January 2019Dean’s ColumnInto 2019 With Expectancy

January 2019
Dean’s Column
Into 2019 With Expectancy

For me, it seems like along with my annual reading of Christmas cards (which I still send and love to receive), I read a lot of articles commending gratitude. We were reminded that not only does God expect our gratitude, but listing our blessings improves our outlook; happiness does not lead to gratitude, but gratitude does lead to happiness; and more. I appreciate the opportunity to look back on the past year with that perspective and step into 2019 with expectancy. Not that we can’t expect a curve ball or two – but hopefully we will respond with grace and be able to find some aspect we can be thankful for.

Bringing this back to what unites us as colleagues and friends, I am truly thankful for the joy music brings us each week. Individually and collectively we experience something unique as we lead and participate in worship through organ music.The scriptures speak of nature crying out to worship God and here we are able play the “King of Instruments”.

I trust this has been a rewarding Christmas/Hannuka Season and that you can slow down a bit in these early days of 2019.

Please check the calendar and join us for the wonderful programs ahead. You won’t want to miss any of these events.  And speaking of events, here is a very important update from Andrea Handley concerning the 2021 Regional AGO Convention we will be hosting!

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As many of you know by now, the North Shore chapter will be hosting the 2021 Regional AGO Convention. We’re planning on June 27-30, 2021, and the location will be the Orrington Hotel in downtown Evanston.

I have agreed to be the convention coordinator, and I’m excited about this opportunity for our chapter! We have a great chapter with many talented performers, outstanding potential workshop facilitators, and a myriad of remarkable instruments to showcase. And being so close to downtown Chicago will be a huge draw as well.

There are numerous committees to be set up, and a myriad of opportunities to be involved in to help make this event a success, and I’m hoping many of you will volunteer in some way to join in this effort. And believe it or not, we’re already slightly behind in our planning for this, as there is a very detailed schedule of what needs to be accomplished by certain dates in anticipation of this event!

Here is a list of the committees, and the people who have agreed thus far to chair some of these committees:

Convention Coordinator: Andrea Handley

Treasurer, Finance chair: Laurie Stivers

Secretary: Richard Clemmitt

Program chair: Bob Woodworth (robertwoodworth@att.net)

Hospitality chair: Sharon Peterson (speterson@igc.org)

Competition chair: Beth Naegele (socratesnaegele@att.net)

Registration chair: Chuck Sundquist (charles.sundquist@gmail.com)

Program book chair: Brian Schoettler (schoettlermusic@gmail.com)

Volunteers chair: Judy Kohl (judygkohl@gmail.com)

Exhibits chair: Derek Nickels (denickels@holycomforter.org)

Transportation/Logistics (can be split into two or combined into one committee)

Website

Hotel/housing

Publicity

Gifts and Grants (sub-committee of Finance committee)

As you can see, there are several committees that are yet to be chaired. I’m in the process of actively recruiting for these committee chairs, and would love to hear from any of you who may be interested in a chairmanship. I have detailed job descriptions of each of these committees that I’m glad to forward to you if you think you might be interested but have questions about what’s involved. All committee chairs will be a part of the steering committee, which will meet every two months beginning as soon as each committee has a chair, and then monthly as the date approaches and work becomes more involved.

I’ve also included email addresses of the current chairs so that you can contact them if you are interested in being a committee member in any of these areas.

Please give serious consideration to being involved – this effort is going to take many hands to make it a success. But it will definitely be worth it! Feel free to contact me (andrea.handley@gmail.com) with any questions you might have.

Andrea Handley

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Warmly,

Judy Kohl (Dean)

 

January 2019
NSAGO’s Fifth Annual Epiphany Party

The Friday before Epiphany …

Cold outside (brrr!) …

Warm inside (fire in the fireplaces, almost three dozen organists and friends visiting) …

Festive decor (beautiful Christmas tableware, two decorated trees, and more) …

Good cheer (drinks, appetizers, dinner & desert – and dozens of organists & friends visiting) …

Sleigh Ride with the ‘percussion’ section

Entertainment (Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” for 4-hands, sleigh bells, and – horsewhip!)  …

Lovely harmonies (singing carols) …

Chapter Dean’s announcements (upcoming programs & hosting the 2021 regional convention!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR & HAPPY EPIPHANY !!!

(THANK YOU, DAVID & ANDREA HANDLEY !!!)

January 2019A Musical Journey

January 2019
A Musical Journey

It seems a lifetime ago that I was just a grade school kid at St. Francis Xavier School in Wilmette. At that time, the school offered free music lessons…students would leave class and walk across the parking lot to the convent. My piano teacher, Sister Marian Celeste, looked at me one day and said, “I think your legs are long enough now. I shall teach you to play the organ”.  And that’s how it all began. The year was 1958.

Several years later as a junior at Loyola Academy High School, the organist at St. Francis died unexpectedly, and I became the weekday organist, playing three morning services before heading out to school to start the day at 9:30. It was the good old days of the Latin mass, so not only did I play the organ, I also had to sing the responses back to the priest in Latin.  I guess I was too young to be nervous.

While attending Loyola University downtown campus, I spent 6 nights a week at a club on Rush Street called the Red Garter.  3 banjos, a tuba, and me on piano.  I learned to love Dixieland music and made a good living playing weekends for parties and gatherings. I still occasionally get called to play shows and dinner dances with those excellent musicians.

Congregational UCC church in Arlington Heights asked me to take the open position of permanent organist. It was then I discovered the AGO, which provided a wonderful resource of contacts and a resource for music. The professionalism of AGO was much appreciated, and to this day, I especially value the contacts with other musicians in the field as well as the variety of workshops and conferences.

I left the UCC church after 7 years to return to subbing. Many Saturday evening masses were played at St. Michaels in Old Town, (Judith Trosen) and St. Joseph in Wilmette (Walt Horn).  Meantime I took a permanent spot at Community Presbyterian Church in Mt. Prospect, a position I held until 2001 when I left to became the music director at St. Joseph Church in Wilmette. I had the opportunity to take several lessons from Jim Brown at St. Giles Church in Northbrook, since my pedal ability was weak, and Jim was instrumental in upgrading my skills. And as music director, I have become close friends with some of the greatest musicians on the North Shore.  Ironically, my “day job” is office manager at the Village Presbyterian Church in Northbrook, and that is where I crossed paths with Sharon Peterson, who occasionally stops by to play the organ and substitute when the regular organist is unavailable.

Music and churches have provided me with a lifetime filled with beauty and devotion.  I could not ask for a better situation, and I hope never to retire.  Music is the greatest gift!

John Hopkins

January 2019
Membership Matters

We extend warm welcomes to: Barbara Kudirka, Kay Sutton, and Jack Graf. Welcome to the North Shore Chapter!

Just a reminder that some renewals due July 1 are not showing as being received yet.  If you’ve already renewed your membership for the 2018-2019 year, thank you!  If not, you still have time to renew via ONCARD.  Note: Changes in renewal status from ONCARD are not immediate on the chapter roster and may not show renewed until next month.  If you have questions about the renewal process or are having problems with ONCARD, please feel free to ask me. 

As the Registrar, I am your go to if you have any questions about your membership or have any needs or concerns.  Please do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll help you the best that I can.  I can be reached at registrar@northshoreago.org.  

Rich Spantikow, Registrar