The following are reviews of past NSAGO events.
January 2018
Fourth Annual Epiphany Party
On Friday evening, January 5, Dean Andrea Handley hosted the festive Annual Epiphany Party at her home, once again. It was a delightful evening of fellowship, absolutely delicious food, fun, and music. Andrea & Sharon (Peterson), as usual, played a 4-hand version of LeRoy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride; Bob Woodworth led... Read More ...
December 2017
Fishell Concert a Perfect Tribute to Richard Enright
On Friday evening, November 10, the North Shore Chapter continued celebrating its 60th anniversary season with a recital honoring the life of one of its founding members, Richard Gordon Enright (1923-2016), who was also Professor Emeritus of Church Music and Organ, at Northwestern University. The venue was Northwestern’s Alice Millar... Read More ...
October 2017
A Wonderful Beginning to Our Anniversary Season
The North Shore Chapter began the celebration of our 60th anniversary year on September 24th with a special service and installation of officers and board members entitled Through the Ages: A Service of Celebration Honoring the North Shore Chapter’s Heritage. It was held at First United Methodist Church in Evanston,... Read More ...
July 2017
Closing Members Recital and Gala Reception - a Gift of Rarely Heard Compositions
Console at St. Giles
On June 5, the North Shore Chapter AGO closed the 2016-2017 season with an exciting Members Recital and Gala Champagne Reception at St. Giles Episcopal Church in Northbrook, featuring various composers writing of music in the time... Read More ...
June 2017
Shout for Joy! A Review of our April 30 Hymn Festival
Winnetka Congregational Church was the light-filled setting for North Shore Chapter’s Hymn festival on Sunday afternoon, April 30. About 50 members and friends gathered for “This Joyful Eastertide,” led by organist David Cherwien and poet Susan Palo Cherwien.
Before the service, David rehearsed a choir of 14... Read More ...
February 18 Inside the Organ Event Very Informative and Interesting!
On Saturday, February 18, 2017, Barry Wenger welcomed members and friends to the organ loft of First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest for a presentation on organ building and maintenance. Kurt Roderer, retired organ builder, and Steve Hoover, of Berghaus Organ Company and current curator of the Casavant tracker organ... Read More ...
January 2017
Epiphany Party Thumbs Up!
A review of last Friday’s third annual Epiphany party….in verse!
The party at Andrea’s was surely a blast.
The food was perfect and the drinks did last.
We had conversations with friends old and new,
And we played some games that were fun,... Read More ...
December 2016
November 12 Workshop on Creative Hymn Playing and Adapting Piano Accompaniments for the Organ
Chris Urban, Andrea Handley, Sharon Peterson, Jill Hunt
Saturday, November 12, 2016, four presenters cooperated on two workshops: “Creative Hymn Playing & Adapting Piano Music for the Organ.” This event, hosted by Chris Urban and First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights, IL, was taught by... Read More ...
November 2016
Dubois' Dazzling Performance
Vincent Dubois at the console of the Opus 327
On Friday evening, October 7, the North Shore Chapter continued celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of organ builder Ernest M. Skinner with a dazzling recital by Vincent Dubois, the newest of three titular organists... Read More ...
July 2016
Report on National Convention in Houston
Front row: Weicheng Zhao (student of Cherry Rhodes) Katelyn Emerson (first place winner), Morgan Simmons, Kirk Rich. Back row: Nicolas Capozzoli, Tamer Edlebi (oboist), Zachary Zwahlen (student of David Higgs).
On Friday, June 18, I was privileged to attend the competition in Houston preliminary to... Read More ...
June 2016
Closing Member Recital and Banquet - a Celebration of Pentecost and Trinity Music
Performers Royce Eckhardt, Andrea Handley, Derek Nickels, Sharon Peterson, Jim Brown, and Christine Kraemer
The North Shore AGO Chapter held its annual banquet and member recital at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette on Sunday, May 22nd. The organ, a 2001 Reuters with 63 ranks,... Read More ...
May 2016
April Spring Conclave on Ernest Skinner a Fantastic Program
Celebrating Organ Builder Ernest M. Skinner (1866-1960) This year, 2016, marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of organ builder Ernest M. Skinner. The Diapason magazine, Joyce Robinson, editor and Stephen Schnurr, editor-at-large, sponsored a “Sesquicentennial Conference” in conjunction with three AGO chapters (North Shore, Chicago, and Fox... Read More ...
February 2016
Pastor and Musician: Teammates in Shared Ministry
It has been observed that clergy and musician may be the most crucial leadership and pastoral team within the life of the church. At the heart of their work is the creation and implementation of worship services that are fresh, inspirational, historically rooted and biblically centered, liturgical, winsome and accessible,... Read More ...
