Steven Weyand Folkers
Many years ago I was asked to play a piano solo at the church my family attended, Rogers Park Presbyterian in Chicago. This was during the summer when the choir was on hiatus, and I had taken several years of piano lessons by that time, so I gladly obliged. A church member suggested I should try the organ (Votteler, III/28, if memory serves); I did, and that was it! I was in love with the instrument! Fortunately, our choir director at that time was Susan Rupert; she introduced me to her husband Robert Delcamp, who was completing his doctorate in organ performance at Northwestern University. I began taking lessons with him at St. Luke’s Episcopal in Evanston and continued studying with Richard Webster upon his return from his studies at Chichester Cathedral in England. I was fortunate enough to continue my studies at Northwestern with Richard Enright and Grigg Fountain, and have had the privilege to serve as Director of Music at St. Lambert Roman Catholic Church in Skokie since 1988.
Why am I a member of the American Guild of Organists? Why on earth wouldn’t I be! In the North Shore Chapter one finds an organization that brings together organists and organ enthusiasts for programs of shared interest such as recitals, panel discussions, and social gatherings, to name a few. Members receive Overtones, our chapter newsletter filled with news about chapter activities, recitals, concerts, and services in our area, and placement listings. We also receive The American Organist monthly, filled with news about new organ installations, organist appointments, retirements, and obituaries, not to mention scholarly articles about the king of instruments and other items of help and interest to organists.
As a member of the North Shore chapter one has the opportunity to interact with some 90 fellow members who share their interests, and on a larger scale, approximately 15,500 members worldwide, through chapter events and regional and national conventions. The Guild also offers professional development materials and certification examinations. There is so much available to those who will make use of it! In other words, one only gets out of the Guild what one puts into it in terms of involvement. I urge all North Shore Chapter members to become more involved!
Steven Folkers, NSAGO board member