The Opus - April 2010
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April finds Chapter visiting new Juget-Sinclair pipe organ

This month, we are joining St. Mark.s Episcopal Church in the inauguration of a new Juget-Sinclair pipe organ. On Monday, April 19, British organist Clive Driskill-Smith, along with organ builders Denis Juget and Stephen Sinclair, will give a joint presentation. We will begin with dinner in the parish hall at 6:30 p.m. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. also in the parish hall. Clive Driskill-Smith will discuss the life of church musicians at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and how their auditioning and
training might relate to what we might do with our volunteer choirs. Around 8 p.m., we will move to the church. Denis Juget and Stephen Sinclair will discuss the building of this organ and take questions. The evening concludes with a discussion and demonstration of accessible English organ music by Mr. Driskill-Smith.

Clive Driskill Smith is the sub-organist at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and an internationally known recitalist. He was awarded the ARCM (Associate of the Royal College of Music) in piano performance and the FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists). In 1999, he was awarded a traveling scholarship by the Royal College of Organists and the W.T. Best Scholarship by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2002. This scholarship allowed him to study on the continent with Marie-Claire Alain, Guy Bovet, Andrea Marcon, Luigi Tagliavini, and Harald Vogel. He was the winner of the Royal College of Organists Performer of the Year Competition (2000) and the Calgary International Organ Competition (2002). Clive has performed throughout the USA, UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. His performances are marked by his great virtuosity.

The Canadian firm of Juget-Sinclair organ builders is operated by Denis Juget (a French immigrant to Canada) and Canadian Stephen Sinclair. Their firm has built 35 organs in the Canada, Germany, Japan and the United States. The St. Mark.s organ is their first in Missouri. The organ has 20 stops, mechanical key action, electric stop action, and an electronic combination system with 400 levels of memory. The cabinetry is made of white oak. Its unique design blends well with the architecture.

St. Mark.s Episcopal Church was built in 1938. The architecture, considered uniquely modern for its day, was designed by Frederick Dunn and Charles Nagel. The windows were the first designed by Robert Harmon for Emil Frei studios. In 2009, the
American Institute of Architects awarded St. Mark.s with its distinguished building award.

On Sunday, April 18, at 4 p.m., everyone is cordially invited to attend the inaugural organ recital. Clive Driskill-Smith will play works by Harris, Stanford, Franck, Dupre, Bovet, Bach, and Mozart. The inaugural recital is the kick-off of a community series of concerts for 2010-2011.

Information about the organ here.

. Henry Evans

From the St. Louis Chapter Dean...

Time is of the Essence - or is it?

Have you ever cold-called everyone in your church directory to ask them to be part of the music program? It.s a rhetorical question (I did it once, but never again) that I ask in order to exhort our members to step up and lend aid in several timely matters. We often decry the state of volunteerism as it mpacts church attendance and choir membership, but then turn around and exhibit the exact same reluctance to pitch in ourselves. I know we.re all busy, life is hectic, and it appears that time is scarce. However, the way life operates is that we have exactly enough time to do what we need/choose to do. This is because time is a human, sensory construct and has no basis in reality. DID THAT GET YOUR ATTENTION? Good, then I would like to ask for
you to allot some time to your AGO chapter.

First off: Our thanks is due to past Dean Martha Shaffer (chair), Mary Hitchcock-Reinhart and Brent Johnson for their work as the 2010 Nominating Committee. Not quite as bad as cold-calling the church directory, it is still difficult to fill all of our officer/executive committee slots. They have done a great job and the enclosed ballot reflects their hard work and some fine people who have agreed to serve. If you find yourself sniffing, .Why wasn.t I asked to serve?. you need to forgive us for our lack of psychic ability and SPEAK UP. You.ll be welcomed with open arms. If you have suggestions for the ballot but are miffed that there is no write-in provision, then you missed the January instructions for member nominations which are published in this newsletter every year. So don.t call us about that.

Second: Please take the time to fill out the ballot and return it as instructed. This requires a small allotment of time, but does wonders in terms of the health and functioning of our organization.

Third: Arrange your schedule so that you can attend the annual May Banquet on Monday, May 17, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. If you have time to attend only one meeting a year, let it be this one. We want to see you and catch up on how things
are going with you.

Last-but-not least: Andy Peters and his committee are doing a great job with the organization of this summer.s POE. I see volunteer forms for this popping up at our meetings and in the newsletter. If you can help with this in any way, please decide to
do it right now. There are all sorts of jobs, from pleasurable and social to the nitty gritty but vital. Encourage a high school student at your church to sign up, that.d take about two minutes. You do have the time to do something to help this great event be even better!

