NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS

The CouplerMay 2013

FROM  THE  DEAN

Dear  DC  AGO  colleagues  and  friends,

Although  I  was  out  of  town  with  my  choirs  and  unable  to  aCend,  I  am  happy  to  report  that  the  chapter’s  April  event,  a  Silent  Film  accompanied  by  Boston-­‐based  organist/improvisateur  Peter  Krasinski,  was,  by  all  accounts,  a  smashing  success.    Approximately  100  people  –  many  of  them  non-­‐members  –  were  in  aCendance  as  Peter  dazzled  the  audience  with  the  seemingly  limitless  sonic  resources  of  the  organ  at  NaTonal  City  ChrisTan  Church.    I  extend  sincere  thanks  to  our  Sub  Dean,  Russell  Weismann,  for  duTfully  handling  the  many  details  –  technical  and  otherwise  –  associated  with  the  producTon  of  the  Silent  Film,  and  to  past  Dean  Charles  Miller,  for  graciously  agreeing  to  host  the  event,  when,  at  the  last  minute,  it  became  apparent  that  a  change  of  venue  was  needed.

Speaking  of  venue  changes…

Due  to  a  scheduling  conflict  at  NaTonal  City  ChrisTan  Church,  the  chapter’s  Annual  MeeTng,  Dinner,  and  Recital,  set  to  take  place  on  Monday,  May  13,  at  7:00  p.m.,  has  been  moved  to  St.  John’s  Episcopal  Church,  Georgetown  Parish  (Sam  CarabeCa,  host).    Following  wine,  cheese,  and  a  delicious,  catered  meal  in  Blake  Hall,  we  will  move  to  the  church,  where  21  year-­‐old  Caroline  Robinson,  who  is  about  to  conclude  her  studies  at  The  CurTs  InsTtute,  will  perform  a  short  program  on  St.  John’s  beauTful,  new  Casavant  organ.    Please  plan  to  join  us  that  evening…and  do  invite  friends  and  colleagues.    The  suggested  donaTon  for  dinner  is  $10/members  and  $15/non-­‐members.

PLEASE  NOTE:  The  parking  lot  at  the  Hyde-­‐Addison  School,  which  is  directly  across  from  St.  John’s  Church  on  O  Street,  has  been  reserved  for  the  evening.    Please  enter  the  parking  lot  at  the  gate  just  beyond  the  school  on  the  leb-­‐hand  side  of  the  street.    Street  parking  in  Georgetown  is  free  for  a  two-­‐hour  period  only.

I  look  forward  to  seeing  you  in  the  days,  weeks,  and  months  ahead.    Please  feel  free  to  contact  me  should  you  have  any  quesTons,  comments,  or  concerns.

Best  wishes,

Tom  Smith,  Dean

Monday,  May  13,  at  7:00  p.m.Annual  Mee=ng,  Dinner,  and  Recital:  Caroline  Robinson,  organNaTonal  City  ChrisTan  Church5  Thomas  Circle  NWWashington,  DC  20005Charles  Miller,  host

Having  given  her  organ  recital  debut  at  age  14,  CAROLINE  ROBINSON  is  a  rising  ar@st  on  the  concert  scene.  Originally  from  Greenville,  SC,  Caroline  began  her  piano  studies  at  age  five  and  commenced  organ  studies  at  the  age  of  12  under  the  tutelage  of  Adam  Pajan.  She  later  studied  extensively  with  Dr.  Charles  Tompkins  of  Furman  University,  Dr.  Wilma  Jensen  of  Nashville,  TN,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Bara  of  the  Interlochen  Center  for  the  Arts  in  Interlochen,  MI.  At  the  age  of  17,  aVer  gradua@ng  from  high  school  a  year  early,  she  entered  the  Cur@s  Ins@tute  of  Music  in  Philadelphia  as  a  full-­‐scholarship  student.  She  studies  with  world-­‐renowned  organist  and  teacher  Alan  Morrison.

As  a  young  performer,  Caroline  has  had  the  opportunity  to  play  at  several  important  venues  in  the  U.S.,  including  the  famed  Wanamaker  organ  at  Macy’s  (Philadelphia),  Verizon  Hall  at  the  Kimmel  Center  (Philadelphia),  The  Cathedral  of  St.  Philip  (Atlanta,  GA),  Central  Synagogue  (New  York,  NY),  and  many  other  churches  and  performance  venues.  Her  playing  has  been  broadcast  on  NPR’s  “Pipedreams”,  “Pipedreams  LIVE!”,  and  Philadelphia-­‐based  public  radio  sta@on  90.1  WRTI’s  Wanamaker  Organ  Hour.  In  March  of  2010,  she  took  part  in  a  video  recording  with  Dr.  Wilma  Jensen  as  part  of  a  teaching  film  being  made  by  Dr.  Jensen.  The  video  was  released  in  the  spring  of  2011.  

