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SEPTEMBER 2011

From the Dean:

Our chapter’s 2011-2012 season launches this month with a bang on September 19! David Briggs is an internationally celebrated concert artist with a very busy schedule, playing more than 50 concerts annually. He is formerly the Principal Organist and Choirmaster of Gloucester Cathedral, England, where he conducted much of the renowned Three-Choirs Festival on several occasions. After eight years there, he launched his concert career. The Cathedral named him “Organist Emiritis”. David’s organ transcriptions of orchestral symphonies have been praised by critics for helping make organ music accessible to broader audiences. His program includes two transcriptions: Pavane for a Dead Princess, Maurice Ravel and Death and Transfiguration, the tone poem by Richard Strauss. An original work by his hand is included: Variations on ‘Laudi Spirituali’. Additional pieces by Bach, Franck, Messiaen, and Dupré complete an exciting concert. These pieces matched with the superb instrument and acoustics of the Temple at the Community of Christ International Headquarters, will spell an inspiring evening for us all.

Our dinner meeting this month will be held at the Stone Church, Community of Christ, which is located just west, across the street from the Temple, at 1012 W Lexington St. in Independence. Please be sure to make dinner reservations with Jane Dauer at JKDauer4867@att.net no later than Wednesday noon, September 14.

We just heard that one of the students who participated in our chapter’s recent POE also participated in this summer’s POE in Boston—Stephen Kucera. On July 13, at the closing event, Stephen played the Fanfare by Jacques Lemmens. This gives me rise to encourage us all to do what we can to inspire young people in their musical interests, especially young keyboardists who might gravitate toward the organ. Today, churches are scrambling to find players for their services. Sometime vacancies go for months without being filled. Our churches need organists, and anything we can do to encourage an interest in our instrument will be good for our community as well as sustain our particular passion. To that end, we are hoping to develop some specific resources and ideas to help us accomplish that work. Stay tuned. Anyone who has ideas about what me might do to accomplish that, please share with me. We are determined to become pro-active in this important work of the guild.

Have you invited someone to join the Guild? How about inviting a guest to join us at this month’s meeting!

I hope to see you September 19.

Dale Ramsey, Dean

SEPTEMBER MEETING

Monday, September 19 at 7:30 pm
Temple, Community of Christ International Headquarters
201 S. River Street
Independence, MO
Punch bowl and fellowship at 6:00 pm at Stone Church
Dinner at 6:15 pm

Menu: Swiss Steak with Peppers, Onions & Mushroom Sauce; Scalloped Potatoes; Green Bean Casserole; Cranberry Salad; French Rolls; Cookies. Cost: $9.

Please call Jane Dauer at 816.252.3787 or jkdauer4867@att.net to make a reservation. The deadline for called-in AGO dinner reservations is NOON on WEDNESDAY, September 14. When making your reservation, please indicate how many people you are reserving for. (If you have a standing reservation and are just calling to make sure you will have a place, please also indicate that).

Board Meeting

The next meeting is Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 10:30 am at Immanuel Lutheran in Westport. All committee chairs, elected positions and long-range planning committee members are expected to attend. If you must be absent please contact Carol Wallace at 816.468.6596 or carolwallace@kc.library.org.

Do You Use Facebook? Inivite Your Friends to David Briggs Concert

If you have a Facebook page, you can invite all your friends to the September 19 concert by David Briggs. It’s pretty simple to do. Here’s how…

While on your home page, look to the column on the left and click on “events”. Then look at the top of the resulting page and click on “+Create an Event”. You are then presented a form to complete with the date, time, location and “more information”.

For the “more information” box, I added Organist Emeritus Gloucester Cathedral, England. Master improviser and composer. Admission free. You may wish to add something different or more. Don’t make it too long, or people will not read it. The time is 7:30 pm.

At the bottom of the form you have options to click concerning who sees the invitation. Be sure the “anyone can view and RSVP” box is checked. The “show the guest list” box should probably be unchecked.

For the “What are you planning” box, I wrote: Internationally Celebrated Organist David Briggs in Concert. For the “Where” box, I wrote: The Temple of Peace, Community of Christ International Headquarters.

Click on the “Add street address” blue text button and add 201 S. River Street, Independence, Missouri.

Finally click on “Create Event”, and you are done.

If you want to take it a step further, post all your friends and encourage them to “share” the invitation with their friends. It’s amazing how many people we can reach with the news of our concert in that manner. Hey, it’s a brave new world! Let’s take advantage of all the free publicity we can! Dale.

