top of page

PAST EVENTS

Candid Shots of LA Chapter meetings

Click on photos for full screen view

October 28, 2002 - First United Methodist Church, Pasadena

Halloween Monster Concert

Photos by Bill Mistretta

December 2, 2002 - Private Residence of Thomas Hunter Russell and Jerry Habel
The chapter's holiday party was hosted by Thomas Hunter Russell and Jerry Habel at their Los Feliz estate. Scott Dannison prepared sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, and Sylvia Dianna and her crew presented a variety of desserts. Our hosts generously provided the beverages as well as valet parking. The evening’ entertainment was coordinated and emceed by Christoph Bull and included seasonal organ pieces and improvisations followed by group singing. Performers were Frances Nobert, Richard Grayson, Jiyoung Lee, Mark Thallander, Julian Revie and Christoph Bull, with a narration by Tom Russell. Thanks to our hosts and all who helped to make this such a festive evening.

Photos by Thomas H. McCage, Jr.

January 13, 2003 - Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles

An Evening at the New Cathedral.  After refreshments in the cathedral plaza, a gathering of chapter members and their guests numbering around 500 heard cathedral organist Samuel Salvador Soria play a recital on the 4-manual 105-rank organ, Op. 75 of Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd. of Lake City, Iowa. This was followed by a demonstration of individual stops and choruses.  Lynn Dobson began the evening speaking about the instrument and some of the unique challenges involved in designing and voicing it for this space.  The program ended with an informative talk by cathedral pastor Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik about the purpose, history, design, artwork, and state-of-the-art seismic engineering of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.  Visitors then toured the building on their own. 

 

Photos by Bill Mistretta

February 10, 2003 - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Santa Monica

A concert of music for organ and instruments was given at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Santa Monica. Organists were chapter members Mary Lee Mistretta, Edward Murray, Thomas Neenan, Craig Phillips (program coordinator), and Philip Smith, with flutist Sheila Zimmermann, bassoonist William Wood, and trumpeters Chris Price and David Searfoss. The program was in memory of organbuilder Larry Abbott who died in 2001, and was played on an organ built by the firm of Abbott and Sieker. Larry was a long-time member of this chapter and a founding member of the American Institute of Organbuilders. At the preceding dinner, Pete Sieker spoke about the history of their firm, which led the revival of tracker organ building on the West Coast in the early 1960s and built or rebuilt over 100 organs.

Photos by Thomas H. McCage, Jr.

May 3, 2003 - St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church, Encino

On Saturday, May 3, Kimberly Marshall led an education day for the chapter at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church, Encino. Participants in the morning master class were Namhee Han, Carolyn Hill, Robert Scholz, Marija Loncar Strohm, and Lawrence Tudor Strohm. Following a gourmet luncheon catered by Paul's Kitchen, Dr. Marshall presented a lecture-demonstration on Creative programming using the wealth of the organ repertoire in church and concert, with recorded examples, and then concluded the day with a recital on the 45-rank Rosales organ. Thanks to sub-dean Ty Woodward (program chair) and dean William Beck (host organist) for coordinating this event.

Photos by Thomas H. McCage, Jr.

June 2, 2003 - Herrick Memorial Chapel, Occidental College

In its final program of the season, the chapter presented renowned concert organist and teacher David Craighead in one of his last public recitals before retirement. It was a celebration of the 79-year-old artist's remarkable career at the place where it began, Occidental College, where he taught from 1948 to 1955 before becoming chair of the organ division at the Eastman School of Music. In Herrick Memorial Chapel he performed music of Messiaen, Bach, Dupré, Sowerby and Reger on the 60-rank Schlicker organ he had inaugurated in 1966. During the program, David Craighead was named an Honorary Life Member of this chapter, joining previous honorees Wilbur Held and Bob Mitchell. The honor was presented on behalf of the chapter by Cherry Rhodes and Ladd Thomas. 

Photos by Thomas H. McCage, Jr.

Some Miscellaneous Photos from 2003 

December 4, 2006 - Home of Thomas Hunter Russell

Chapter Holiday Gathering


Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

March 5, 2007 - First Church of Christ, Scientist, Pasadena

Members recital preceded by dinner at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.


Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

May 14, 2007 - St. Alban's, Westwood

Guild Service - James Vail conducted Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass in a Solemn Eucharist. The chapter named Dr. Vail an Honorary Life Member for his 60 years of distinguished service as organist, choirmaster, teacher, and conductor. 

Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

October 1, 2007 - St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Pacific Palisades

Buxtehude 300th Anniversary Concert by the chapter and St. Matthew's Music Guild. Organists were Roger Daggy and Karen Reinhard. A vocal and string ensemble was led by Thomas Neenan from the harpsichord and positive organ. Dinner was enjoyed on the patio. 

Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

October 6, 2007 - UCLA Organ Studio

Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen, organist of Fredericksborg Castle in Denmark, presented a survey of Scandinavian organ music from Buxtehude to the present, including such composers as Bruhns, Hartmann, Gade, Olsson, Grieg, Lindberg, and Møller. 

Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

November 5, 2007 - Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Clay Christiansen, one of the organists of the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, played a recital on the 1929 IV/61 Kimball organ. 

Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

December 3, 2007 - First United Church, Pasadena

The Chapter Holiday Gathering was held Dec. 3, 2007 at First United Methodist Church, Pasadena, and included a recital of Advent and Christmas music by Philip Allen Smith on the Aeolian-Skinner organ in the recently renovated chapel. 

Photos by Thomas H. McCage Jr. 

bottom of page