REPORT FROM THE GREAT LAKES REGIONAL AGO CONVENTION 2019:
Nearly 250 attendees enjoyed the Great Lakes Regional Convention in Grand Rapids at the end of June. We were treated to many recitals in a number of wonderful venues. Grand Rapids has a plethora of large and interesting organs, and we were fortunate to hear many of them! We also spent a day in Holland, and were treated to a delightful concert at the Jack Miller Center for the Musical Arts.
From the outset, with a brass and organ concert at the Central Reformed Church, featuring Scott Dettra and the Majestic Brass, it was apparent that it was going to be a week of excellence. Monday did not disappoint with a festival worship service at the Basilica of St. Adalbert led by Larry Biser and Jonathan Tuuk. The day continued with recitals by Katelyn Emerson, Gregory Crowell, Todd Wilson and Ken Cowan. Tuesday brought recitals by Rhonda Sider Edgington, David Heinze, Huw Lewis and Lynne Davis. Wednesday included some diversity with a theater organ demonstration and mini-concert by Clark Wilson, a carillon recital by Helen Hofmeister, and organ recitals by Nicole Simental and Nathan Laube.
In addition to these fine performances, there were useful and varied workshop offerings and masterclasses interspersed throughout the days. It was also extremely gratifying to see that there were 22 young organists in attendance at the convention who were given scholarships by the chapter to attend.
Grand Rapids will be a hard act to follow – but follow we will! Your steering committee for the 2021 Regional Convention that will be hosted right here on our north shore is busy at work planning an exciting program for our June 27-30, 2021 convention. You will be hearing much more in the coming months about how you can all be involved in this endeavor.
Andrea Handley
Convention Coordinator, 2021 Great Lakes AGO Regional Convention