Caroline  is  the  First  Prize  winner  of  the  11th  Annual  Albert  Schweitzer  Organ  Fes@val,  which  is  held  in  Wethersfield,  CT  (2008)  and  in  the  Tenth  Annual  West  Chester  University  Organ  Compe@@on  (2010).  In  addi@on,  she  was  awarded  Second  Prize  at  the  2007  L.  Cameron  Johnson  Organ  Compe@@on.  She  is  the  four-­‐@me  recipient  of  the  Shirley  Kroske  Reinsmith  Organ  scholarship,  presented  by  the  Crescent  Music  Club  of  Greenville,  SC.  She  was  recently  awarded  a  scholarship  from  the  Sigurd  I.  Rislov  and  Jarmila  H.  Rislov  Founda@on.  In  the  summer  of  2010,  she  aeended  the  Oundle  for  Organists  course  in  Oundle,  England.  At  the  culmina@on  of  the  course,  she  was  awarded  five  recitals  at  venues  across  England;  she  traveled  to  the  UK  to  play  four  of  these  five  recitals  in  October  of  2011.  

In  the  fall  of  2010,  Caroline  assumed  the  posi@on  of  Organ  Scholar  at  St.  Paul’s  Episcopal  Church  in  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia,  PA.  She  collaborates  with  the  Music  Director,  Zachary  Hemenway,  on  direc@ng  and  accompanying  the  adult  choir,  managing  and  accompanying  the  children’s  choir  program,  and  shares  responsibilites  for  voluntaries.  At  St.  Paul’s,  she  plays  the  historic  1929  E.M./1953  Aeolian-­‐Skinner  organ,  IV/104.  She  previously  held  the  post  of  Assistant  Organist  at  St.  Mary’s  Catholic  Church  in  Greenville,  SC,  which  is  the  Mother  Church  of  Catholicism  in  the  Upstate  of  South  Carolina.

Best  wishes,

Tom  Smith,  Dean

2012  –  2013  DC  Chapter  Events

Monday,  September  10,  7:00  p.m.Opening  Service:  Choral  Evensong  with  InstallaAon  of  Officers

All  Souls’  Memorial  Episcopal  Church2300  Cathedral  Avenue  NWWashington,  DC  20008-­‐1505

The  Rev’d  John  Beddingfield,  officiantThe  Rev’d  Mary  Sulerud,  homilistThe  Choir  of  All  Souls’  ChurchBenjamin  Hutchens,  director

Jeremy  Filsell,  organistBenjamin  Hutchens,  host

Sunday,  October  21,  5:00  p.m.Pipes  Spectacular:  DedicaAon  of  the  New  Casavant-­‐Frères  Organ

Bruce  Neswick,  organSt.  John’s  Episcopal  Church,  Georgetown  Parish

3240  O  Street  NWWashington,  DC  20007Samuel  CarabeXa,  host

Tuesday,  November  13,  7:00  p.m.CreaAng  Worship  that  Works:  A  Forum  on  Clergy/Musician  RelaAonships

Virginia  Theological  Seminary3737  Seminary  RoadAlexandria,  VA  22304

The  Rev’d  John  Beddingfield,  The  Rev’d  Ann  Gillespie,  Dr.  Eileen  Guenther,  Ms.  Ellen  Johnston,  The  Rev’d  Dr.  William  Bradley  Roberts,  panelists

Sunday,  January  6,  6:00  p.m.Epiphany-­‐Tide  Members’  Dinner

Ris  Restaurant2275  L  Street  NW

Washington,  DC  20037

Monday,  February  18Presidents’  Day  Organ  Crawl  in  Philadelphia

Sunday,  April  21,  7:00  p.m.Silent  Film:  Peter  Krasinski,  organ

The  Church  of  the  Epiphany  (Episcopal)1317  G  Street  NW

Washington,  DC  20005Irvin  Peterson,  host

Monday,  May  13,  7:00  p.m.Annual  MeeAng,  Dinner  &  Recital:  Caroline  Robinson,  organ

