Well, here it is, the season of Advent and Christmas – expectation, hope, and joy. In the times that we now live in, the narrative takes on poignant meaning, and permeates ordinary life along with everything else that needs to be accomplished. I inevitably find myself squeezed by extra duties and events that come with the season, but I truly enjoy this journey of anticipation, full of wonder. Mindful that your season may be similarly packed, I still hope that you can make room for our upcoming events, unique opportunities to play two notable instruments.

First is our musical Christmas Party 2022 at PLU’s Lagerquist Hall, Monday, December 19th, at 7:00 pm. You are invited to share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the stunning Fritts organ. It has always been my belief that every organist should have the opportunity to encounter magnificent instruments – not just to listen to others perform, but to be given ample time to practice and then play in the company of friends and colleagues. Though the organ’s awesome visual presence might be intimidating, know that the supple action and gorgeous sounds are so inviting, and reassuringly comfortable – one is simply inspired by this gracious giant. As an organist and teacher, I’m thrilled that this organ has been made accessible to all of us. On our website’s event page, click “Christmas Party 2022” and then click the links to sign up to play, and to sign up for practice time – up to two hours available!

Second, we invite you to “New Year, New Music,” at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor, Monday, January 16th, at 7:00pm, on the newly expanded 1982 Reiger Orgelblau instrument, installed by Martin Pasi. St. John’s organist, Dr. Dennis Northway, will open the meeting with an introduction to this wonderful organ, which has an intriguing back story. Come to share favorite pieces, or excerpts from pieces, suitable for use as preludes and postludes in the new year. Look forward to hearing a variety of familiar and new works, and take part in the convivial conversation. A reception will follow, graciously hosted by St. John’s. On our website’s event page, click “New Year, New Music” and then click the link to sign up to play.

Cheers,

Cheryl

September was the month of beginnings, October a season of harvest and the spooktacular, and November? A brief pause for reflection and anticipation, with quite a lot to be thankful for, and much to look forward to.

Take our October event, co-sponsored with the Olympia chapter. Fright Night! was an evening of good cheer, music diabolical and silly, classic Buster Keaton, and a splendid reception following. We had a diverse audience of chapter members, church folk, and some from the neighborhood. The youngest was my fourth-grade piano student, who was intently fascinated by Glenn Guhr’s performance of Never More Shall Prayer Ravish These Lips from Howard Hanson’s opera, Merry Mount. As well, a young couple who lives nearby the church, by chance found out there is a real pipe organ in the neighborhood and thus came to our event. What struck me most, though, was the response of the audience to Buster Keaton’s Haunted House. It’s been a long time since I heard such sheer delight – whoops and guffaws as only Buster Keaton can elicit. In today’s world, more than ever, we need such joy in our lives, especially in community. Thank you, fellow performers – Tim, Sheila, Glenn, and Dennis – for giving us all a chance to revel in the night. Thank you, Jan and Sandy, for the gorgeous reception. Thank you, Spanaway Lutheran Church, always the gracious host.

Anticipating what is ahead, we have a variety of compelling opportunities over the next few months: in November, to learn about the unique place that composer Margaret Sandresky holds in the musical world; in December, to play your favorite Advent/Christmas pieces on the marvelous Lagerquist organ; in January to share ideas about preludes and postludes with one another. Here are the details; we hope you can join us!

• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky Wesley Home Gardens, Des Moines. Hear about the life and compositions of this fourth-generation female composer, presented by Wyatt Smith. Afterward, enjoy a reception sponsored by the Wesley Foundation.
• Monday, December 19: Christmas Party 2022 Pacific Lutheran University. Share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the Lagerquist organ. Christmas refreshments following.
• Monday, January 16: New Year, New Music St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor. Bring music to share/demonstrate, with particular emphasis on practical preludes and postludes.

The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor intrigued me from the very beginning, as I think it would any young organist. Best as I can recall, I learned it when in 7th or 8th grade. By that time, I was steeped in theater organs, having tagged along with my dad and the rest of the ATOS crowd as they restored instruments, hosted concerts, and held chapter meetings. These meetings always included open console, where members and their kids would play well into the evening. And so, I did: Maple Leaf Rag, Edelweiss, a few others, and finally – the T&F – all stops on, and all trems off! After all, it was October, with the trees blushing in vivid colors because the New England cold snap kissed them once again. Halloween would soon follow, with bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving, and neighborhood trick-or-treating. The caramel apples sticking to my mittens made for a fuzzy mess, but the rest of the night’s revelry was a wicked good time!