Kauffman Center Organ Being Installed

Our chapter made a contribution for the bench for the Kauffman Center organ, and our treasurer, Lynn Bratney, received the following note:

Dear Lynn,

Please express our sincere appreciation to the Kansas City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for their generous pledge to name the Casavant organ bench. This is especially meaningful, as we prepare to open the Center in September.

We appreciate your support of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Sincerely, Jane Chu

Alain Festival at Wichita State University

September 28-30 are the dates for an exciting Festival of the music of Jehan Alain. A number of distinguished performers and lecturers will participate, including: James David Christie, Aurélie Decourt, Lynne Davis, Jesse Eschbach, Thomas Froehlich, James Higdon, Jim Riggs, Norma Stevlingson, and Wim Viljoen. To explore more about the event and to register, please check out their website: http://www.americanalainfestival.com/ Lynne Davis, the Ann & Dennis Ross Endowed Faculty of Distinction, Associate Professor of Organ, is the host for the event.

Interesting Young People in the Organ

One of our goals for the year is to develop ways to attract the interest of young musicians, especially keyboardists, in the organ and its music. We want to hear from our membership with their ideas of what they have done in their own congregations to stimulate young people interest. Please consider submitting ideas to the Bombarde newsletter by sharing your ideas and sending them to Bombarde@kcago.com. Deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month prior to publication.

Here are some ideas we have heard already.

1) Invite people to come up to the console during the postlude. In the experience of our folks we have heard from already, the invitation has brought forward people of a broad age range—from very young children in their parent’s arms, to visitors, to youth and adults of all ages. The invitation may be given as a permanent opportunity, or on occasion—via the bulletin or by the pastor at the close of worship.

2) Recruit older youth to assist during the service as a page turner.

3) Have a budding pianist in your youth choir? Have them prepare a manuals-only piece and play it for a prelude or postlude sometime. Youth Sunday (if you observe that tradition) is a great time to do this.

4) Offer free introductory organ lessons to people young or less young. Offer, perhaps, a series of 3 or 4 classes during the Sunday School period, open to all ages, to talk about the organ and how it’s played and some of its better known literature. Or do a demonstration for Sunday School classes as their lesson for a day. Offer similar opportunities for the church’s weekday school or a nearby public school.

5) Invite young keyboardists to an AGO recital program. Particularly, encourage them to come hear 16-year-old Karen Christianson play our November 14 concert at Central United Methodist Church, 5144 Oak Street, across from UMKC.

We hope to have more ideas from the membership about how to entice younger musicians to fall in love with the organ and its amazing literature. Please send your ideas to our newsletter.

News from the National Convention Planning Committee

The committee will meet on September 12 with James Thomashower, AGO Executive Director, and representatives from the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau to discuss hotel options for the 2018 convention. The KCCVB has been a helpful resource to the committee, and this is an important step in our convention planning process. AGO National will be signing the contracts with the hotels, so this is it, folks, we’re hosting a party in 2018!

September Placement Listings

Placement Coordinator: Mary Bronaugh Davis, bronaughdavis@yahoo.com

Music Director
St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 700 NE Chipman Road, Lee's Summit, MO is seeking a Music Director. This will begin as a half time position (20 hour per week). Duties include working with the Pastors to coordinate music in traditional worship services (scheduling organists, directing adult and youth choirs, working with bell choir, soloists, and groups). Duties also include coordinating a weekly blended worship service. Duties may include serving as an accompanist for choirs, soloists, and groups. The opportunity to serve as organist may also be available. Interested individuals should contact Brian Mitchell at (816) 525-6016 or via email at mkbmitch306@sbcglobal.net.

Organist
An Organist position is opening at Salem Lutheran Church , 9135 Haskins in Lenexa , KS . Weekly traditional Lutheran service Sundays at 8:00am , $140 per service. Please contact Heather Lewis, Director of Music and Worship at hlewis@salemlutheran-ks.org or (913) 485-2739

Organist/Pianist
John Knox Presbyterian Kirk, a Presbyterian Church ( USA ) congregation, –11430 Wornall Rd. , Kansas City , MO 64114 , 816-942-3637 – is accepting applications for the position of organist/pianist. Position involves accompanying weekly choir rehearsal and one Sunday service from September through May. In June, will accompany Sunday AM drop-in choir rehearsal and one worship service. During July and August, organist/pianist will provide music for the worship service, rehearse with and accompany soloists, small groups, or instrumentalists supplying summer “special music.” Applicant must have both organ and piano skills and be able to sight read hymns. Ability to improvise accompaniments from a lead sheet would be helpful. Please email résumés to James Levy, Music Director, (levy.jamesm@gmail.com) or to Rev. Andy Cullen, Pastor, Andy@johnknoxkirk.org

Organist
First Presbyterian Church of North Kansas City, 23rd & Fayette, North Kansas City, MO 64116, small congregation, traditional service, salary $N. Time commitment 10-12 on Sundays plus about an hour on Tuesday evenings. Contact Gretchen Gober, Music Director at gretchenthegober@yahoo.com or 816/699-5974.

