The Opus - May 2008
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Our May meeting will, as usual, be the annual meeting and banquet. We have a wonderful location this year in the newly renovated Parish Hall at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood. Arrive early for light refreshments in the reception room (6-6:30 p.m.). During this half hour you can also see the beautiful stained glass in the adjacent Tree of Life Chapel, and hear an informal recital on the new Martin Ott tracker organ.Dinner begins in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30, followed by installation of officers and a short Chapter meeting.

At this point, we will move to the sanctuary and participate in a recording session! The Wicks Pipe Organ Company celebrated its 100th year in 2006, and as part of that celebration, Barbara Wick commissioned Stephen Mager to write a hymn anthem in memory of her husband Martin, a past recipient of the Avis Blewett Award. The resulting composition, a setting of Henry Baker’s text “O Praise Ye the Lord” to a new tune appropriately named Highland, is a British-style piece for organ, unison congregation, and SATB choir.

After a short rehearsal, we will record the premiere performance of the new work. The composer will conduct; Bill Stein will preside at the console of the church’s Wicks organ; and Barry Hufker of Hufker Recording will have his equipment ready to produce a copy of the performance. The evening will close with a return to Fellowship Hall for coffee, dessert, and an opportunity for fellowship.

The first year that I was subdean, Pat Partridge told me,“You know, there’s nothing wrong with having an occasional meeting that is just a social event without a formal program.” May 19 will be one of those times. Bring your best singing voice to help with the recording, and greet and visit with each other. See you then!

— Martha Shaffer

From the St. Louis Chapter Dean…
My Final Inspiration...

This is my last letter to you as Dean of the St. Louis AGO Chapter. Writing these little missives has been a bane/blessing, and involved many appeals for Divine Inspiration as I faced the blank “new document” page…

When I moved from chairing the Program Committee to chairing the Executive Committee, I had a lofty goal in mind – to implement the national “Each One Reach One” initiative and build up Chapter membership numbers. In reality, the“Each One Reach One” instructions never left the folder. Instead the Executive Committee and I concentrated on some necessary work on Chapter operating procedures, so that our written manual now conforms to national format and truly reflects our current operating practices.

The membership numbers have quietly taken care of themselves. This year we have had quite a few transfers as people moved to the St. Louis metro area. The 2006 POE brought a new spirit to the Chapter, and that is reflected in a steady rise in attendance at Guild programs. The monthly average this season is 35-40. Significantly, it’s not always the same 35-40 members, and it’s good to see so many of you at the meetings!

Though listing names is a slippery slope with potential for omissions, I need to express my thanks for help in the past four years. Thanks to everyone who hosted meetings, and who planned and participated in programs. To the Executive Committee, it’s been a pleasure to work with you, and thanks for putting up with my inability to master the most basic of Robert’s Rules. To the standing committee chairs (Fern, Al, Cathy, Luella, Wayne, Barb, Dawn, Mary, Rene, Denis, and Maxine), and to Dennis, Cindy, and Paul – thanks from me and the whole membership for taking care of the day-to-day business that makes the Chapter work.

Hoping to see you all at the May meeting.

—Martha Shaffer

Change in Professional Concerns Leadership

Effective in June 2008, Maxine McCormick will be resigning as Professional Concerns councilor for the Chapter. She has served in this position for many years, and we thank her for her faithfulness and her help to chapter members. Shawn Portell has volunteered to become the new councilor.

In 2004, Maxine and Shawn worked together to produce the second edition of “How to Develop and Maintain Quality Musical Leadership in Worship A Congregational Handbook.” This booklet is a basic reference for the business side of being a church musician, and contains resource material on contracts, job descriptions, and personnel issues. Copies are still available.

The Opus Will Take Annual Summer Hiatus

With this issue, The OPUS will begin its annual summer “vacation.” Publication will resume in August, with a deadline of August 1. If you are planning concerts after approximately August 24 and later, please submit your listings to the editor via e-mail at opusstlago@aol.com. Review a past newsletter issue for the format. It is preferable that you submit material in this abbreviated form, rather than send a lengthy news release for extraction.

As always, we welcome your contributions for the newsletter.

Organ and Solo Instruments Participants

Pairing of the organ with a solo instrument was the topic of the March Chapter meeting, hosted by Phil Rowland at Central Presbyterian Church. Varied combinations and levels of musical difficulty were presented. Those who played in the collaborations were, pictured above from left, Chuck Peery, harp; Marc Thayer, violin; David Erwin, organ; Susannah Arana, flute; Paul Vasile, organ; Bob Herman, saxophone; Gregory Caldwell, bassoon; and Henry Skolnick, contra bassoon.

A special highlight was the introduction of the prizewinning piece “Ornament of Grace” for organ and flute by Bernard Wayne Sanders. Guild members are encouraged to perform this music for Organ Spectacular, a world-wide series of concerts to be presented on Oct. 19.

Pipes Pedals Pizza Event Draws Enthusiastic Crowd

On Saturday morning, March 8, 27 students age 11 through 16 plus assorted teachers, parents, and young siblings gathered at Grace United Methodist Church for the Chapter-sponsored Pipes Pedals and Pizza program. After check-in and greetings, they divided into three groups and circulated through the activities: time at the console to play the organ, a video about Pipe Organ Encounter, and a walk through the organ pipe chambers. All of the students are currently studying piano, strings, and/or band instruments; a few had started basics on the organ. They were a very bright, polite, interested group of young people, AND they were very good at eating pizza and cookies!

Many thanks to Cathy Bolduan and the staff at Grace Church for hosting; to Marie Kremer, Cathy Bolduan, Pat Partridge, John Romeri, Darlene Reiner, Hank Glass, Mary Hitchcock-Reinhart, Martha Shaffer, and Elaine Simpson for planning and staffing the event; to Max Tenney for designing flyers and providing office support; to Rene Zajner for taking photos; and to Bob Dial for conducting the pipe chamber tours and speaking about various types of organ pipes.

Chapter-Sponsored High School Organ Competition

In the afternoon of March 8, three high school students played in a competition at Grace United Methodist. Each was required to prepare and play a piece of basic Bach (one of the Eight Little Preludes and Fugues, chorale prelude from Orgelbuchlein, or work of equal difficulty) and a selection of their own choice in a contrasting style. First place went to David Ball (student of John Romeri), second place to John Schneier (student of Hank Glass), and third place to Stephen Eros (student of Randy Asbury). These talented young men played a joint program at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, May 3, as part of the Flower Festival events.

Thanks to Pat Partridge for organizing the competition; to Ed Wallace, Andy Peters, and Martha Shaffer for serving as judges; and to Pat and the Cathedral staff for providing the opportunity for the public performance at Christ Church.

On The Concert Horizon…

Monday, May 5, 7:30 p.m.
Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, 9450 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo.
Duet recital with organists David Erwin, Dub Koon, Gretchen Ross, Patricia Webster, and pianists Gretchen Ross and Anne Peacock.

Sunday, May 11, 2:30 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust, St. Louis, Mo.
Mother’s Day concert. Annette Burkhart and Jennifer Lim, piano four-hands.

Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m.
Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, 45 West Lockwood, St. Louis, Mo.
“Motion in the Ocean” Children’s choir musical.

Sunday, June 1, 3 p.m.
Union United Methodist Church, 721 East Main, Belleville, Ill.
“Four Hands at a Piano” featuring Nancy Lawrence and Gail Long. Includes works by Mozart, Poulenc, and lighter selections.
Free-will offering.