Na_onal  City  Chris_an  Church5  Thomas  Circle  NW

Washington,  DC  20005Charles  Miller,  host

CALENDAR  OF  EVENTSTo  have  your  event  publicized  in  The  Coupler,  please  send  it  to  Joseph  Ireland  (dc.ago.info@gmail.com)  and  include  the  following:  date,  _me,  performer,  where,  and  contact  informa_on.      Concise  descrip_ve  informa_on  is  helpful  and  welcome  and  will  be  used  as  space  allows:      NOTE:  We  are  only  able  to  list  informa_on  for  program  s  that  occur  two  months  in  advance.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 12:10pmSt. John’s ChurchLafayette SquareWashington, DC

First Wednesday Concerts presents famed bass-baritone Alvy Powell in a free recital of music from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.  Powell is one of the world's best-known interpreters of Porgy, having performed it over 2500 times from Lincoln Center and La Scala to the Sydney Opera House.  Powell came to national prominence singing God Bless America for the inauguration of President George Herbert Walker Bush.

Sunday, May 5, 2013, 5:00pmThe Episcopal Church of the Redeemer6201 Dunrobbin Drive at MacArthur BoulevardBethesda, MD 20816

Mozart in May: “Music by the Master”. Join us for a musical celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, including choral, vocal, and instrumental works - both sacred and secular - and featuring acclaimed vocalists Hilary Park, soprano and Andrew Pardini, baritone, as well as members of the Inscape Chamber Orchestra. Free will offering. Reception to follow.

Sunday, May 05, 2013, 5:15pmWashington National Cathedral3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20016

Ines Maidre, Organist.

Sunday, May 5, 2013, 3:00 pm

Evangelical Lutheran Church31 East Church StreetFrederick, Maryland 21701

Evangelical Fine Arts Concert Series is pleased to present Aaron David Miller, organist. To commemorate our 275th anniversary, we have invited Aaron David Miller, renowned concert organist and composer, to come give a concert on our magnificent organ!  His concert here at ELC will reflect music of our history in a surprising way.  His mastery of composed music and of improvisation will delight one and all!

In a nutshell, Dr. Miller’s performances have been heard on National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, Pipe Dreams, and many television programs and he has given many concerts throughout the United States.  He has won numerous national and international awards for improvisation and he has been commissioned to compose works for numerous organ dedications and orchestra festivals.  His many solo organ, choral, and orchestra compositions are published through Augsburg Fortress, Paraclete Publishing, and Kjos Publishing House.  Currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he has served on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and has served as Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Illinois, among other positions.

 For more information about Dr. Miller, please go to his website: www.aarondavidmiller.com

Friday, May 17, 2013, 7:30pmEmmanuel Episcopal Church101 North Cross StreetChestertown, MD

Emmanuel Concert Series. Ken Cowan will perform an organ concert at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children and students and are available at the door. For more information please call the church office at 410 778 3477 from 9 to 1 on Mondays through Fridays.Ken is currently Associate Professor and head of the organ program at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas. He needs no further introduction to organists in the United States.

“It is difficult to find enough adjectives to describe Ken Cowan’s playing. He is simply one of the best anywhere!”The Diapason

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 5:00pmThe Episcopal Church of the Redeemer6201 Dunrobbin Drive at MacArthur BoulevardBethesda, MD 20816

Inscape Chamber Orchestra: “Vienna Redux III”.Inscape concludes the season with a performance of Gustav Mahler’s monumental Fourth Symphony in a camber orchestra version arranged by Erwin Stein under the supervision of Arnold Schoenberg. Three of Johann Strauss’ most familiar waltzes complete the program. Free will offering. Reception to follow.

Sunday, May 26, 2013, 5:15pmWashington National Cathedral3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20016

Paul Carr, Organist.

Sunday, May 26, 2013, 2:00pmChurch of the Little FLower5607 Massachusetts AvenueBethesda, MD 20816

Richard L. Gray Organ Recital, featuring music by J.S.Bach, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Langlais, Messiaen, Locklair, and Franck. Free Admission.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 5:15pmWashington National Cathedral3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20016

Richard Spotts, Organist.

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 4:00pmThe Chevy Chase Presbyterian ChurchOne Chevy Chase Circle, NWWashington, DC 20015202-363-2202

Chevy Chase Chancel Choir and Orchestra. The featured work on this program will be J.S.Bach’s “MAGNIFICAT”, a master work for five soloists, five-part choir, and orchestra scored for two violins, viola, flute, three trumpets, two oboes, timpani and basso continuo. Following the concert, there will be a reception to meet the artists and greet one another. www.chevychasepc.org

Sunday, June 2, 2013, 5:00 p.m.Christ Church Episcopal118 N. Washington StreetAlexandria, VA The combined choirs from Christ Church, St. Paul’s Alexandria, Grace Church Alexandria, St. Mary’s Arlington, St. George’s Arlington, and St. Luke’s Alexandria will participate in this celebratory hymn festival featuring one of America’s great organists. A festive reception will follow in the churchyard. For further information: jabel@HistoricChristChurch.org

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE !

NATHAN LAUBE, ORGANSUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2013

5:00 PM 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Georgetown Parish3240 O Street, NWWashington, DC

Telephone: 202-338-1796

AUGUSTANA LUTHERAN CHURCH 21OO NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE & V STREET NWW A S H I N G T O N D C 2 O O O 9

Maurice ClercTitular Organist of

Saint-Bénigne Cathedral Dijon, France

Tuesday, April 23 7:30 p.m.

Free!Music of Franck, Fauré,

Vierne, Tournemire, Langlais and Cochereau

J. !omas MittsOrganist of Augustana Lutheran Church Washington, DC

Sunday, May 5 2:30 p.m. Free!Vierne: Symphonie IIIDupré: Symphonie-Passion

2 Organ Recitals

THE FRENCHCONNECTION

DC Chapter is participating in the new on-line membership renewal with National. This applies only to DC Chapter. Not NVA or Potomac The on-line renewal process has not yet begun. So you do not need to do anything yet. We will notify you when National's web site is ready for you to renew your membership. This applies to all levels of membership in DC Chapter: regular, special, dual, student, etc. If you are a dual member of DC Chapter, please contact your regular chapter with the paper membership form. But please do not send DC Chapter a membership form for your dual membership. You will renew (or start) a dual membership on-line. ==>> Please do not mail a membership renewal form for DC Chapter renewals. We will let you know when you can go on-line and renew. Arthur RoachRegistrar and TreasurerDC Chapter

The Potomac Organ Institute www.potomacorganinst.org

The Potomac Organ Institute was founded in 1988 to interest young people in the field of church music by providing instruction on the pipe organ. Auditions for prospective students are held each summer and scholarship recipients receive one year of free organ instruction from a volunteer Tri-Chapter Guild member with lessons from September through June. Students also participate in master classes and other activities throughout the year, become members of their local AGO chapter, receive a complimentary subscription to The American Organist, and present a spring recital.

N e w s a n d E v e n t s

Your help is needed! Help us recruit students for

2013-2014!

Your help is needed to identify pianists who would benefit from a year of free organ lessons. If you know of someone who would make a great POI student, please encourage him or her to apply. More information and application information can be found on the Potomac Organ Institute website (potomacorganinst.org). An application is provided in this newsletter, as well.

Applications and references are due

Friday, June 14th.

Auditions are scheduled upon receipt of complete application and are held at Saint George’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, Virginia.

Please join us at our annual student masterclass and recital. Come and show your

support and give these beginning organists your encouragement.

2013 POI

Student Masterclass

Saturday, 11 May at 10:30am

Saint Luke’s Catholic Church 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia

2013 POI Student Recital

Monday, 20 May at 7:30pm

Saint Luke’s Catholic Church 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia

For more information on the Potomac Organ Institute or to recommend students, please contact

Ben Keseley, POI Coordinator at bkeseley@saintgeorgeschurch.org or at 703-525-8286.

A Two-Fold Message fromArthur Roach

(1) In June, I will become available to sub again. I am hoping to re-connect with my former subbing locations and of course to have new opportunities. I have vast experience in a wide array of denominations. I will be available on Sundays (Saturday vigil Massses), and weekday needs that may arise. (2) This means that the Director of Music & Organist position at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish, will be open. Approaching a round-number birthday, I have decided to retire from holding a permanent position. The position description and salary range are not yet available. If you think you are interested in the position, let me strongly encourage you to contact me (preferably start with an e-mail), and I might be able to advise whether it matches your personal, professional, and artistic goals. There's no need in investing your time and energy in an application or letter of introduction if this is not a good match. My predecessors at St. Paul's, Rock Creek, certainly include some of the finest musicians in the area. I count myself "the least of the brethren." But I hope I was the right person during a period of transition there, and, even though it is an accident of fate, I will be honored to hold the title of Director of Music Emeritus. Very best,Arthur / Artie arthurhr@aol.com

TIFFANY WINDOWS INSPIRE CHORAL CONCERT

“Tiffany Treasures,” a concert of choral works inspired by the Tiffany stained glass windows at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, will be presented by the church’s Chancel Choir and soloists on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 3 p.m. Michael Britt will conduct, and John Walker, Brown Memorial’s Minister of Music Emeritus, will serve as guest organist.