Choir Director
Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church, 7406 Ward Parkway (Corner of 75th and Ward Parkway) KCMO 64114 is searching for a Choir Director. Duties: Responsible for Wednesday evening rehearsal Sept thru May, one Sunday service at 10:30 A.M. plus Good Friday and Christmas Eve services. Send resumes to Mr. Jim Durig, Personnel Chair at the Church 7406 Ward Parkway KCMO 64114 or email to office@wardparkway.org or call Joe Wilkinson, Organist Ward Parkway 816-806-6812.

Associate Organist
Trinity Episcopal Church 1027 Vermont Street, Lawrence Kansas, a 350 member congregation. Duties: Responsible for playing the Solemn High Mass every Sunday evening - August through May (in academic year), Choir rehearsals - every Wednesday nights 7:30 PM - 9:00 P.M. Extra compensation for weddings and funerals is possible. Compensation determined by experience. Please send resume with three references to:
Trinity Episcopal Church Music Director, Henry Heller Smith. (Cell phone 518-796-5726), Email: Henryhellersmith@gmail.com.

Music Minister and Director of Worship Arts
Immediate opening for an Interim Director of Music and Worship Arts at Country Club UMC, 400 W. 57th Street, KCMO, 64113. Looking for an individual who is has a passion for directing and growing a music ministry with persons of all ages and a passion for creating worship in a traditional context. This individual will work closely with the pastor and worship design team to plan and implement a weekly worship service that is intellectually, stimulating, emotionally moving, missionary relevant and life applicable for both the church and un-churched. Responsibilities include: directing a Chancel Choir, Bell Choir and Children's Choir and working directly with the worship design team and staff. Hours include Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Send resume to Pastor Jenn Klein, jklein@countryclubumc.org or call 816-444-1616

Organist:
First Presbyterian Church, 210 N. Jeffreys Street , Pleasant Hill , MO 64080 is seeking organist for Sunday and Seasonal/Special Services, 90 member congregation, Allen AE Model, 2 manuals. Contact Ebony Shaffer at ebony_shaffer@comcast.net or 816/892/2155, Frances Armstrong at 816/987/4132, or Patty Sudhoff at 816/224/2677.

UPCOMING RECITALS OF NOTE

Sunday, September 11, at 3:00 pm
Community of Christ Peace Temple, 201 S. River Street, Independence, MO. Movements of Peace: The Spire Chamber Ensemble will honor the tenth anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001, using Maurice Duruflé's Requiem interwoven with poetry and readings from various faith traditions and cultures throughout the world. This will be the chamber ensemble version for strings, trumpets, harp,timpani, and organ. Other works include: Song for Athene by John Tavener, InPace by René Clausen, and Ubi Caritas by Paul Mealor. Jan Kraybill, organ, Patricia Thompson, mezzo-soprano, David Farwig, baritone, Ben A. Spalding, founder/conductor.. Freewill Offering

Friday, September 16, 12:10 pm
Westport Center for the Arts opens its 18th season of Brown Bag Concerts with the Rag-Time Band, The Rhythmia, with Kevin sanders, guitar, Pat Ireland, violin, and Bob Ault, mandolin and banjos. Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Road, Kansas City, Missouri. FREE. Coffee and cookies provided, donations gladly accepted.

Friday, September 30, 12:10 pm
Westport Center for the Arts presents Rebecca Bell and Marian Thomas, harpsichordists, in the second of their concerts performing the complete Well-Tempered Clavier of J. S. Bach, played on Marian's harpsichord tuned to the historic Werckmeister III temperament. Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Road, Kansas City, Missouri. FREE. Coffee and cookies provided, donations gladly accepted.

Sunday, October 2, 2011, 3:00 pm
Recital of Music Composed by Dale E. Ramsey. Country Club Christian Church. Music for Organ; Soprano w/piano; Baritone with Trumpet and organ; Harpsichord, Flute and Cello; String Quartet; Piano 4-hands. Including organists: Claudette Schiratti and Ted Stewart.

Performance Opportunities

The Westport Center for the Arts, Community Christian Church and the Medical Arts Symphony are sponsoring a performance of Rene Clausen’s Memorial, written to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001. Click on 9-11 Memorial Singers Flyer.pdf for more information.