Aren.t daffodils about the cheeriest sight? Wordsworth was right. Have a blessed spring!
. Chuck Peery

In Memoriam: John Kuriger

We are sad to report the death of our friend and colleague, John Kuriger, early on Tuesday, March 23. John was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer on January 17. After only briefly initiating hospice care in his home, he passed on there, with family
members nearby. He was preceded in death by his son Jeffrey, who died in an automobile accident in 1998. He is survived by his son John, Jr., his daughter-in-law Courtney, and two young grandsons, Grey and Cooper.

John served for many years as organist at Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist in St. Louis, and concurrently at Temple Israel in Creve Coeur. A long-time member of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, John served an extended tour of
duty on the Executive Committee, including over a decade of service as chapter treasurer, a responsibility he relinquished in 1998. During his tenure, which encompassed the 1987 AGO Regional Convention in St. Louis, John guided the chapter to financial stability, helping the chapter to maintain a financial .cushion. that continues to afford its membership quality programming.

A professional accountant, John was an excellent businessman, as well as an able organist. He had a high regard for the Guild our chapter and for his many friends within the organist community. He was a lively character who loved a good joke. We will miss his candor, good humor, ready wit, devotion to music, and kind spirit.

Pipe Organ Encounter Update

Guest Recitalist

On the Wednesday evening of the POE, we will present guest organist Michael Unger in recital. He is the most recent winner of the American Guild of Organists. National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (NYACOP). A doctoral student at the Eastman School of Music, Unger has also won first place in the 2008 Musashino International Organ Competition in Tokyo, Japan, and in 2009 won second prize in the International Schnitger Organ Competition in Holland. He presently serves as visiting director of music at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word, Rochester, N.Y.

Enrollment

We currently have only six students enrolled for our June POE. Our POE has the lowest enrollment compared with the other POE.s running this summer throughout the country. If you know any potential students, please send them to the chapter Web site,
or have them contact Andrew Peters, to get them more information about this exciting program. Remember . students do not need to already play the organ in order to attend.

POE Volunteers

Please consider being a volunteer during the POE. To date, only four chapter members have sent volunteer forms to the POE Director.

Your gifts will help offset POE expenses.

There are many costs involved in running a POE. Registration fees primarily cover the housing and some meals for the students while here. Further costs for the week include bus transportation (bus fees range from $75-$140 per hour), a recital by
a guest organist (fees range from $2,000-$3,800), travel reimbursement or our guest faculty, and many other costs. Also, contributions may provide scholarship assistance for some potential students. All contributors will be acknowledged in The OPUS newsletter and in recital programs during the POE.

Thank you to the POE Contributors so far!

Patron
Martha Shaffer
Associate
Andrew & Christine Peters
Donor
Michael Bancroft
Cornelia Tolbert
Thank you to the POE Contributors so far!

Or to send a donation by mail, Download and print a donation form here.

Information about Nominees for Chapter Offices and Executive Committee

The Nominating Committee of the St. Louis Chapter, American Guild of Organists, of which Martha Shaffer is chairperson and Mary Hitchcock-Reinhart and Brent Johnson are members, presents the following slate for chapter offices. It is the tradition of the chapter that the outgoing Dean fill one of the three Executive Committee openings. Thus two people are to be elected to fill the three positions constituting the Class of 2013. Nominees. affiliations listed are taken from the current Chapter membership
directory. Nominees were invited to provide brief biographical sketches, which several have done.

For the office of Dean: Henry Evans, Outgoing sub-dean. Holds an M.M. and is organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew.s Episcopal Church Edwardsville, Ill. Degrees from University of North Texas and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Currently serving an internship in piano pedagogy at SIUE.

For the office of Sub-Dean: Dr. Bill Wade, CAGO, Minister of music/organist at Trinity Presbyterian Church, University City, Mo. Pursuing graduate studies at Webster University. Retired family physician after 22 years. Initially an organ major at Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Okla. Has served as organist in several denominations.

For the office Secretary: Cathy Cassy, St. Elizabeth Church, Granite City, Ill.

For the office of Treasurer: Dennis York, St. Peter.s Cathedral, Belleville, Ill.

For the office of Auditor: Denis Doelling, First Christian Church, Edwardsville, Ill.

For membership on the Executive Committee: Class of 2013 (two to be elected):
Rick Burk, Minister of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Mo. Master of Sacred Music from Duquesne University. Actively involved in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Fox Valley and Richmond AGO chapters, with service on the Professional Concerns and Executive Committees in two chapters.

