Christine Kraemer
I joined the American Guild of Organists North Shore Chapter in 1979. I remember being inspired and encouraged by mentors and friends Morgan Simmons, Margaret Kemper, and Lee Nelson…..all of us 35 years older now!
Serving on the board several times over the years has enabled me to get to know many colleagues well and to become part of a “family.”
I joined the American Guild of Organists North Shore Chapter in 1979. At the time, I was organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, unwittingly following in the line of AGO founder Clarence Dickinson and North Shore Chapter charter member Richard Enright. (I was privileged to study organ with Dr. Enright at Northwestern from 1970-1974.)
Unlike some organists who serve one congregation for years or even decades, I have moved along every few years, from First Presbyterian, Evanston to Gloria Dei Lutheran in Northbrook (1981-1985), St. Luke’s Lutheran, Park Ridge (1985-1987), stay-at-home-motherhood, Evanston and Wilmette(1987-1994), Kenilworth Union Church (1994-1999), Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church in Chicago (1999-2007, became dual member with Chicago Chapter), Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette (2008-2009), and currently St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston (home of E.M. Skinner’s Opus 327).
Along the way, my AGO colleagues have listened to, supported, and laughed with me. (Of all the benefits of belonging to the AGO, I think my favorite is laughing together.) We organists share a love for church music that binds us in a unique way. I cannot imagine not being a member of the AGO!