Substitues for traditional Tridentine Mass: Scott Foppiano, Organist-Choirmaster at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Kansas City, is gathering information of any available substitutes who have experience with the traditional Latin Tridentine Mass. In regards to a High Mass, the music includes the normal organ voluntaries before and afterward, two congregational hymns, the accompanying of Gregorian Chant Propers (sung by the Men's Schola from the Liber Usualis; modern-notation accompaniments are available) and the standard Mass Ordinaries (either Gregorian Chant or polyphonic sung by the full choir). Low Mass includes two organ voluntaries and five solo organ spots (four short with the longer Communion). Anyone with knowledge and playing experience of this beautiful and historic form of the Mass is asked to contact Mr. Foppiano at your convenience. He can be reached at scottfop@aol.com. Thank you.

News from AGO National

THOMAS MURRAY HONORED BY AGO NATIONAL COUNCIL

Celebration of Brilliant Performer, Teacher, and Friend
Raised $30,000 in New Haven, Conn., Benefitting AGO Endowment Fund

NEW YORK CITY — The American Guild of Organists (AGO) presented its eighth annual Recital and Gala Benefit Reception on Sunday, May 15, at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. An estimated audience of 500 colleagues, students, and friends came together to celebrate the lifetime achievements of Thomas Murray on the occasion of his thirtieth anniversary at Yale.
The gala was sponsored by the AGO National Council and its Development Committee. Major funding was provided by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Pemcor Inc. of Lancaster, Pa., printer of The American Organist. The event raised $30,000 to be invested in the AGO Endowment Fund in Thomas Murray’s honor.

The recital, which was played by Thomas Murray on the world renowned Newberry Memorial Organ in Woolsey Hall, was introduced by Craig Whitney, New York Times assistant managing editor (retired) and author of All the Stops: The Glorious Pipe Organ and Its American Masters. Professor Murray’s program included Bach’s Toccata in F Major (BWV 540), Sonata II (1937) by Hindemith, selections from Symphony I on Gregorian Themes (1932) by Guy Weitz, and the Symphony in D Minor by Franck, transcribed by Calvin Hampton. A reception, which was attended by 125 individuals, followed in the Yale President’s Room.

Established in 1994, the AGO Endowment Fund provides income to expand programs for leadership development among AGO members; educate new organists; and cultivate new audiences for organ and choral music. Tax-deductible contributions to the Endowment Fund are invested in perpetuity to produce continuing income support for essential Guild programs and educational projects.

Those unable to attend the gala will receive a copy of the souvenir program book with their contribution of $25 or more to the Endowment Fund. Contributions in honor of Thomas Murray can be made online at www.agohq.org or by mailing a check to: AGO Endowment Fund, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260, New York, NY 10115. All gifts will be acknowledged in The American Organist. For information, please call 212-870-2311 (ext. 4308) or e-mail gala@agohq.org.

AGO NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ORGAN PEDAGOGY
TO BE PRESENTED IN COOPERATION WITH
EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC

EROI Festival 2011: Improvisation and Organ Pedagogy
November 10–13, 2011, Rochester, N.Y.

NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists (AGO) and the Eastman School of Music are partnering to produce the 16th biennial AGO National Conference on Organ Pedagogy, November 10–13, 2011, in Rochester, N.Y. The conference, designed in cooperation between the AGO Committee on Continuing Professional Education and the 10th annual Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI) Festival, will present the topic of organ improvisation through a variety of compositional techniques and styles. Complete information, including online registration, is available at . Early registration discounts are available through August 15.

“The goal of the AGO’s pedagogy conferences is to address various topics and issues pertaining to organ instruction in North America,” declared David Heller, director of the AGO Committee on Continuing Professional Education. “The City of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music, with its multiplicity of instruments and performing venues, will provide a superb setting in which to address the topic of improvisation from many different angles, providing information and resources that will be useful to all instructors of the organ at all levels of instruction.”

The four-day conference will present master classes featuring students at a variety of levels, panel discussions addressing the teaching of improvisation, and sessions that will provide attendees with resource material in the pedagogy of improvisation. The keynote address, Why Is Improvisation So Difficult?, will be given by Eastman faculty member William Porter.
A distinguished faculty of internationally renowned organists and teachers working in the discipline of organ improvisation will include Jeffrey Brillhart (Yale University), Tony Caramia (Eastman), Sophie-Veronique Cauchefer-Choplin (Royal College of Music, London), Hans Davidsson (Eastman), Michael Dodds (University of North Carolina School of the Arts), Gerre Hancock (Butler School of Music, University of Texas), David Higgs (Eastman), Denise Lanning (Denver Chapter, AGO), Rudolf Lutz (Schola Cantorum Basiliensis), William Marvin (Eastman), Bruce Neswick (Indiana University), David Peckham (Horseheads United Methodist Church, Horseheads, N.Y.), McNeil Robinson (Manhattan School of Music), Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra (author of Bach and the Art of Improvisation), John R. Shannon (Sweet Briar College), and Daniel Zager (Eastman).