John Cargile, Organist/Music Associate Manchester United Methodist Church Manchester, Mo.

Bruce Ludwick, St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, St. Louis, Mo.

Use the ballot included in the center of this OPUS issue and follow the instructions for mailing. Ballots must be postmarked by May 6 to be counted.

On the Concert Horizon

Sunday, April 11, 3pm. St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ, 307 West Clay, Collinsville, IL. "A Musical Trip Around the World" presented by the B-Flats clarinet quartet. Free will offering. Information 618-344-2560

Sunday, April 11, 7 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place, St. Louis, Mo. The church.s chorale and orchestra will present Ralph Vaughan Williams. Dona nobis pacem. Free. Information 314-367-0367.

Wednesday, April 14, 8 p.m. Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. Canadian Brass. Choir of New College, Oxford. One of the most recorded English choirs in live concert. Tickets $37, $27, $17. Information 314-533-7662; www.cathedralconcerts.org.

Sunday April 18, 4 p.m. St. Mark.s Episcopal Church, 4712 Clifton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. Clive Driskill-Smith will play the inaugural organ recital on the church.s new Juget-Sinclair organ. Music includes works by Franck, Mozart, Bach and Dupre. Information
314-832-3588.

Friday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West B Street, Belleville, Ill. .Vocals Extraordinaire. . Christine Brewer and Anna McNeely. Freewill offering. Information This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sunday, May 2, 3 p.m. Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the campus of Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, Clayton, Mo. The American Kantorei Chorus and Orchestra, Robert Bergt, music director and conductor. Bach.s Mass in B Minor. Freewill offering.

Sunday, May 2, 4 p.m. Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place, St. Louis, Mo. The church.s Pastoral Musician Andrew Peters will play a recital on the 60-rank Schantz pipe organ. Works include J. S. Bach, P. D. Q. Bach, Bonnet, Widor and others. Free. Information 314-367-0367.

Friday, May 7, 7:30 p.m. Hettenhausen Performing Arts Center, McKendree University, 701 College Road, Lebanon, Ill. .Give My Regards to Broadway.: popular hits from the Broadway stage. The Masterworks Chorale and Children.s Chorus, Dr. Stephen Mager, conductor. Admission $25/15. Information singmasterworks.org.

Friday, May 7, 8 p.m. Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. Chanticleer male vocal group. Tickets $37, $27, $17. Information 314-533-7662; www.cathedral concerts.org.

Saturday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. Hettenhausen Performing Arts Center, McKendree University, 701 College Road, Lebanon, Ill. .Give My Regards to Broadway.: popular hits from the Broadway stage. Refreshments included. The Masterworks Chorale and Children.s Chorus, Dr. Stephen Mager, conductor. Admission $20/$15. Information singmasterworks.org.

Sunday, May 23, 10 a.m. (worship service), Webster Groves Presbyterian church, 45 West Lockwood, Webster Groves, Mo. .Are We There Yet?. children.s choirs musical by Tom Long and Allen Pote. Information 314-
962-9210, ext. 3108.

Sunday, June 27, 3 p.m. St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West B Street, Belleville, Ill. 25th annual patriotic concert. Freewill offering. Information This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Open Positions

Organist(s)
First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1430 W. Delmar Ave., Godfrey, Ill., seeks organists for its Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services. Role can be filled by one organist or split between two organists. Sunday duties require three hymns, prelude, offertory, postlude and soloist accompaniment. Wednesdays include playing three hymns, a prelude and postlude. Salary for the Wednesday service is $75 and $90 for Sunday. Auditions will be held at the church on April 10. Contact Glenn Ford, music chair, at 618-374-5118 (day) or 618-374-2978 (evening) for more information or to schedule a time for an audition.

Vocal Soloist
First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1430 W. Delmar Ave., Godfrey, Ill., seeks a vocal soloist for its Sunday service. Salary is $75 per service. Contact Glenn Ford, music chair, at 618-374-5118 (day) or 618-374-2978 (evening) for more information.

Part time Director of Music
Zion Lutheran Church, 123 Carson Road, Ferguson, MO 63135. Accompany one worship service on Sunday morning, alternating between traditional and blended service, and seasonal services. Accompany and direct a choir and praise band. Strong ability on keyboard/ piano/organ. Proficient in a variety of musical styles, and knowledge of liturgical forms and settings. 10 hours/week average. Salary commensurate with experience. Send resumes to Rev. John Schier-Hanson at church.