Nathan Laube, Associate Professor of Organ at Eastman School of Music and International Consultant in Organ Studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, will be performing an all-Bach recital at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle on May 5th at 7:30 pm. Michael Kleinschmidt, St. Mark’s Organist and Canon for Cathedral Music, has graciously offered to extend the senior/student $20 ticket price to all TAGO members. Regular admission is $25.
Please use the sign up sheet below and your name will be added to a list in order to receive the discounted ticket price at the door. Deadline for sign-up is midnight May 4th.
This offer is only for voting members of the Tacoma AGO chapter.
The Olympia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists cordially invites you to join us for an organ crawl to Steamboat Island Road and Shelton to hear four interesting, and in their own way, historic organs on Saturday, 10 June.
We will begin at 10:00 at St. Christopher’s church, a paired Lutheran and Episcopal parish to hear their 1891 Pilcher which, it is said, began life at St. John’s Episcopal church in Olympia. We will then hear Paul Fritts’ Opus One which was built as Fritts Richards at Shelton United Methodist at 11:00. At noon, St. David Episcopal in Shelton will host us for lunch and then we will hear, there, Paul’s Opus 2a, also a Fritts Richards. We will conclude the day at Faith Lutheran in Shelton to hear a 1907 Pilcher moved by Randall McCarthy and friends. Questions? Addresses? Call Dennis Northway at 564 999 8333. See you there!
On March 20, members and friends of the Tacoma AGO chapter gathered to enjoy an evening of music by Johann Sebastian Bach on the Fritts organ at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Performers included Cheryl Drewes (Dean), Emma Kelly, Sheila Bristow (Past Dean), Michael Plagerman, and Dr. Wyatt Smith (Sub Dean). The program centered on recreating Felix Mendelssohn’s all-Bach recital at the Thomaskirche, Leipzig in 1840.
Members were also treated to a lovely reception following the recital (thank you Sandy, Dick, and Jan), along with a CD giveaway (thank you Michael) much . Many treasures were uncovered from those boxes!
Finally, many thanks to St. Andrew’s, Naomi Shiga, and Jonathan Wohlers for being such gracious hosts for this event.
Members mingle at reception after the program
Boxes of compact discs given away by Michael MenneThe AudienceThe AudienceAudience and gallery
On February 12, eight young organists from throughout Puget Sound, ranging in age from 12 to 27, came together for a fun-filled, organ-centric afternoon at Pacific Lutheran University. It began with a demonstration of the Paul Fritts organ in Lagerquist Hall, led by Wyatt Smith. The demonstration featured snippets of music by Bach, Sandresky, Laurin, Buxtehude, Franck, Cooman, and others, showcasing some of the vast colors and registrations possible on the Fritts organ. Five of the eight young organists then took turns playing the Fritts organ, sharing music by Mendelssohn, Heck, Cooman, and even an improvisation!
Young organists taking turns playing the Fritts organ in Lagerquist Hall
The group of students and parents walked over to Farelli’s for a lively pizza lunch. There was much organ talk heard floating through the air. Quite an exciting place to be: seeing young organists engaging with one another, many of whom were meeting for the first time!
Young organists ordering lunch at Farelli’s Pizza
Upon return to Lagerquist, the group all sat together towards the back of the Hall and soaked in Dexter Kennedy’s massive program on the Fritts organ. The concert featured music by Buxtehude, Bach, Litaize, Ritter, and Gigout. Several of the young organists hung around long enough to meet Dexter and have a photo op. A great afternoon was had by all!
Three young organists with Wyatt Smith and Dexter KennedyYoung organists gathering for a demonstration of the Fritts organ
On January 16, 2023, Tacoma AGO members gathered at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Gig Harbor to celebrate the completion of the Emily Speight Stearns Memorial Organ and to share new music for the new year with each other.
Dean Cheryl Drewes called the meeting to order with the help of a stray handbell.
Dean Cheryl Drewes calls the meeting to order with a handbell
Prior to the musical portion, both St. John’s organist Dennis Northway and Martin Pasi spoke about the history of the organ–its original construction by an Austrian company, its first home in an auditorium at the State University of New York (Purchase), and its subsequent purchase by Tacoma AGO member and organ builder Martin Pasi on Ebay. Much of this history is encapsulated in the handout attached to the end of this article.
Dennis Northway discusses the pieces he will play
Using his own published compositions, Dennis then demonstrated the latest additions–the second and final phase of a two-part renovation project. The list of pieces can be found in the program attached at the end of this article, and are described on Dennis’ website.
Acknowledging the Martin Luther King holiday, David Dahl began the demonstration portion of the program with an improvisation on “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.”
David Dahl sitting on the organ bench
In keeping with Epiphany, sub-dean Wyatt Smith presented “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” by Norwegian composer Egil Hovland.
Subdean Wyatt Smith announces upcoming programs
Tim Drewes chose “Austrian music to play on this Austrian organ,” in his rendition of “Sorrow and Gladness,” from a book of seven Danish chorales by Anton Heiller. Will Stuivenga, a dual member from the Olympia Chapter, played Rheinberger Monologue Opus 162, which he first played in 1975 at Walla Walla College. Elliot Sander presented an improvisation on the Kyrie from “Missa Lux et Origo”. Cheryl Drewes ended the program with a selection from “Sacred Sounds from George Shearing for Organ.”
The church hosted a reception following the meeting.
AGO members beginning reception after program
Many thanks to Dennis Northway and the hospitality committee of St. John’s Episcopal Church for a wonderful program and reception!
The hospitality committee at St. John’s Episcopal Church