For further information, please contact please contact EROI Festival Coordinator Annie Laver at 585-274-1564 or e-mail anne.laver@rochester.edu.

Professional Development Update

AGO certification exams are a great motivation to improve your professional skills. For those interested in obtaining certification, there is a Certification Support Group for Region VI members. The group currently numbers 22, representing all five of the certifications. Contact Ted Stewart for more details: stewart.smith@att.net or 816-254-5665.

SUBSTITUTES AVAILABLE FOR YOU

Substitutes listed are members of the local organ guild. The ones who hold AGO certificates have passed requirements of the national American Guild of Organists for various levels of service playing and choral conducting. However, the Greater Kansas City AGO is not an endorsement agency for service provided by the persons listed here. To learn proficiency of substitutes, feel free to ask them for references.

These substitutes have passed various levels of AGO certification requirements:

	Scott Foppiano, MM, CAGO - org, dir, soloist, lit	816-437-8557, 816-305-0260 (cell)
	Alan Gagnon, SPC, org, lit	603-660-8408 (cell)
	Jan Kraybill, DMA, FAGO	816-833-1000, ext. 2432
	Nick Mourlam, SPC – org, lit	913.488.1272
	John Pitchford, MM, SPC – org	913.663.3768
	Claudette Schiratti, MM, AAGO - org, dir, lit	913.530.0960 (cell)
	Barbara Tankard Thatcher, CAGO	816.796.3706
	Ann Warzyn, BME, SPC - org	816.453.5027
	SPC = service playing certificate, CAGO = Colleague certification AAGO = Associate certification, FAGO = Fellow certification

The following have various degrees in organ or church music at the college or post-graduate level:

	Barbara Adler, BA – org, lit	816-333-3912 barbara.adler@gmail.com
	Rebecca Bell, MA – org, lit	816-523-5569 bellmartin@kc.rr.com
	Joyce Berg, MM – org	816-741-7388 jpiano3@sbcglobal.net
	Phyllis Curtis, MM – org (4th & 5th Sundays only)	913-839-8856, 913-406-5327, 913-248-6600
	Alan Gagnon, org, lit	603-660-8408 alang2ku@gmail.com
	Kathy Hellwege, org, lit, solo, dir, BSE in Music & English	913-362-0594 or 913-706-0126 (cell)
	Sarah O Holland, DMA student KU - org, piano, lit	s721h995@ku.edu 309-333-8745
	Michael Phelps, BA – org, piano, lit	816-686-5454
	Dale Ramsey, MM – org, dir	816.322.8985
	Ann Marie Rigler, DMA – org, lit	816.415.3792 or 816.781.7700 x5199
	Nancy Stankiewicz, BA – org, lit	913.642.8642
	org=organist; lit=liturgical worship; dir=choral director; pian=pianist

The following also offer their services:

	Lisa Shephard Galchick, org, lit	816.587.9290 or 816.591.4584 (cell)
	Jonathan Gregoire, org	320-333-8894 (cell)
	Aaron Jaynes, org	musicdude61@yahoo.com or 816-455-2991
	Stephen Kucera – org	913.485-4832 klwmjb@kc.rr.com
	Mark Langdon – org, lit	816-807-4294 kilgen2003@yahoo.com (after 10:30 am only)
	Steven McDonald – orgn, dir, lit	785-841-4696 a4696@ku.edu
	Roland Pera, bass soloist	913-268-8918 or 913-269-6222 (cell)
	Brent Stull – org, lit, dir (Saturdays only)	(620) 794-1940 (cell) or brent.lucas.stull@gmail.com
	Marilyn VanderLinden - org, lit	816.665.4441
	Thomas Zachacz – org, dir, lit	913-967-5952 pleyguy@aol.com
	org=organist; lit=liturgical worship; dir=choral director; pian=pianist

Holiday Sub available

With the holiday and Christmas season approaching, Scott Foppiano wanted to make his availability known for any possible Thanksgiving or Christmas (or other) substitute needs as an organist and/or soloist. His Mass schedule on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day allows for some freedom and he would be willing to help out any churches that might be looking for coverage during these busy times of the year or those organists who might need to be away. He can be reached at (816) 437-8557 or scottfop@aol.com.

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

From The Dean
Placement Listings
Recitals of Note
Member News
Miscellaneous
Substitutes

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