Hello, Tacoma AGO members!
As the leaves turn colors, we settle back into “the swing of things,” as various aspects of our lives settle into their program year routines. The same goes for our chapter of the AGO. In this newsletter, you can read about upcoming educational and social opportunities that are being offered this year to you as members of the Tacoma AGO chapter. Additionally, you can read a breakdown of the results from the membership survey from last month (thank you to those who filled it out!), along with an article about a registration exploration and recording project on the Fritts organ at Lagerquist Hall at PLU!
Working with your new Sub Dean, Jay Murphy-Mancini, the Board has begun to shape our programs for the year. Our first workshop will take place at 10:00am on Saturday, October 18 at St. Luke’s Memorial Episcopal Church on the topic of commissioning works and composing for the organ. This event, joint with the Salish Sea Chapter of the National Association of Composers USA, will provide opportunities to help demystify the commissioning process, hear new pieces for organ with remarks from both composers and those listening, and look through a selection of newer works for the organ that are practical in nature. I hope you can join us!
Additional programs for the year include: a Twelfth Night party in January to celebrate the end of one of the busiest seasons for church musicians; a workshop on American organ music to kickoff the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence; a presentation on Georg Kauffmann’s Harmonische Seelenlust; a joint event with Seattle AGO to present Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink in concert and a full day of workshops focused on injury-preventive keyboard technique; a post-Easter members’ recital; and our annual year-end picnic. Watch the calendar and future newsletters for more details!
This year, we will return to gathering on a regular basis on Fridays for some social interaction away from our music-making and administrative duties. A change for this year, we will gather for Happy Hours at Cactus in Proctor and 208 Garfield in Parkland, making use of their reduced-price menus! Our first one is coming up THIS FRIDAY afternoon at 3:00pm at Cactus. Check out the calendar listing for more details. I hope many of you are able to join us for these gatherings!
Beyond our local offerings, I would like to draw your attention to the National AGO’s first virtual Pedagogy Conference, to be held online from October 9-11. Covering a myriad of topics, speakers include: Jeffrey Smith, Peter Sykes, Tom Trenney, Nicole Keller, Todd Wilson, and many more! Check out the full offerings and registration link here. I hope to see you online!
As always, check out the many events throughout the region on our Tacoma AGO Calendar. There are opportunities this month to hear music on instruments including the Hutchings-Votey/Rosales organ at St. James Cathedral, Seattle; the Flentrop at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle; the Brombaugh at Christ Church, Tacoma; the Fritts organ at Kilworth Chapel, Tacoma; and Fritts-Richards, Op. 4 in Ballard. What riches abound!
In music,
Wyatt Smith