Likewise, we are delighted bring you our joint program with the Olympia chapter, Fright Night! on Monday, October 17th, 7:00pm at Spanaway Lutheran Church. I will be joined by Tim Drewes, Dennis Northway, Sheila Bristow and Glenn Guhr in a spooktacular evening of ghoulish organ music, art songs, pumpkin carols, and the silent movie “Haunted House,” starring Buster Keaton, accompanied at the organ. We hope you can join us in celebration of the organ’s place with all that goes bump in the night!

Note the wonderful line-up of upcoming chapter and community events listed to the right of this column. Looking ahead at chapter meetings:

• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky Wesley Home Gardens, Des Moines. Hear about the life and compositions of this fourth-generation female composer, presented by Wyatt Smith.
• Monday, December 19: Christmas Party 2022 Pacific Lutheran University. Share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the Lagerquist organ. Christmas refreshments following.
• Monday, January 16: New Year, New Music St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor. Bring music to share/demonstrate, with particular emphasis on practical preludes and postludes.

Cheers,

Cheryl

The weather has been glorious all day this August 30th, quintessentially Pacific Northwest, belying our soggy reputation, at least for a season. The transition to Fall is just around the corner, and the Drewes family almanac indicates that there is more beautiful weather to come. Seriously! Because of my gardening interest, I do tend to geek-out on the statistics: trends in soil and air temperature, length of day, and yes, precipitation. September is often a gracious month of fair, not quite sweater weather – perfect for a picnic among colleagues and friends.

We hope you can join us for our Opening Potluck Picnic on Saturday, September 17th, in the beautiful garden of David Dahl and Loi Le. Social time is from 4:30 – 5:30, with food served at 5:30. Always an occasion of convivial conversation, I look forward to catching up with what everyone has been doing over the summer, and what people are anticipating for the months ahead. Thank you, David and Loi, for inviting us, once again, to your lovely back yard!

Looking ahead, we encourage you to check out our event page here: https://tacomaago.org/events/. You’ll see both chapter and community programs listed. In our programming, we strive for compelling performances as well as opportunities for our members to contribute and share collaboratively. It is not too early to consider what you, dear reader, might play at our Christmas Party on Monday, December 19th, at Lagerquist Hall, Pacific Lutheran University. Ahead of that, we hope you can come to our upcoming chapter events:

• Monday, October 17: Fright Night, at Spanaway Lutheran Church. (A joint program of the Olympia and Tacoma chapters.)
• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky, at Wesley Home Gardens, Des Moines.

Finally, one more plug for the TAGO Scholarship Program. The application process is still open, and the required essay and audio recording must be received by September 30, 2022. For more information, please see our website.

Cheers,
Cheryl

August is here, a reminder that summer is two thirds over! For the Drewes family, it’s been a great one so far – camping, hiking, and of course, the Seattle AGO National Convention, which was just superb. And now, even while anticipating another getaway before the summer is over, I find myself on alert as September approaches, with all its attendant duties resumed, wonderful even if hectic at times.

Gardening helps me appreciate the measure of time. At our house, the garlic has cured, the second planting of peas has popped through the soil, as has the first planting of beans. We’ve been eating blueberries for a month, and strawberries are finally taking off. We are too hot with this heat wave, but the tomatoes, basil and peppers are basking in glory. Even the notoriously fussy carrot seeds have sprouted. Successive harvests are coming, and by September, plans for the over-wintering garden will have begun.

The TAGO board has also been planting seeds, cultivating ideas for a year’s worth of varied and engaging programs. I encourage you to join us for the first three:

• Saturday, September 17: Opening Picnic Hosted by David Dahl and Loi Le in their beautiful backyard garden. Social time is from 4:30 – 5:30, with food served at 5:30. Bring a food item as you are able.
• Monday, October 17: Fright Night Cheryl Drewes performs spooktacular organ music and accompanies the silent movie “Haunted House,” starring Buster Keaton. Spanaway Lutheran Church.
• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky Wyatt Smith presents a program celebrating the life and organ compositions of Margaret Sandresky. Wesley Homes Gardens, Des Moines.

One more seed to plant: the application process for the TAGO organ scholarship is now open. The scholarship is intended to encourage young musicians to study organ by assisting in the cost of private lessons with a teacher who is a member of the TAGO. Applications, which require a written essay and audio recording, must be received by September 30, 2022. For more information, please see our website.

Cheers, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Cheryl