A very happy new year to you all! If you’re a typical organist, you’re heaving a bit of a sigh of relief at this point, having a mountain of extra rehearsals and services for another Advent/Christmas season behind you. Welcome, “Ordinary Time”, in more ways than one!
Many of us had much fun this past Friday evening at the fourth annual Epiphany party (scroll down to see Sharon Peterson’s review of the event). Part of the evening was a trivia game, created by Bob Woodworth, with 40 questions about the history of our chapter – part of our commitment to have every program this season reflect some aspect of our history together. I’ve listed the questions below, and then the answers separately below the questions, so that you can take the quiz for yourselves. Although we didn’t keep score, I think we’d all agree that Morgan Simmons got the only A+ for the evening with his many correct responses!
Andrea Handley
Andrea Handley, Dean
North Shore AGO History Questions
Epiphany Party – January 5, 2018
- The North Shore AGO Chapter organizational meeting was chaired by ________.
- _________was elected Dean of the Chapter at the first meeting.
- St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Evanston was served for a long time with a Hammond B-3, or a Hammond Grand 100 or an Austin Organ.
- _________served St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Evanston for over 30 years.
- _________served two non-consecutive terms as Dean of the Chapter.
- What husband and wife both served terms as Dean of the Chapter?
- _________played the dedication recital at the First United Methodist Church in Glenview on the ____________Organ.
- What other husband/wife teams were also organists?
- What four famous organists played recitals in the first year of the Chapter?
10._________was the Chapter’s first Regional Convention of the AGO.
11._________was the long-time Editor of The Diapason Magazine.
12._________initiates the Chapter newsletter Overtones.
- In 1972 Han Wurman demonstrates the _________for the Chapter.
- What four international organ artists played for the Chapter more than once?
- Emmanuel Methodist Church in Evanston is home to the 1892 ___________.
- _________was a long-time organ professor at Northwestern University and also Organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park.
- Speaking of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Aeolian-Skinner Organ installed there had a __________console.
- What famous organist from St. Eustache in Paris played a recital for the Chapter in 1975?
- What newly appointed organist at Notre-Dame in Paris played a recital for the Chapter in 2016?
- Who was organist at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, then at First Presbyterian Church in Evanston and finally at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest?
- What English college choir performed for the Chapter?
- the Chapter helped to sponsor the Romantic Organ Symposium in __________.
- What Dean of the Chapter was the long-time musician at Northfield Community Church?
- What concert organists from England presented recitals for the Chapter?
- _________was long-time organist at First Baptist Church of Evanston – now the Lake Street Church – following William Barnes.
- How many Deans of the Chapter are still alive?
- Karel Paukert presented at least _________programs for the Chapter.
- Many of the North Shore Chapter AGO programs were held at Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University. Who was Alice Millar?
- Vail Chapel houses a Casavant Organ that was formerly at _________ that was formerly at _________.
- Karel Paukert was originally from _________.
- _________ and __________are the only Dutch organists to have presented programs for the Chapter.
- _________is the only Belgian organist to have presented a recital for the Chapter.
- _________is the only Italian organist to have presented a recital for the Chapter.
- The 1938 _________Organ is located at the former First Church of Christ, Scientist in Winnetka – now called Grace Church.
- Glenview Community Church installed a _________Organ in 1999.
- The First Presbyterian Church of Evanston 1958 Aeolian-Skinner Organ contains pipes/ranks from previous organs _________ and _________.
- The Winnetka Congregational Church is home to the 2008 __________Organ.
- The Music Institute of Chicago (formerly the First Church of Christ, Scientist) in Evanston is home to the 1914 _________Organ.
- The Chapter hosts its second AGO Regional Convention in __________.
- ________, a member of the North Shore AGO Chapter was National President of the AGO in 1994.
