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Briefly...
- Our chapter presents concerts and other events, most of them open to the public and free of
charge. See the list on our Programs
page, where you can also sign up for e-mail notification.
- Many additional concerts and other musical events in the Los Angeles, Long Beach and
Orange County areas are listed monthly in the AGO Calendar.
Most of these are open to the public, and many are free of charge.
- Have you thought of joining the American Guild of Organists? All are welcome,
organ enthusiasts as well as musicians. See the Membership page for details.
- Need an organist for a wedding or other occasion? Click here.
- Visit the AGO National website home page or
latest news bulletins, and the AGO Region IX
blog.
- Find our chapter on
Facebook.
- LA Pipeline newsletter posted
Jan. 13, 2012
- AGO Calendar updated Jan.
31, 2012
- Available Positions List updated Jan. 31,
2012 (2 listings)
- Substitute Musicians List updated Feb. 1,
2012
Dates to Remember - Los Angeles Chapter
| 2012 |
|
| Feb 6 |
John Weaver master class in Pasadena.
More |
| Feb 20 |
Presidents Day Organ Festival in Glendale.
More |
| Mar 19 |
Thomas Murray recital in Encino.
More |
| May 13 |
Concert of Remembrance with Todd Wilson in Los Angeles.
More |
| May 14 |
Todd Wilson master class in Los Angeles.
More |
| Jun 4 |
Guild Service and Installation of Officers in San
Marino. More |
Dates to Remember - AGO Region IX (Far West)
| 2013 |
|
| Jun 23-27 |
2013 Region IX Convention, Bakersfield CA. |
Dates to Remember - AGO National
| 2012 |
|
| Apr 21 |
AGO honors John and
Marianne Weaver, Philadelphia PA. |
| Jul 1-6 |
2012 National Convention, Nashville TN.
More |
| 2014 |
|
| Jun 23-27 |
2014 National Convention,
Boston MA. |
| 2016 |
|
| Jun 20-24 |
2016 National Convention,
Houston TX. |
| 2018 |
|
| Dates tba |
2018 National Convention, Kansas City MO. |
In Memoriam
Gerre Hancock, one of the most
talented and inspired leaders in American organ and church music, with a
long and brilliant career as a director of superb choirs, composer, organ recitalist, teacher, and one of America's foremost
organ improvisers, passed away at age 77 on Saturday, January 21, 2012, while
hospitalized in Texas, with his wife, Judith, and daughters at his side.
Obituary
More
More
Robert Prichard, a member of this chapter for more than 50
years, passed away
on December 31, 2011, at age 85. In addition to earlier church and
teaching positions, Bob served most recently as organist and director of
music at St. Therese Catholic Church in Alhambra for 30 years. In
recognition of his many years of service in church music, in 2011 he was named an
Honorary Life Member by the Los Angeles Chapter AGO. A memorial service
and concert are
scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at Pasadena
Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Obituary
Reduced Dues Rates for New Members
Those wishing to join AGO as new members may take advantage of reduced
dues rates from February 1 through March 31. See our
Membership page.
Study Grant Program
The Los Angeles Chapter sponsors a Study Grant Program for current
organ students as well as piano students who wish to study organ.
Application deadline for the current program is January 25, 2012. See the
guidelines and application form here.
Los Angeles Chapter AGO on Facebook
The chapter has a page on
Facebook - click to find us there.
Paul Jacobs Wins Grammy Award
Congratulations to concert organist Paul Jacobs on receiving a
2011 Grammy Award for "Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without
Orchestra)" for his recording of Messiaen. This is the first time a Grammy
Award has been given to a solo organist. Paul Jacobs is chairman of the
organ department at The Juilliard School in New York City.
Los Angeles Chapter Centennial
The Los Angeles Chapter AGO celebrated its 100th year in 2010. The chapter
was chartered June 6, 1910, and the Centennial Celebration took place
on the anniversary date: Sunday, June 6, 2010. Click here for
info. Click here for a
flyer
about the Gala Concert.
For
more about the chapter's history, see About AGO
and Chapter History. See also an article by
Orpha Ochse in the December 2009 issue of The American Organist,
page 85.
As part of its centennial celebration, the Los Angeles Chapter AGO funded publication of the book Organs in the Land of Sunshine, a
history of organs in Los Angeles from 1880 to 1932 authored by James Lewis
and available from OHS Press. Click for more information or to order.
