July 2018Lessons, Workshops, Friends, and Mentors

July 2018
Lessons, Workshops, Friends, and Mentors

Like many members of A.G.O., music is an avocation for me.  I became interested in church music while stationed on the east coast during the Viet Nam conflict, and was able to attend a number of services at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.  After my discharge, I joined the North Shore Chapter, and began several years of private study, some of which was with Dr. Robert Lodine at the American Conservatory.   I had been raised in a modest U.C.C. church, where the dedicated church organist was a proponent of the “theater style” of playing, and offered up a ceaseless round of Ringk, Thygerson, and Merkel, so I felt very smug, one Sunday, when I played the Messiaen “Apparition of the Eternal Church” on the Hammond B3.  Apparently, I’ve always favored unhackneyed repertoire and hymnody!

Gradually, my talents evolved, and I undertook a series of  substitute and interim assignments, eventually leading to several long term positions. I’ve attended many recitals, workshops, and conventions, but, most importantly, I was fortunate to have several dear friends and mentors who were happy to share their insights and expertise, for which I am indebted. That’s part of the function of a guild, and of course we never stop learning. I would encourage others to seize every opportunity to participate and share their gifts through the guild, and beyond, to “lead their praises” on our chosen instrument, the organ.    

Steve Potter

Non-NSAGO Upcoming Events

You may find many organ events throughout the Chicago area listed on our calendar.  You can access the calendar from the Calendar tab on our homepage, or by clicking here:  http://northshoreago.org/events/

If you’d like to send an event to be posted, email in the following format to dean@northshoreago.org:
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July 2018
Membership Matters

As of this date (22 June 2018) the Northshore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists has exactly 100 members. That includes our two newest members, Elizabeth Brown and Harlan Mason. Welcome to you both.

Also please welcome Rich Spantikow who assumes the title of Registrar and will also work on expanding membership and making sure we are serving the needs of the current membership. He will take over this newly minted column next month.

July 1 is the expiration date for most of the chapter’s memberships. If you haven’t yet paid your dues as invoiced, please do so soon and avoid interruptions in receiving TAO and the other benefits of membership. If you’ve mislaid the invoice, just go online to ONCARD and pay there, or start at our website which will get you into ONCARD. If there are other problems, please email the chapter registrar at registrar@northshoreago.org . ONCARD stands for Online National Collection and Remittal of Dues and was designed for the American Guild of Organists.

Richard Spears

July 2018
Treasurer’s Corner

This month marks the transition between Laurie Stivers and Richard Spears as the Treasurer of the North Shore Chapter. Having had a chance to look at the books, I want to speak for the entire membership in thanking Laurie for bringing a high level of organization and discipline to our financial records. I hope I can continue with the precedent she has set. At the same time, Rich Spantikow will assume the duties of Registrar and other membership concerns, and will take over the new Membership Matters column starting next month.

The accounts will be reconciled on the last day of the June, and the details of the month’s transactions will be presented to the board at its next meeting for approval. As of this date (28 June 2018) the current balances of the three accounts are:

Checking $2263.36

Scholarships $4237.64

Reserves $24,822.73

Those figures include two inter-account transfers: From Scholarships to Checking, $1,250.00 to cover funds donated to the Enright and Kemper Scholarship funds, and $2,300.00 from Checking into Reserves to replace earlier transfers made to the checking account to cover expenses in anticipation of dues and donations collection. A payment of $25.00 for the banquet was received. A check was written to Judith Kohl to reimburse her for picnic expenses. The monthly remittance of monies collected by ONCARD was $519.00.

Most of the chapter dues and donations are received in July or August and are yet to appear in our accounts. There only one check written in June, and there are no outstanding checks or other expenses pending.

In addition to chapter dues, usually either $33.00 or $41.00 per year, the chapter is dependent on reserves and additional donations to cover the costs of underwriting programs, the website, and expenses. Your donations are important to the chapter and will be recognized. 

Richard Spears, Treasurer

 

June 2018Dean’s ColumnCoda….

June 2018
Dean’s Column
Coda….

NSAGO Dean Andrea Handley

Wow – my last dean’s column. I just looked through the archive of dean’s columns and saw that my first dean’s column, in September of 2013, noted that we were beginning our 55th season. And as we all know, we just finished an entire season of celebrations for our 60th anniversary, culminating in a dean’s recital and banquet just a few weeks ago.

I’ve enjoyed the last five years immensely. I’ve worked with some delightful chapter members who have served on the board with much energy and creativity. I’ve rekindled long-term friendships with colleagues and have met and enjoyed getting to know new members to our chapter.

I’m excited about the future of our chapter! Incoming dean Judy Kohl will serve the chapter well, with the assistance of “the three Richards” as sub-dean, secretary and treasurer, and a great board. The programs planned for next year are outstanding – please scroll down to take a look.  And the continuing and incoming new board members are full of energy and commitment to our wonderful chapter.  We have outstanding members of the chapter who have been with us for decades, and we have a growing number of new, young members who are just beginning their journey with our magnificent instrument.

At the end of the slide show presented at the banquet recently, the last slide read “Here’s to the next 60 years!”  And I’m sure it’s going to be another wonderful 60 years – continuing to celebrate our heritage together while embracing the new!

Andrea Handley, Dean

June 2018The Extraordinary Results from Advice Well Received

June 2018
The Extraordinary Results from Advice Well Received

Maggie Kemper

After 12 years of piano study, it was my senior year in high school when I began studying the organ at the urging of my mother. I decided to major in organ at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.  After 2 years of study I was not accomplishing much, and began thinking that I either had to change my major or change schools. Fortunately I met with my organ professor, Arthur Carkeek and my Advisor, who was the cello professor at DePauw and they encouraged me to stick with it. It was like overnight everything clicked and I was determined to work hard. A year and a half later I received a Fulbright Scholarship to study with André Marchal in Paris (which turned out to be two years).

I am so grateful for the wise advice I received. Upon my return to the U.S. I received a Master’s degree in organ from Northwestern, and I have taught and performed ever since. Travels have included recitals in the U.S., Moscow, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and the Ukraine. It was a wonderful experience, too, studying in 1967 at the 3-week Summer Academy for Organists in Haarlem, the Netherlands, with Marie-Claire Alain and Anton Heiller.

My best years include involvement in the AGO, both locally and nationally – 16 years on the National Council, 4 years as President, being Illinois State Chairman and Region V Councillor, and 50+ years with the North Shore Chapter. Needless to say, I am so glad that I did not give up the organ in college!! I am very grateful to all of our North Shore Chapter members for your friendship, support, and kindness for so many years. It is a gift to be forever cherished.   

With much love and appreciation,
Maggie Kemper