Epiphany Party – January 5, 2018 Answers
- Margaret Budd
- Thomas Matthews
- Hammond Grand 100
- Porter Heaps
- Morgan Simmons
- Morgan Simmons and Mary Simmons
- Grigg Fountain – Holtkamp Organ
- Enright’s – Fountain’s
- Fred Swann – Virgil Fox – E. Power Biggs – Austin Lovelace
- 1961
- Frank Cunkle
- Leora DeFord
- Mood synthesizer
- Flor Peeters – Marie-Madeleine Durufle – Marie-Claire Alain – Gillian Weir
- Roosevelt Organ
- George McClay
- Schlicker
- Andre Marchal
- Vincent Dubois
- Richard Enright
- St. John’s College, Cambridge
- 1988
- George Williams
- Simon Preston, Gillian Weir, John Scott
- Jack Goode
- 22
- Three
- Mr. and Mrs. Foster G. McGaw gave money for the construction of Alice Millar Chapel in honor of his mother Alice S. Millar McGaw.
- Seabury-Western Seminary Chapel – Lutheran Church in Rockford
- Czechoslovakia
- Piet Kee and Gustave Leonhardt
- Flor Peeters
- Mario Duella
- W. W. Kimball
- Buzard
- Johnson & Son – Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling
- Pasi
- E. M. Skinner
- 1973
- Margaret McElwain Kemper
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 the members in a game of answering questions about the NSAGO’s history, (it was great fun!); and then we enjoyed a sing-a-long of Epiphany Carols from the Oxford Book of Carols. New friends were made and old friendships renewed.
The evening was so much fun that we all forgot to take pictures….:-) But nevertheless, it was a wonderful beginning to 2018. Thanks to all who planned, cooked, and attended. We have a great chapter!
Sharon Peterson, Sub-dean
Happy New Years to you and yours!
We welcome members Howard Eckdahl and Jerry Hall. We also thank Jerry for his contribution to both the Scholarship and Chapter contributions.
During December our only expense was a $335 payment to our webmaster for his 6 months of support for our website. All expenses for the Fishell concert have been paid. So our balances are:
Checking account balance less outstanding checks $2,463.44
Scholarship (saving account) $5,316.97
General saving account $24,019.81
Total $31,800.22
Thanks!
Laurie Stivers, Treasurer
Andrea Handley
We have now had two incredible programs in our 60th anniversary season. Scroll down – after reading this, of course – to see a review of Janette Fishell’s thoughtfully planned and beautifully executed recital at Millar Chapel on November 10, and then read about the very enjoyable and informative masterclass the following morning.
As we all face collectively hundreds of rehearsals, services and concerts in the coming weeks, I ask you all to consider adding one quick thing to your to-do list. Invite a non-AGO organist friend or a non-active AGO friend to come with you to the Epiphany party on Friday, January 5. It’s a great time for organists to celebrate – all our hard December work is done and we can relax and share stories. This year, in keeping with our anniversary theme, we will feature a trivia game involving the history of our chapter. So most especially if you are a long-time member, WE NEED YOU to come play this game! We will gather at 6pm for drinks and appetizers, followed by dinner at 6:30pm. Look for an Evite in the next few weeks, and just add the number of your guest/s to your RSVP. We look forward to seeing many of you.
On another topic, we are in the midst of updating our chapter directory, and need your help. In the past we have asked you all to send your more detailed information to us via an email directly to us. But we’ve decided that it’s more efficient to ask you all to make sure your personal/employment information is added/updated in ONCARD. We will then take the info you have in ONCARD and import it into our chapter directory.
Stay warm, play well, and hope to see many of you on January 5.
Andrea Handley, Dean
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 Chapel, home of Aeolian-Skinner Opus 1413 (4 manuals, 74 stops, 100 ranks), where Enright taught for 35 years. The organ 
was installed in 1964 when Enright had already been serving on Northwestern’s Organ Faculty for 15 years; he later served as chair of the department from 1969 to 1989.
Longtime North Shore member Morgan Simmons opened the evening’s program with anecdotes from his 54 years of friendship with the Enright family, comparing Dr. Enright to Old Faithful, El Capitan, and the Rock of Gibralter! Simmons also introduced Enright family members who were in attendance, and then the evening’s recitalist, Janette Fishell.
One of Enright’s most distinguished students, Janette Fishell completed doctoral studies at Northwestern in the 1980’s as a student of both Enright and Wolfgang Rübsam. Following graduation, she headed the Organ Performance and Sacred Music degree programs at East Carolina University from 1989 to 2008, and then became Professor of Music and Chair of the Organ Department at Indiana University. Her former students have won numerous competitions and serve in churches and on university faculties throughout the US and Asia. In addition to teaching, Dr. Fishell has, for over three decades, traveled the world, giving critically acclaimed recitals on significant organs in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Members of the Enright family with recitalist Janette Fishell
To honor her former professor, Fishell chose unique repertoire, juxtaposing (1) music tied to World Wars I and II, reflecting Richard Enright’s life as a veteran and part of the “greatest generation” and (2) works associated by Fishell with her studies at Northwestern under Dr. Enright.
