The Tacoma Mall is an unlikely place to find a tracker organ, but that is exactly what happened the evening of December 15, 2017, as the Seattle and Tacoma AGO chapters collaborated on an event to expose the public to real organs and live organ playing.

The Seattle chapter owns a three-stop tracker organ built by Marceau, and later expanded by the Fisk organ company. For several years, the Seattle chapter has taken the organ into shopping malls to engage the public. This year, thanks to a connection between former Seattle dean Norma Aamodt-Nelson and the Tacoma Mall, where Norma’s daughter is the director of marketing, the list of malls included Tacoma.

The organ is built so that it can be disassembled for transport. The top half sits on four dowels that rise from the bottom half. The pedalboard can be removed, and the keyboard retracted. AGO members Carl Dodrill and David Lepse have become somewhat expert in moving this organ, though it is very heavy and not a trivial task. The organ attracted a few onlookers as it made its way from the curb into the Macy’s court, followed by a steady stream of listeners and curious shoppers as organists played Advent and Christmas music for three hours.

Organists included Tom Clark, Kathy Eggleston, Norma Aamodt-Nelson, David Lepse, and Tim Drewes, all of whom are members of the Tacoma Chapter. In addition, two members displayed dual talents. Karen Bredberg played cello, accompanied by organ, including some “real” pieces and some carols from the 1982 Hymnal. Member Cheryl Drewes, known nationally as an organist, surprised many of us with her expert tuba performance. She and Tim Drewes attracted an audience with a number of jazzy renditions.  Satya Jaech and Tom Clark improvised some carol duets.

A few people sat and listened the whole time, and many more shoppers stopped by to investigate.   AGO members were on hand to answer their questions, to demonstrate how organs and pipes work, and generally to provide education about real organs.

Members Wendell Brunk, Donald Dunscomb, and Tom Clark arrived early to help our Seattle colleagues set up the organ.  Wendell and Don were joined at various times by members Satya Jaech, Nancy Ferree-Clark, and Sandy Tietjen as they engaged the public.  Special thanks to member spouses Dick Tietjen and Rick Jaech who stayed to help get the organ back in the trailer, along with Tim Drewes and Tom Clark.

In an age where fewer people are exposed to organ music through church connections, and where most people equate organs with electronic devices, it is important to find opportunities to expose people to real organs and organ music.  Perhaps one or more of those curious children at the mall will go home and ask to take organ lessons.  Maybe one of those curious onlookers will be on a church music committee.

Many thanks to our Seattle colleagues for proposing this event, for providing the organ, and for transporting it to Tacoma to support our  shared mission of advancing the cause of organ and choral music in a very public way.

The Tacoma AGO scholarship committee has awarded the 2017-2018 scholarship to Collin Whitfield.  Collin is a student of Paul Tegels, and the organist at Mason United Methodist Church.

Collin has sent the following message to our chapter:

I am grateful to the Tacoma AGO scholarship committee for awarding me a grant to help further my organ studies.  Most of my experience and training has been in composition and piano.  I have been studying piano for 18 years (since I was 7) and hold a Bachelor of Music in Composition degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where I studied with David Conte and Mason Bates.  For the last year, I have been working as music director and organist for Mason Church in Tacoma.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn organ “on the job” at the church.  This scholarship will pay off every week at our church services as I work to incorporate what I learn from lessons.  In the near future, I hope to pursue a Master of Music degree in either Organ or Composition.

Many thanks to the scholarship committee, consisting of David Dahl, Betsy Buck, and Cheryl Drewes, for formalizing our application process, developing award criteria, and for awarding the grant.

As the year winds down with the celebration of Advent and Christmas, we look forward to the new year and new programs for our chapter.

In January, Cheryl and Tim Drewes will introduce the Hook organ at St Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church in Auburn on Saturday January 20 for our annual joint Tacoma/Seattle meeting.  You are encouraged to plan for a group lunch at a local restaurant following the morning’s program.

On Saturday February 10, we have an extended half-day meeting organized by Curt Sather featuring a field trip to Shelton to see,  hear and try three organs,  including two early Fritts instruments. Plan ahead to share rides!

For March we plan a organ-plus concert featuring vocal and instrumental soloists in the wonderful acoustical space of the Church of the Visitation in Tacoma accompanied on their Wicks organ.

In April we are especially proud to present a masterclass with Bruce Newsick, which will feature prepared performances or improvisations by three participants, and a brief performance and improvisation by Bruce.  Please watch for details and a sign-up, coming shortly!  This special event will be held on April 16 in Kilworth Chapel at UPS.

For our final meeting in May, we’re planning something a little different with a trip to Wurlitzer Manor in Gig Harbor for an introduction to the world and music of the theater organ.

Some details for our spring programs are still to be confirmed.  Please look for the detailed final schedule on our website at the end of the year.