Join us on February 1 for our next chapter event at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston: our NSAGO Members’ Recital on February 1 at 3:00pm in observance of Black History Month. Our Sub-Dean Marianne Kim is coordinating this program and performers include Bridget de la Peña, Matthew Doran, Alan Hommerding, Eun Joo Ju, Derek Nickels, & Brian Schoettler. I encourage you to continue to explore this repertoire through collections like GIA’s “King of Kings” and MorningStar’s “African-American Organ Music Anthology.”
On Tuesday, January 6, our chapter gathered for our annual Epiphany party at the home of Andrea Handley. The chapter presented Andrea with a gift thanking her for her service to our chapter throughout the years as NSAGO Dean, Chair of the 2023 Regional Convention, and host of our Epiphany party for over a decade! This year was the last Epiphany party at the Handley’s before Andrea and her family move to Pasadena, CA this summer. About a fourth of our membership was in attendance for a delicious meal, carols, piano duets, some chapter updates, and a tribute to Andrea.
As this new year begins, we begin seeking members to serve on the executive board. Chapter officers serve 2-year terms, and at-large members serve 3-year terms. This year all chapter officers will end their terms along with our Class of 2026. I want to thank Marianne, Chris, Jim, Mary Beth, and Matthew for their service on our board. This means there are at least 5 potential vacancies and we are counting on YOU to keep our chapter active and thriving. Jay Peterson has agreed to serve as our coordinator of nominations and will put forward a slate of candidates for our spring election. Board meetings currently take place monthly and are typically online Zoom meetings on second Sundays at 1:00pm. I hope you will consider serving on our NSAGO board.
After Easter, we invite you to join us for the final event of our 2025-2026 season as we gather for our annual banquet and an organ concert on Friday, April 24. Our recitalist is Swedish organist Hans Davidsson who will present a program on the Wolff organ at St. Giles Episcopal Church in Northbrook. Dr. Davidsson is Artistic Director of the Göteborg International Organ Academy and Music Director at the church of Älvsborg in Göteborg and has done extensive recording of the works of Bach, Böhm, Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, and Weckmann. You will not want to miss this concert!
- 5:30pm Cocktail hour at a nearby restaurant (venue TBA)
- 6:00pm Banquet
- 7:00pm Drive to St. Giles
- 7:30pm Concert
Looking ahead, we hope you can attend the AGO National Convention in St. Louis July 6-10. The Supersaver registration rates ($370 for AGO Regular) end on January 31 and you can register here:
Lastly, I want to share an offer from NSAGO Lifetime Member Adrienne Tindall that she is offering complimentary copies of items published by Darcey Press free to NSAGO members.
You may peruse the catalog here www.darceypress.com and contact her directly:
Adrienne Tindall woof.tindall@gmail.com
If you haven’t joined us for a chapter event recently, I hope you can join us on February 1 or April 24. See you soon!
Brian Schoettler, DMA
Dean, North Shore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists