Your board met this week to evaluate the poll results and plan programs for the coming year. With one exception, it looks like we will be able to implement all of the program ideas with the most votes!

Fortunately for Hillsdale, Michigan but unfortunately for us, the Fritts Shop is ahead of schedule on the current organ, and it will have been shipped before September. Instead of a visit to the Fritts Shop, we will have an opening picnic at Point Defiance. It’s not a bad alternative, with its fantastic views and newly constructed pedestrian bridge and aquarium.

October will be a trip to the Paramount Theater in Seattle to see and hear the Wurlitzer theater organ.

In November, Christ Episcopal Church will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Brombaugh organ with a recital played by Kraig Scott. The AGO will “piggyback” onto this event with a fireside conversation about the history and design of the organ.

Member Mark Brombaugh is planning a program on tuning and temperament. Member Joseph Adam will present a program on Vierne.

There was significant interest in choral programs–and the support of choral singing is part of our mission. We are working out the details for two such programs in the Spring. One will be focused on practical instruction in getting the best out of a small choir, including warm-up and other rehearsal techniques. The other will be a presentation on shape note singing by Eric Rutherford, who just completed his dissertation on this topic.

After a very successful 2018-2019 program season, it is time once again to solicit your input for next year.

We have come up with 16 proposals, and hope to get some input from the membership before finalizing the slate. It is our goal to meet the needs of the membership by choosing programs that are in keeping with the goals of our organization and that meet your needs.

The proposals are wide-ranging, and include organ history (such as the 40th anniversary of the Christ Church organ), music theory (an introduction to temperament), a choral sound workshop, organ novelty (organ duets and a field trip to a theater organ), social events and ideas for public outreach.

When you receive the ballot in email, please take a few minutes to let us know what you think!

Many thanks to Tacoma AGO member Shari Shull for a great ending to our 2018-2019 program year. The final program featured Shari discussing her sabbatical in Europe, with pictures, recordings and stories of her travels and studies. The program was well attended, and generated a long discussion afterward.

Now it’s time to look ahead to next year. The board is hosting a program planning session on Monday, June 10 (details in the calendar entry). If you can’t make it, please send us your ideas by replying to this email or contacting any board member. The programs don’t have to be traditional lectures. We would also like to include workshops, social events, and outings. The topics don’t necessarily have to be directly related to organ playing. The AGO mission specifically includes choral music as well as organ music.

Remember that this is your organization. The AGO programs should be a resource for you–to increase your knowledge, increase your skills, or help you with other aspects of your job or avocation. Let us know what you need!

Don’t forget! Our final meeting for this program year is May 13, 7:00 PM, at St. Mark’s by the Narrows Lutheran Church.

Shari Shull, member and past dean of the Tacoma Chapter of the AGO, will share a slide show travelogue from her sabbatical trip to Europe last year. Her travels included visits to some important organs in Paris, choral evensong programs in and around London, and visits to organs in Province Groningen in the Netherlands. Shari took organ lessons on seven historical antique organs with Stef Tuinstra, Director of the North Netherlands Organ Academy and organist at the Martini Kerk and Nieuwe Kerk in Groningen. She will also share some recordings from her lessons.

Shari holds degrees from the Oberlin College Conservatory and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and is the Minister of Music at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Gig Harbor, WA.