Front row: Robert McConnell, Philip McPeek, Mary Gifford, Jay Peterson, James Russell Brown. Back row: Eric Budzynski, Stephen Uhl, Kevin McKelvie, William Crowle. Not pictured: Derek Nickels
How exciting to have such a large audience for an organ recital! Many thanks to WFMT, Stephen Alltop, and all who were involved in planning and supporting the WFMT Bach Organ Project. It was absolutely wonderful to have several hundreds of people in attendance and excited about listening intently to organ music. And as a long time North Shore AGO member accustomed to seeing the same faces at events, how great to see so many UNFAMILIAR faces! For sure the project accomplished its mission in great style!
We offer thanks and highest compliments to those who participated in this particular recital of the series. Those playing in the Chorale Prelude Project were: Eric Budzynski, Philip McPeek, William Crowle, and Stephen Uhl. It is always a pleasure to hear those “familiar” chorale preludes played really well and a treat to hear ones that are rarely played. Those who played in the main recital of the evening: Derek Nickels, Eric Budzynski, Mary Gifford, William Crowle, James Russell Brown, Robert McConnell, Jay Peterson, and Kevin McKelvie. Wow! What a wealth of major literature, again some very familiar and some pieces that are almost never performed. As a chapter we can be extremely proud of our colleagues who obviously spent a great deal of time in preparation and performed to the highest standard on a difficult instrument!
Just a personal note: It was fun to have the big screen and be able to watch the players. (Personally, I would never want to see myself in a close up on a screen that large!!!) But it was particularly good for those in attendance who perhaps were not so familiar with the organ or with this particular instrument. Kudos to all!!!
Jill Hunt, board member
Jill Hunt