October 2014 Pipings

October 2014 A Letter from the Dean !Greetings!!Our opening hymn festival 'Lord Send Out Your Spirit' was an afternoon of joyful song led by director/organist Michael Burkhardt, the amazing massed choirs,instrumentalists and the beautiful grand organ of Pease Auditorium. This collaborative event celebrated both the 100th anniversary of Pease and also marks our 45th year as a Chapter... And adding the celeste, congratulations to our founding Dean, Michele Johns upon her retirement Our Chapter is strong and true. !I'd like to briefly address with you, dear members, the concept of 'gigs' and 'chops'. !It's a tough world out there for organists. Changing musical styles, changing liturgical paradigms, poor or broken instruments, etc can really drag us down. Why? We are called to be artists in service to our art and craft and also we are either called to music ministry and/or solo performance. We need to make music, we're wired for it. Finding inner discipline to practice and building in a reason to practice can add meaning to our lives, and of course, we all know what organ music can mean to us and others. !So, here are some basic ideas on 'chops and gigs,’ some drawn from my own experience: !

• Often your church 'guilds' or clubs can be a great source of support, attendance and monies to back a concert.

• Your children's groups, youth, and young adults and young families are all great sources of resources as well as audience. Working with your various youth/young adult leaders, you may be surprised. Young people love the instrument but they need to be approached.

• After church on a special Sunday, try a 'pass the hat concert' featuring a 'tea' or dessert after, with Choir or guild sponsorship. Continued on page 2

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Timothy Huth addressing the audience at the opening hymn festival at Pease Auditorium in Ypsilanti.

• Use your 'Music Sunday' for extra musics, have an open loft or mini recital.

• Try more lengthy extended preludes for major Serv ices , these can be in terwoven wi th congregational song to get people there early.

• Deliberately practice new/difficult preludes and postludes (someone somewhere is listening).

• You can use liturgical seasons or 'themes' to highlight special works,composers or styles like chant.

• Start a concert series (start modest, but worship committees often welcome a challenge).

• Try a hymn festival/or combo festival (eg:I work with a band every week, we're composing some concert stuff integrating our pipe organ with band).

• Make calls, look for concert series to play on if you feel called to public playing.

• Weaving in different instruments with the organ, and even dance can enhance the range of people's experience of organ music.

• Gig with a friend or two, maybe a theme recital, like 'Organists of Dearborn', or 'Two wild and crazy Organists', or as the ypsipipes.org ‘Organ Spooktacular'.

• As I learned early on, 'networking is everything'.!I'm sure you can think up other things, the trick is to not only keep your chops up through gigs (even if it's the prelude on 'low Sunday'), but to remember that it is our bounden duty as organists to share this wonderful and magical instrument with others, our audience. !

All best to you.!Pax et summum bonum

Timothy HuthDean, AGO Ann Arbor

!!A Letter from Subdean Sipkje Pesnichak !Another wonderful season of concerts, workshops and presentations has begun and what a superb start it has been. November will have a handbell workshop lead by our very own Dave Hunsche. December will feature Dr. Michael Burkhardt, Dr. James Kibbie and Dr. Kola Olowabi, our local and world-famous organ faculty members on our annual Organist's Christmas concert, co-sponsored by the First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor. In January we celebrate 45 years as a chapter at an Epiphany Gala with the Detroit AGO Chapter and Marijim Thoene will present about wild beasts who played the organ in ancient manuscripts. Wayne Leupold, well-known music publisher will be in Ann Arbor for a variety of presentations in February and we will kick off another season of Lenten Recitals at First Congregational Church in Ann Arbor. We will also be co-sponsoring a concert by Vincent Dubois as part of the Ypsilanti Pipe Organ Festival at First Presbyterian Church in Ypsilanti. A very special event is being finalized in conjunction with the Michigan Theater for May which

will bring us together for an amazing evening. Each of these events takes hours of planning by our board and hours of preparation by our own members. !As we plan such events we take into consider a variety of factors, for example the many resources we have available here in our area. We are extremely fortunate to have numerous outstanding universities, organists and scholars in southeastern Michigan. We think about what we can do for you, our membership, to enliven, enrich and encourage you as musicians. It is my sincere hope that you all will take full advantage of these many offerings. If you usually attend just one event a season, try getting to two this season. If you attend as many events as you can, try to bring one new person (or more!) with you to the event. There are some wonderful things taking place this season, we hope you will be part of it all!!Sipkje Pesnichak, Subdean

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POEA Report Pipe Organ Encounters Advanced, Ann Arbor, Michigan 2014 !The 2014 POEA in Ann Arbor, Michigan was a testament to POEAs as an energizing endeavor with a multi-purpose acronym: Practice Only Excellence A lways, and Peers Offer Encouragement in Abundance. !Inspiration Abounds The eighteen students from across the country who gathered in Ann Arbor listed their personal highlights:

• The social aspect of being with organ peers• Open console time after recitals, including

spontaneous hymn sings• Detroit Day• The Improvisation Fest, with its diversity of

culture, language, and style, and emphasis on participation (Wilhelm, First Congregational, Ann Arbor)

• Stephen Warner’s film accompaniment to “Our Hospitality” at the Senate Theater, Detroit

• Being interviewed by Dr. Dave Wagner live on WRCJ, Detroit Classical Radio about “Why I love the organ”

• The mighty E. M. Skinner at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian, Detroit

• The beautiful Casavant at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Detroit

• Playing the University of Michigan carillon• Kind chaperones• Strong organization• Air-conditioned dorms.