Second Annual Epiphany Party Warm Fun!!
On a frosty January Sunday evening members of the North Shore AGO gathered at the home of Dean Andrea Handley. Andrea’s amazing holiday décor and cozy fireplace provided the perfect setting for our annual Epiphany party. We enjoyed wonderful food, warm conversation and a... Read More ...
November 7 workshop with young organists
Our North Shore Chapter AGO sponsored Margaret Kemper in a Master Class Saturday, Nov. 7, at The Presbyterian Homes’ Elliott Chapel in Evanston, IL, Starting Out on the Right Foot. Four young organists played the Chapel’s Dobson Pipe Organ, Op. 64 (1994:) ElizabethWeadick, Natasha Stojanovska, Kristina Nyberg, and Evan... Read More ...
New Season, New Music
A beautiful autumn morning set in a stunning gothic sanctuary was the backdrop for our opening fall workshop with guest clinician, Elizabeth Naegele, Saturday, September 26, at First Presbyterian Church, Deerfield. Dr. Naegele is Professor or Music and Coordinator of Organ Instruction and Ethnomusicology. Born of missionary parents in... Read More ...
July 2015
Report on Regional Convention in Indianapolis
I wish I could remember exactly why I decided in January to sign up to attend the regional AGO convention. Somehow I forgot that July in Indianapolis is not the most... Read More ...
June 1 Closing Banquet and Members' Recital: Great Food, Great Music
The North Shore AGO Chapter held its annual banquet and members’ recital at Glenview Community Church this past Monday evening. Dinner was served in the church’s Founders’ Room with catering by Salerno’s Di Lucca, and included salad with creamy garlic or thousand island dressing, roast sirloin of beef, chicken marsala, and baked... Read More ...
April 26 Yun Kim Recital: A Splendid Event
Sunday afternoon, April 26, was sunny and brisk both inside and outside St. Ita’s Roman Catholic parish on North Broadway in Chicago. Yun Kyong Kim’s splendid... Read More ...
February Panel and AGO Members Discuss Clergy/Musician Relationships
Music has always been at the center of Christian worship, and before that, in the Judeo temple liturgical tradition. You would then expect that pastors, priests and rabbis would have opportunity for a close working relationship and a collegial friendship with their musicians and are mutually dependent on each... Read More ...
January Epiphany Party a WARM time of Fun and Fellowship
It was a blustery, frigid evening, but inside 516 Greenwood Street in Evanston, a warm and festive party was underway for about thirty members and spouses, thanks to the wonderful hospitality of our Dean, Andrea Handley, and our Chaplain, David Handley. Blazing fireplaces and beautiful decorative holiday decorations added to the... Read More ...
October WFMT Bach Project a Tremendous Success!
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... Read More ...
September Wine and Cheese Welcome Reception was great fellowship!
We had a delightful time Sept. 21 as we gathered at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Glenview for our opening event of the season. Delicious food and drink were provided (for c. 20 people,) and we played a fun “Name that tune” game.
Thanks go to Lois-Eve Anderson for... Read More ...
June 2014 Closing banquet and program in Arlington Heights was great fun!
First Presbyterian Church, Arlington Heights hosted this event, the evening beginning with appetizers and dinner in the parlor and narthex of the church, just outside the sanctuary. Moretti’s in Mt. Prospect provided the food for the catered dinner. Three new board members were introduced by Dean Handley: Sharon Peterson, James... Read More ...
April 26 Handbells Workshops and Chicago Bronze Concert a “Ringing” Success!
Such a pleasure was ours on Saturday, April 26, as we immersed ourselves in handbell ringing with the Chicago Bronze. These expert handbell musicians shared their unique knowledge with NSAGO members and friends at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette, beginning with... Read More ...
Daryl Robinson Recital on February 21 a Great Success
Daryl Robinson with Dean Andrea Handley, Sub-dean Christine Kraemer, and Treasurer Jay Peterson
Friday, February 21 was another typical winter night in Chicago. However, for those of us in attendance at the AGO North Shore Chapter’s recital at... Read More ...
Halloween Spooktacular
Friday, October 25, 2013, 7:00 pm
Carl Schurz High School
3601 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60641
Featuring Chicago-area organists of all ages playing the splendid historic 4m/45r 1936, Moeller pipe organ. Get in the mood for Halloween with a night of chills, thrills, and maybe even Liberace with fangs. For... Read More ...
September "Meet and Greet" a Success!
An Entertaining and fun start to the Season!!
On Sunday, September 29th, approximately 30 North Shore Chapter members and friends gathered at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest for an evening... Read More ...