Member News
Elizabeth Lenti has accepted the position of Associate Organist
at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland OH. She will also teach organ
at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she completed her graduate
studies a few years ago. In both positions she will be working with Todd
Wilson. July 31, 2011 was Elizabeth's last Sunday at
All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena where she served for six years
as Associate Organist-Choirmaster. She also held several positions on the
Los Angeles Chapter's Executive Committee.
Elfrieda Baum has been named an Honorary Life Member of the Los
Angeles Chapter AGO by unanimous proclamation of the chapter's executive
committee, in appreciation of her many years of service to the chapter as
dean and member-at-large and for her contribution of time and effort
toward the advancement of the organ and music in Southern California as
church organist and teacher. The honor was awarded by Dean Manuel Rosales
at the chapter dinner March 21, 2011.
Richard Grayson has posted more of his piano improvisations "in
the style of" on YouTube, including Offenbach's Can-Can in the style of
Stravinsky and a two-piano improvisation on Paganini's familiar Caprice
No. 24. These are from a performance at the Crossroads School on February
27, 2011. The links
are on his website.
Christoph Bull has released a recording on
the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ. It is an eclectic program of music
from Bach to Barber. More information is on his
website, where you can also hear an excerpt. Christoph is university organist and organ professor at UCLA
and organist of First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica. He recently served the Los Angeles
Chapter as education chair
for several years. Christoph is the subject of an article in the April
2011 issue of UCLA Magazine
about his eclectic approach to music.
Region IX Blog
Region IX Councillor Leslie Wolf Robb has redesigned the AGO Region IX
blog at a new address. Click here to visit it.
Pipedreams Online
Although the program is not available on radio in our area, you can
enjoy organ music in its infinite variety on Pipedreams from
American Public Media, available online at any time (24/7). Each week a
new two-hour program appears on the website, and hundreds of past
broadcasts are infinitely accessible in the Pipedreams program
archive at
Pipedreams from American Public Media.
"What a Gift to the Organ World"
 This is just one of the many accolades our
chapter has received for its professionally produced DVD, Life and
Music of Jean Langlais.
The program is based on the research of Langlais disciple Ann Labounsky, who is featured as
narrator and performer.
The DVD is available in both American (NTSC) and European (PAL) DVD
formats. Click here to learn more
about this exciting DVD project, read reviews, play excerpts, or see
ordering information.
Life and Music of Jean Langlais makes an excellent gift for a
favorite organist, teacher, or student -- or for yourself! Another idea:
Donate one to a library. See the review of this DVD in the June
2007 issue of The American Organist, page 82.
David Britton Memorial Website
A website in memory of Dr. David Britton (1942-1992), concert organist
and recording artist, has been established by Manuel Rosales. Anyone with
material to contribute for the site may contact Manuel by
email. Visit the site at
DavidBrittonOrganist.info.
From AGO National
AGO has published a color brochure, What Clergy and
Congregational Leaders Should Know
About the AGO. Complimentary copies are also available from
headquarters on request.
On the AGO National website you can find recently updated versions of:
AGO Code
of Ethics
AGO Code
of Professional Standards
Model Contract Provisions for Church/Temple Musicians
Salary Guide
Procedures for Dealing with Complaints About Termination ("Grievance
Procedures")
Insurance Plans Available to Members
Also see these recently added resources:
Mentor Program
Academic Institutions with
Organ Departments, a comprehensive listing
Pedagogical Resources, including repertoire lists
Quotations About the Organ and Its Music
Have you noticed the quotation at the bottom right of our Home page? It
is one of a series about the organ and its music that we change periodically. If you know
of an appropriate short
quotation, please send it (including source) to
our webmaster for possible use.
So far, we have quotations from George Ashdown Audsley, J.S. Bach, Honoré de Balzac,
Ludwig van Beethoven, Pope Benedict XVI, Charles Burney, E.
Power Biggs, Andrew Carnegie, William Horatio Clarke, Charles Courboin,
G.D. Cunningham, John Dryden,
Marcel Dupré, Archer Gibson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Victor Hugo, Peter
Hurford, Olivier Messiaen,
John Milton, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Alexander Pope, Camille Saint-Saëns,
Robert Schumann, Albert Schweitzer, William Shakespeare, Leo Sowerby,
Thomas H. Troeger,
Louis Vierne, Charles-Marie Widor, and Filson Young.
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