The faculty and planning team added their reflections:

• Being around young, motivated students inspired all of us!

• We were impressed with the participants’ maturity and passion.

• Everyone performed to the best of his/her abilities.

• The students were exposed to diverse instruments, repertoire, services, and improvisation.

• Offering the POEA was a tremendous amount of work and planning, but the event itself brought us together as a chapter, and showed us what we can do when we collaborate.

!Ideas Flow Our suggestions for future POEs:

• Every student wished the POEA lasted longer—a full week or even 10 days.

• Plan daily services in diverse styles, and have the students participate each day by singing in liturgical choirs and playing hymns, Psalms, and liturgy for the services. Prepare them optimally for future employment in sacred music.

• The more hands-on time, the better; offer open console time whenever possible; maximize practice time.

• Students requested more masterclasses and fewer lessons, as they wished to have experience working with multiple teachers.

• To avoid having two or more students arriving with the same piece to perform, ask each student to arrive with two or more prepared pieces. In addition, assign each student one brief piece that they learn from scratch during the POEA to give the opportunity to discuss how to practice and plan your progress most effectively and efficiently.

• Maximize local publicity to build support for the organ.

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POEA students checking out the organ at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit

It Truly Takes A Village Kudos to the Planning Team: Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, Joshua Boyd, Gale Kramer, Kipp Cortez, Matthew Dempsey, Mary Zelinski, Andrew Meagher, James Wagner, Colin Knapp, Sherri Brown, Marcia Van Oyen, and Timothy Huth. !Cheers to the Faculty and Artists: Joseph Balistreri, Gale Kramer, Michael Burkhardt, Michele Johns, Joanne Vollendorf Clark, James Kibbie, Michele Johns, Deborah Friauff, Stephen Warner, David Wagner, Huw Lewis, Jonathan Moyer, Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, Naki Sung Kripfgans, Timothy Huth, and James Wagner. !Thanks to our Chaperones and Hosts: Sarah Albright, Linda Aldrich, Phillip Burgess, Meghan Meloy, Cornelia Landes, Ted Emch, Tom Kean, Betsy Hill, Thomas Granum, Dana Hull, MaryAnn Balduff, David Hunsche, and Darlene Kuperus. !Hats off to the Organ Technicians: Jerry Adams, David Hufford, Elgin Clingaman, Helmut Schick, Stephen Warner, and the Holden Pipe Organ Company.!Heartfelt gratitude to our Gracious Donors: AGO National Headquarters, the San Francisco AGO, APOBA, CHI Press, Wilnella Bush, M. Janice Jacobi, Alan Knight, Steve Feenstra and Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, Robert U. Smith, and Marcia Van Oyen.!Congratulations to the POEA 2014 Participants: David Boeckh, Meg Cutting, Clayton Farmer, Clara Gerdes, Michelle Good, Joseph Huang, Maks

Jurasek, Noah Klein, Dominic Kryst, Alexandra Lang, Michael LeGrand, Christopher Lindsay, Katherine Matthews, Jared Post, Kyle Walker, Emily Wheeler, Madeleine Woodworth, and Alden Wright.!A Closing Blessing Blessed are you who gave your time To plan this POEA, To organize and to design, With meetings day after day. !Blessed are you who raised the funds All donors who gave with bliss, Planting seeds of musical love For bright high school organists. !Blessed are you who mentored youth Encouraging, listening…. You nurtured these most precious seeds And helped the organ to sing. !Blessed are you who chaperoned And planned the journeys with care. You kept them safe and showed them sites They treasured from here to there. !Blessed are you who lent a hand, And said a supportive word, Inspiring by your actions just As much as the playing heard. !Blessed are you, who, together, Showed spirit of unity. We organists are strongest when We work in community. !!With deepest gratitude for your blessings, please consider yourselves most richly blessed!!Pamela Ruiter-FeenstraCo-Director, POEA 2014, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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POEA Students at Hill Auditorium

Let Them Ring! Handbells in Worship Saturday, November 89:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Ann Arbor

This workshop will begin with basic ringing technique and then focus on how to incorporate handbells in the worship service--from the very basic “random ringing” to accompany a hymn through written hymn and anthem accompaniments, and on to handbell ensemble pieces. Examples of these pieces will be demonstrated. Information about where to find handbell music, how to evaluate pieces (e.g., difficulty, people/equipment needed), how to read the markings that are unique to handbell music will also be covered. No prior experience is required.

