Grab your Orca card (if you don’t have one, you should get one) and meet us at the Tacoma Dome Station on October 21 at 4:25 for a trip to the Paramount Theater in Seattleto hear organist Tedde Gibson accompany a silent movie. Details of the meeting, including transportation arrangements and cost, are available in the calendar entry.

A native of Tacoma, WA, Tedde began playing piano at age four, studying with Gail Brooks and the late Dorothy Bade. He later studied pipe organ with the late Dr. Edward Hansen, former American Guild of Organists (AGO) president,  piano with Dr. Stephen Moore, and voice with the late Dr. Thomas Goleeke at the University of Puget Sound (UPS). He studied classical organ improvisation with Prof. David Dahl of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, and Dr. J. Melvin Butler of the University of Washington(UW) and St. Marks Cathedral, Seattle, WA. While attending UW, he also studied with Dr. Carol Terry. Tedde has also coached with theatre organist Jonas Nordwall of Portland, OR and the late Andy Crow of Olympia, WA.  Since moving to the Metropolitan DC area in late 2003, he has studied classical organ with Howard University professor and musicologist Dr. Mickey Thomas Terry. Mr. Gibson briefly studied at Peabody Conservatory of Music as a student of former AGO President Dr. John Walker.

He cut his theatre organ teeth as an organist at Pizza and Pipes in Tacoma, WA for 5 years until that restaurants’ demise in 1999. He performed extensively on the premier theatre and classical organs in Washington State prior to moving to the east coast.

 Mr. Gibson is a sought after silent film accompanist and has performed in Seattle, New York City, Detroit, Burlington, NC, Stone Mountain, GA, Jersey City, and Philadelphia, PA at the famed Macys/Wanamaker store which hosts the world’s largest playing pipe organ. 

Following the performance, Mr. Gibson will be available for discussion and questions in the theater bar.

Ars Organi, also known as the Organ Performance Group, is starting its fourth year on Friday, October 11 from 10 – noon at Christ Episcopal Church in Tacoma. This is an open group, and new participants are welcome.

Facilitated by David Dahl and Satya Jaech, Ars Organi is an opportunity for organists to gather, play their current repertoire, and receive teaching and feedback about their performance. Based on the model of a writers’ group, each participant has the opportunity to prepare a piece and play it for the group. David Dahl provides a rich commentary on performance style and historical background. Typically, four people perform at each gathering. This leaves ample time for discussion and questions.

Topics of conversation range from tempo ordinario, historically accurate registration, pedal technique for playing Bach and other earlier composers, to managing performance anxiety. The group is structured to create a safe and respectful environment in which to perform and to discuss topics related to the organ and organ performance.

Participants come from as far away as Vancouver, BC and Vancouver, WA. If you’re interested in finding out more about the group, please contact Satya Jaech (starpoint3@comcast.net) or David Dahl (dahldp@plu.edu).

Grab your picnic basket and dust off those walking shoes! Our September program will be an opening picnic at Point Defiance.  Bring your family, friends, neighbors, and anybody who might be interested in the AGO.  Please bring enough food for you, your guests, and a little extra to share with visitors.

The picnic will get started at 5:00 PM, but if you’re able to get there early, we will meet at the picnic area for a walk on one of the park trails at 4:00. The trails originating at the picnic site are flat and considered an easy hike.

The Gig Harbor Viewpoint picnic area at Point Defiance has a water view, grills, a covered shelter, hiking trails, and bathroom facilities. More information, including a map, is available in the calendar entry.