joshua Maize, and Heather Paisar performed works of Bach, Howells, and Alice Jordan. A workshop on tips for playing chamber music included organ with brass, strings, or voice through the artistry of Philip Clark, Melody Steed, Eric Williams, Ann Marie Rigler, and Kathy Kessler Price. Each student played in their concluding recital and collaborated on a collective Improvisation THE CASAVANT FRERES TRAVEL TO PARIS scripted and narrated by Scott Elsholz. A trip to Quimby Organ Factory in Warrensburg gave the students hands-on experience with building a pipe organ. An evening at Worlds of Fun provided time away from their organ intensive week. Chaperons Ian and Joyce McIntosh and Lisa Galchick enjoyed the enthusiasm of their charges. Steering committee members Ann Marie Rigler, Lisa Galchick, Carol Wallace, Sharon Hettinger, Mark Ball, Claudette Schiratti, Marian Thomas, Mary Davis, led by executive director John Ditto planned the week and adjusted to needs as the week progressed. Although Kansas City was experiencing a heat wave, people’s spirits remained cool. Students were housed in a dormitory at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Lessons were held in nearby facilities (churches and UMKC), some within walking distance. Mary Davis (transportation chair) kept buses moving on time, getting students to their next assignment. Instruments available were Schlicker, Kney, Redman, Casavant, Lively-Fulcher, Robert Wech, Aeolian Skinner/Quimby, McManus, Moller, Austin, Schantz, Zimmer, and Reuter. A good and worthwhile time was had by all.

Students’ favorite memories included hearing their teachers perform, being the first student in my improvisation class to improvise and having fun doing it, playing mechanical action organs for the first extended amount of time, learning how manual and electroneumatic organs worked, Professor Elsholz’ Theme from STAR WARS which energized my love for aircraft and spaceflight, hearing the harp for the first time, touring the two pipe organs – Casavant and Skinner - at Community of Christ and the organ at Gano Chapel at William Jewel College, crawling through the Temple organ and wanting to spend a night in an organ, visiting the Quimby organ factory, playing the cute little miniature pipe organ at St. John’s UMC, pursuing more knowledge and a better understanding of music with those who are as passionate about it as I am.

Claudette Schiratti for the Steering Committee

 

 

UPCOMING RECITALS OF NOTE

Sunday, August 2, 2 pM
Hector Olivera, organist. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
From Mario Pearson, Director of Music and Liturgy at the Cathedral: It would be a great show of support for one of our fellow national AGO members to support this event. You may know that Hector was invited to perform for the American Guild of Organists National Convention in 2002, where his transcription of Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" spontaneously brought the large audience of peers to their feet. Again, in 2004, his appearance before the Guild's National Convention in Los Angeles was considered an historic triumph by 2,200 cheering organists, who gave him four standing ovations in 45 minutes.

Call to reserve your tickets! Tickets available now: $20
816-842-0416 x110 [M-F 9am-3pm]

 

Sunday, August 9, 2:00 pm
Ann Marie Rigler, organist. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral
Ann Marie Rigler presents “God of Many Names” – a multi-faith exploration of selected organ compositions representing a variety of world’s major faith traditions
Free will donation. Suggested donation $10.

 

Sunday, August 16 2:00 pm
Amy Waldron, soprano. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral
Free will donation. Suggested donation $10.

 

Sunday, August 23 2:00 pm
The Summer Singers of Kansas City. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Summer Singers under the direction of Dr. William Baker will perform Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, “the Great”

This is a ticketed event. $20 adults/$10 students/Under 12 free.
Discounts for advance purchase and group rates available.

 

Sunday, August 30, 2:00 pm
The Missouri Brass Quintet with John Schaefer, organist
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Brass and pipes will perform a program of music from various parts of the Cathedral. Canon, John Schaefer, organist and choir master from Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral will be at the keys of the mighty Ruffatti pipe organ in the gallery.
Free will donation. Suggested donation $10.

 

Wednesday, September 16, 7:30 pm
Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichord. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. No admission charge.

 

Sunday, September 20, 2:00 pm
Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichord. Spencer Art Museum, 1301 Mississippi St., Lawrence, KS. No admission charge.

AUGUST PLACEMENT INFORMATION

Organist
Grace Episcopal Church, 520 S. 291 Hwy., Liberty, MO, 64068. 1S, 1R, $N, Rodgers Hybrid, Digital/Pipe. Position open 6/1/2009. Contact Rev. Susan G. McCann, Rector at church address, mothermccann@prodigy.net, or (cell) 816.718.2356.

Organist/Pianist
Leawood Baptist Church, 8200 State Line Road, Leawood, KS 66206, is seeking a part-time person to play organ or piano each Sunday morning, accompany choir rehearsals Wednesday or Thursday evenings, be available for periodic vocal and instrumental rehearsals. Must be comfortable with traditional and contemporary styles of worship. Salary: $175/week. Contact Michelle Patton, Director of Worship, Music & Young Adult Ministries. Phone 913.649.0100 or email: music@leawoodbaptist.com.

 

SUBSTITUTES AVAILABLE FOR YOU

All Substitutes: Please confirm your availability for Fall 2009
Contact Bombarde’s Editor Today! bombarde@kcago.com

	Betty Bauer – org, lit	913.814.9021 or 913.488.8417
	Phyllis Curtis, MM – org	(4th & 5th Sundays only) 913.839.8856, 913.406.5327 or 913.248.6600
	Doris Daniels – org, lit	816-431-3244, 816-721-3191 or 913.288.7129
	Sharon Davies, BM – org	816.331.5581
	Kathy Hellwege, BSE – org, dir, lit, sop, alto	913.362.0594 or 913.706.0126
	Steven McDonald – org, dir, lit	785.841.4696 or 785.242.5200x5439
	Nick Mourlam, SPC – org, lit	913.488.1272
	Caroline M. Neal, M.A. - org, pian	(Saturdays only) 816.305.9526
	Michael Phelps – org, lit, dir	816.876.5677
	John Pitchford, MM, SPC – org	913.663.3768
	Freda Proctor - org, dir, lit	913.328.0721 (h); 913.484.8271 (cell); 913.758.6320 (w)
	Dale Ramsey, MM – org, dir	816.322.8985 or 816.797.3014 (cell)
	Ann Marie Rigler, DMA – org, lit	816.415.3792 or 816.781.7700x5199
	James Snyder, DMA – org, dir	816.765.1721 or 816.719.3289
	Nancy Stankiewicz, BA – org., lit	913.642.8642
	Marilyn VanderLinden – org, lit	(very early or evening), 816.665.4441
	Ann Warzyn, BME, SPC – org	816.453.5027
	Roger Wischmeier, DMA, CAGO – org	(Wed & Sun. p.m.) 816.761.3811
	org=organist; lit=liturgical worship; dir=choral director; pian=pianist

 

The absolute deadline for submissions to Bombarde's editor is the 20th of each month. Please email your information to bombarde@kcago.com.