The workshop will be held in the chapel at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division St., Ann Arbor. To reach the chapel please walk through the parking lot behind the church (entrance on Catherine St.) and through the memorial garden to the office entrance. We will gather in the lobby at 9:45 for “caffeine and carbs” and then move into the chapel at 10:00 to begin our workshop. If you think that you will be attending please send a quick note to Dave Hunsche ([email protected]) no later than Wednesday morning, Nov. 5, so that we can insure that there are sufficient goodies and handouts on hand. (If you miss the deadline, don’t despair; we won’t turn anyone away.)

!An Organist’s Christmas Friday, December 57:30 p.m.First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor!An Ann Arbor musical tradition, Organist’s Christmas returns once again to First United Methodist Church. This year’s performers feature some of our very fine local organ faculty members. Dr. Michael Burkhardt from Eastern Michigan University, Dr. James Kibbie and Dr. Kola Owolabi from the University of Michigan will present a top notch evening of organ music to put everyone in the holiday spirit. !

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Students at Bethlehem United Church of Christ before the student performance Students being interview on-air at WRCJ in Detroit

Upcoming A2AGO Events

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Announcements WRCJ - $3 can go a long way

Did you know we spend $2,500 per year for 832 radio spots that are 30 second each on WRCJ? That comes out to $3 per ad. Or $48 per week, $192 per month. If we had a 30 second spot with another area classical station it would cost $43 per 30 second radio ad. For almost the same price as one, 30 second ad we get 16 ads per week through WRCJ and have the opportunity to help keep classical radio and programs like PipeDreams alive and well in our area. By the end of the month you will be receiving a letter asking for support for our WRCJ pledge. Consider sponsoring one week's worth of ads. Or may you'd like to sponsor an entire month. Maybe all you can do is help with three ads. But any amount helps! We hope you will give as you are able to help this collaboration we are so pleased to have with WRCJ.

A Pipe Organ SPOOKTACULAR!

featuringStudents from the University of Michigan

Sunday, October 26 at 4 pm

First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti300 N. Washington St., Ypsilanti

FREE!!Calling all ghouls, goblins, and ghosts!

Throw on your Halloween best and join us for an afternoon of spooky and fun organ music. Students from the University of Michigan will present a frighteningly delightful program of organ music, including Bach's Toccata and

Fugue in D minor and Boëllmann’s Suite Gothique, to coincide with the year's

spookiest week.

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Steven Ball to perform at THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL VISUAL LITERACY CONFERENCE Film: Buster Keaton’s “The Camerman” with live music performed by Dr. Steven Ball on the 1926 E.M. Skinner pipe organ. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., Peristyle Theater, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH. Organist Steven Ball will perform his own musical score to the 1928 silent film “The Cameraman", which stars Buster Keaton.Dr. Ball is the Director of Outreach and Organist at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ, presiding over the world's largest pipe organ. !Conference: http://www.vislit.org/welcome/!!Sunday, Oct. 19, 4:00 pm, Plymouth First United Methodist Church Lonnie Reed, tenor, in recital The program will include works by Handel, Schumann, and spirituals. Mr. Reed wowed the audience this past spring with his beautiful tone and soulful performance as soloist for the NOTEworthy Festival of Hymns. He is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Michigan. Prior to the concert and at the intermission, students from the Music@First Fine Arts Academy, which is part of the music ministry at First United Methodist Church, will perform. Admission is free; a free-will offering will be received to benefit the Music@First scholarship fund and the CROP Walk, which funds efforts to end world hunger. A reception will follow the recital.!Sunday, Nov. 23, 4:00 pm, Plymouth First United Methodist Church Thanksgiving Choir Festival A musical celebration of Thanksgiving, with a 100-voice community choir singing anthems accompanied by handbells, brass quintet, organ and piano, as well as audience sing-along of familiar Thanksgiving hymns. Admission is free; a free-will offering will be received to benefit the Salvation Army.

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Dr. Timothy Huth, OrganWith Rebekka Dicks, Flute

A program of works based on chant to commemorate the Feast of All Souls Day

Sunday, Nov. 2, 3 p.m.Free-will offering • Public welcome

610 W. Elm Ave.Monroe, Mich.

Timothy Huth grew up in Fostoria, Ohio, and began his musical career early on at St. Wendelin's Catholic Church and Schools. He earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Meinrad College Seminary and holds a master’s and doctorate degree in organ performance from the University of Michigan. He is currently the organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Dearborn and is the dean of the Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

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Ye Mee Kim

Monday, October 27th • 8 PM

Hill Auditorium • Ann Arbor

Works by Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Bach,

Duruflé, Vierne, and Morrison

Organ Recital