Dr. Fishell titled her program “Requiescat in Pace” and opened with Leo Sowerby’s work of the same name, which was composed in 1920 to honor soldiers killed in World War I. It began quietly, using colorful solo flutes and reeds (and also – in place of organ chimes, which do not exist on Millar’s organ – mysterious bell-like sounds that we later learned were played by North Shore Dean Andrea Handley on handbells!). A masterfully registered crescendo and then descrescendo outlined the arc of this work.
Three Bach works followed, including a trio setting of Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (BWV 664) that Fishell played for her audition at Northwestern and the Prelude and Fugue in E Minor (BWV 548) which Fishell played for one of her doctoral recitals. Fishell’s delightfully dance-like and playful interpretation of the trio setting was followed by another much more contemplative setting of the same chorale (BWV 662), played with charmingly limpid ornamentation and Baroque-appropriate rhythmic flexibility. The E-minor Prelude and its “Wedge” Fugue showed off Fishell’s virtuosity and masterful technique.
Following intermission, Fishell presented two works associated with French composer Jehan Alain, who died at the age of 29, fighting heroically in World War II. As stated in the recital program, these works were presented “as tribute to the bravery of the young Enright, who served in Patton’s Third Army of the 26th Infantry Division in the European theatre from 1943 to 1946.” Alain’s Postlude pour l’Office de Complies is a quiet work and, in this recital, began the second part of the program quietly like the first part, with serenely stretched phrasing of the Gregorian chant melody. Maurice Duruflé’s Prelude et Fugue sur le nom d’ALAIN followed, providing another opportunity to witness Fishell’s masterful registration and dazzling virtuosity.
The rest of the recital featured music by Czech composer Petr Eben, the subject of Fishell’s doctoral dissertation (she is considered a leading authority on Eben’s organ music). Fishell chose Eben’s Song of Ruth (based on the biblical story of Ruth) to honor Enright and his wife Sandy who were married for 67 years (Mrs. Enright was also a musician, a talented soprano and organist). Beautifully sung by Hannah Dixon McConnell, this composition featured piquant harmonies and frequent duets between organ solo stops and the voice.
Appreciate audience gives standing ovation for Fishell’s performance
The final Eben featured the third and fourth movements from Nedělní Hudba (“Sunday Music”). Depicting the story of Christ’s encounter with a possessed man (see the fifth chapter of Mark in the Bible), the third movement Moto Ostinato is one of Eben’s most frequently performed pieces. It features devilishly (!) dissonant repetition and varying registration – Fishell commented that she liked the way this work demonstrates the variety of sound available on Millar’s organ. The fourth movement Finale, depicting the battle between Good and Evil, reflected the composer’s firsthand experience as a prisoner in Hitler’s Buchenwald. Fishell’s performance communicated brilliantly what she wrote in the program notes: “The trumpet summons all to battle; a sacred Kyrie struggles against twisting chromatic ‘cat calls.’ Ultimately, the Salve Regina resplendently proclaimed on full organ, leaves no doubt for the listener that the Good has triumphed.” It was a perfect way to show off yet again Fishell’s dexterity (e.g. trill upon trill on both pedals and manuals) and assured mastery of the resources available on the Millar organ, including its Festival Trumpet.
Evan Duvall, Margaret Kemper, Janette Fishell, Andrea Handley, Hannah Dixon McConnell
For an encore, Fishell related that she asked Morgan Simmons if Dr. Enright had a “party piece” – and Simmons said it was Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens’ Fanfare … Fishell’s interpretation was the perfect segue to a festive reception that was (as Morgan Simmons described it) a “feast for the eyes and palate.” Thank you to North Shore board members, Judy Kohl, who 
created the “feast” with an abundance of bundt cakes (many flavors!), drinks and other goodies. Gratitude must also be expressed to board member Evan DuVall who organized so much behind the scenes for this event and prepared the beautifully informative printed program.