The church is located at 1316 Park Avenue, in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. Tickets to this Tiffany Series concert are $15 ($5 for students) and are available at the door and online at www.browndowntown.org

Among the pieces commissioned specially for this concert (and named after the windows they evoke) are "I Am the Vine," by Alfred Fedak, "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks," by David Schelat, and "The New Creation" by Marvin Mills. "Hymn" by Wayne Wold responds more generally to the windows. Also on the program is Paul Halley's "Freedom Trilogy," a choral work that incorporates chant and South African Freedom songs.

Brown Memorial’s Tiffany windows, which date from the early 1900s, include the transept’s Smith and Babcock Memorial windows, which are 16 feet wide and 32 feet tall. James Hauser, whose Minnesota-based company Hauser Art Glass Company, Inc. restored all 11 windows a decade ago, said that these windows are the largest he had encountered in almost 40 years of restoring Tiffany glass. Hauser told Baltimore Magazine, “This is the finest collection of Tiffany windows in the country and quite possibly the world.”

Michael Britt is Brown Memorial’s Minister of Music and sub-dean of the Baltimore AGO chapter. John Walker is national vice president of the AGO and a faculty member at Peabody.

The composers represented in this concert are distinctly accomplished. Alfred V. Fedak, Minister of Music and Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Albany, NY, is a well known organist and composer. David Schelat is Minister of Music at First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. A composer of choral and organ music, he is dean of the Delaware chapter of the AGO. Marvin Mills is organist at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington, MD and former music director at All Souls Church, Unitarian. He was dean of the D.C. AGO chapter. Wayne L. Wold is Chair of the Music Department at Hood College and a prolific composer as well as an organist. Paul Halley was organist and choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York from 1977 to 1989.

Parking will be available. The church is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 410-523-1542.

CLASSIFIED

Organ for Sale

Contact:  R. A Daffer Church Organs, Inc.410-792-2252

Ten Rank Casavant OrganThis two manual, ten rank Casavant pipe organ is Opus #3234, built in 1974. It is currently in a church in Washington, DC. The pipes and blower are encased, and the organ can be heard and played by appointment. $25,000. Removal and reinstallation is available by quotation.

Grande Orgue: Flute a Cheminee 8’, Prestant 4’, Fourniture III, Recit to Gd. Orgue. Recit: Bourdon 8’, Flute 4’, Doublette 2’, Trompette 8’, Tremblant. Pedale: Soubasse 16’, Montre 8’, Flute a Cheminee 8’(GO), Prestant 4’(GO), Gd. Orgue to Pd., Recit to Pd.

ADVERTISING IN THE COUPLER!!!!!!!!!!!

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Advertising%requests%should%be%sent%to%the%COUPLER%editor,%Joseph%Ireland%at%dc.ago.info@gmail.com%or%503%Seneca%Knoll%Court,%Great%Falls,%VA,%22066K3000.%%%%%Checks%should%be%made%payable%to%DC%Chapter,%American%Guild%of%Organists.

Type to enter text

“THE TOP OF VIRGINIA” REGION III

CONVENTION JULY 7-10, 2013

July 7, at 7:00 pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Winchester, Virginia will mark the beginning of three of the most exciting days for AGO Region III in some time. David and Susan Cherwien will open the convention with a Hymn-Festival written and designed expecially for this event. David is well-known for his improvisation stylings and Susan has written many hymn texts and other books over the past several years. An exciting way to begin any convention.

On the following day a concert by Nathan Laube on the 3 manual Aeolian-Skinner at Trinity Episcopal Upperville, VA will continue the three day journey.

On the third day of the convention we will be treated to a viewing of the old cinematic movie, “Phantom of the Opera” and this will be accompanied by the improvisation stylings of Paul Fleckenstein.

The closing day will feature the Quimby winners and a Festival Worship Service with Jeremy Filsell on the new Letorneau Organ at Braddock Street United Methodist Church and the Banquet following we will be treated to a time with Mark Schweizer author and publisher from St. James Music Press. No mystery here he will more than likely bring us up to date on life in St. Germaine.

.

SUBHEAD HERE

2013 Region III Winchester, VA

Grace Evangelical Lutheran First Baptist Church

Market Street United

Methodist Church

Braddock Street UMC

Christ Episcopal

Church

Trinity Episcopal Church, Upperville, VA.