Membership Matters
Monthly reports from the NSAGO registrar.
Organ Scholarship Initiative Update
We are pleased to report that three NSAGO Chapter members, Andrea Handley, Susan Klotzbach, and Rich Spantikow, will donate three free lessons over the Summer for our Organ Scholarship Intiative. These three students, Solomon Davids, Davis Redman, and Jiyoun Hailey Jun, will benefit from not only these lessons but a year’s free membership in the Chapter as well. We are grateful to these Members who see the need for inspiring upcoming Organists and their leadership in donating their skills to this vital program.
Let’s welcome these three students as we meet them at Chapter events. Whom can you include when you plan to attend a recital? Whom do you see expressing curiosity about the King of Instruments? What can YOU do to further the education of aspiring Organists? Your financial donations to the NSAGO Scholarship Fund are always welcome as well. May the love of and playing of the Organ live on!
Thank you for your past enthusiastic involvement and support. We’re looking forward to another exciting program to equip future Organists.
Sharon R. Peterson
Meet Our Newest Board Members
Susan Klotzbach
Susan Klotzbach is the organist at Kenilworth Union Church in Kenilworth, IL. She has been there for four years. In addition, Susan is completing her work as adjunct organ/harpsichord professor and University Organist at Illinois Wesleyan University this spring.
Susan is a graduate from the Eastman School of Music with a DMA/MM in organ performance. Her undergraduate work was at the University of Iowa. She has been a tenured professor at Houghton College in Houghton, NY, Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, and has taught at Stetson University in DeLand, FL as well.
Susan and her husband, Dan Klotzbach, enjoy living in Chicago with their two cocker spaniels and frequent visitors!
Derek E. Nickels
Derek E. Nickels is Director of Music at the Church of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal), in Kenilworth, IL, and has performed recitals across the United States. He holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University where his teachers included Robert Anderson, Guy Bovet, Robert Clark, John Metz, and Larry Palmer. He has been a featured recitalist at several National Conventions of the Organ Historical Society as well as appearances with Ars Musica Chicago, Early Music Chicago, and the Phoenix Bach and Madrigal Society. He has performed recitals at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City, the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, St. Paul’s Cathedral in San Diego, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, Washington National Cathedral and National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., and Holy Name Cathedral and Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago.
Dr. Nickels taught at Arizona State University, and has served as Organist-Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Phoenix, Organist at University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, and Associate Organist at St. James Episcopal Cathedral in Chicago. He serves as President of the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the Organ Historical Society.
Pat Radosavljevic
I knew that church music was for me when I was willing to get up at dawn to play for 6:00 A.M. Mass when I was in 5th grade. I have been playing every week since.
I received a Bachelor’s in Organ/Church Music from the American Conservatory of Music as a student of Dr. Robert Lodine. During my time at American I met George Radosavljevic who helped me through modal counterpoint. It was love at first sight and we have been married for 36 years. We have a son, Leo, who received his Bachelor’s and Master’s from Juilliard in Opera. The three of us have a lot of fun doing music together and enjoying each other’s performances.
I have been organist/choir director at Carter-Westminster Presbyterian Church in Skokie since 1982. This is the same church that once employed Elizabeth Naegele and Andrea Handley, and I feel honored to follow in their footsteps.
In addition to my musical life, I have enjoyed working in ophthalmology since 1984. I am currently assisting Frank LaFranco, M.D., a retinal specialist in Skokie.