Janette Fishell was a classmate of mine at Northwestern, and I’ve long admired the talent and depth of understanding she brings to organ performance – her splendid technique and unerring ear for registration always serve the music she presents. I can’t think of anyone else from my student years who could have created a recital so uniquely fit and so well performed in honor of Dr. Enright and his years at Northwestern University as well as his place in the history of the North Shore Chapter.
Fishell with Will Schlueter
Following the recital Friday night, Prof. Fishell returned to Millar Chapel on Saturday to teach a performance masterclass for 5 area students. Participants included: Adam Chlebek, student of Richard Hoskins, playing Dupré’s Cortège et Litanie, Op. 19, No. 2; Nick Curry, student of James Brown at the Music Institute of Chicago, playing Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in c, BWV 549; Daehee Kim, student of Beth Naegele at Moody Bible Institute, playing Bach’s Toccata in d, BWV 565; Will Schlueter, student of Edward Zimmerman at Wheaton College, playing Dupré’s Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20; and Bill Wilson, student of James Brown at the Music Institute of Chicago, playing Vierne’s ‘Prelude,’ from Twenty-four Pieces in Free Style, Op. 31. Some 30 chapter members, students’ family members, and teachers crowded into the chapel’s choir loft for the 2.5-hour masterclass. Professor Fishell masterfully balanced musical insight, technical expertise, and rigor with approachability and wry humor. Her teaching effortlessly matched the caliber of Friday’s performance and was every bit as much a pedagogical model for the teachers in the room as it was instructional for the students.
Beth Naegele
Elizabeth Naegele, board member
Kay Sutton
My first experience hearing a pipe organ live happened when I attended the graduation of the Medical School at the University of Michigan as a child. We were in Hill Auditorium when all the newly minted medical doctors, including a family friend, stood up for the recessional. At that moment, Marilyn Mason launched into the Toccata from Widor’s Fifth Symphony. My sisters and I were totally overwhelmed. Although my mother was a church organist, I never thought I would play a pipe organ or play that Toccata. It seemed like a complete fantasy.
But then, much later in life I became an organist the way I believe many do. The church I attended in Grayslake, IL decided to add a service and, since I was accompanying choirs and soloists regularly on the piano, I was asked to play the organ for this service. After a few weeks of being clueless about pedaling and registration, I found a teacher. Dr. Marilyn Stulken, of Racine, WI and former Dean of the Kenosha-Racine Chapter of AGO, taught me all the basics and then decided I should work for my Service Playing Certificate. So the initial impetus for joining AGO was to achieve a higher and certifiable standard of playing, which I was able to achieve. Then, she helped me find a job playing a pipe organ. So now, many years later, I am still playing the 55 rank E.M. Skinner at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church that Ernest himself installed in Kenosha, WI during the 20’s, an organ that was completely refurbished by Marilyn’s husband, Tom Rench and Co. in 2003. I also, on occasion, play that famous Toccata.
I have taken advantage of as many AGO activities as I can. When Chicago hosted the National Convention, I helped at registration and monitored the ballroom. Afterwards, the convention workers had a wonderful recital and party at the San Filippo Estate. I also attended the Boston Convention where I attended a lecture on the history of the Skinner organ. The week following the convention, the presenters of this lecture surprised me by coming to Wisconsin and visiting St. Matthew’s to see our Opus 505. I also attended a Regional Convention in Kalamazoo that was very inspirational. I plan to help Milwaukee with their regional convention in 2019. A year or two ago I played on their Members Recital at St. Joseph’s Convent Church in Milwaukee.
On the local level, I have really enjoyed what the North Shore Chapter has to offer. Last fall’s hymn workshop was just outstanding. This year’s recital and masterclass by Janette Fishell was also wonderful. And of course, I have loved the Epiphany parties! My plan for the future is to have a POE event at St. Matthew’s church. We have a number of people, including some from Carthage College who are interested in pursuing this.
As a resident of Illinois and an employee in Wisconsin, I have found it beneficial to belong to the North Shore, the Milwaukee, and often the Chicago chapters of AGO. I have made great friends in all these organizations. A few years ago we held a Halloween concert at St. Matthew’s and friends from the Milwaukee and North Shore chapters performed. We packed the church and a good time was had by all.
Kay Sutton
