The Tulsa Tracker - The American Guild of Organists – Tulsa Chapter

The Tulsa Tracker
Newsletter of the Tulsa Chapter,
American Guild of Organists
September, 2015
From the Dean…
Greetings!
It's hard to believe that Fall is nearly here! I know that all of you are busy with your program years beginning. There will
be tons of musical opportunities coming up - I hope that you will attend as many as possible.
Also coming in September will be the Douglas Nelson Recital. This year's artist is Stephen Tharp - one of the finest
organists living today. Don't miss it!
I hope to see you all at our opening party at Fr. Jack Power's house on the 1st. It will be wonderful to get together and
we'll hear a report from those who attended the Regional Convention in Fort Worth this summer. Did you know that you
can make a standing reservation for all of the AGO dinners this year? Just let Fred Elder know - he'll put you on the list.
We have a wonderful year of programming planned - I hope that you will all plan to attend as many as you can.
Details are found elsewhere in the Tracker.
I know that we were all saddened to hear of the death of our colleague John Scott. He
was to have played here in February for the Fred Elder series. Please keep his wife Lily,
their unborn child and the St. Thomas family in your prayers. Requiescat in pace John.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Casey
Casey Cantwell, Dean
from Lyndon:
Dear friends,
I hope you have had a relaxing and restful summer! I recently returned from Europe, where I was fortunate to spend over
a month in Italy, coaching voice students and also touring around for a bit. In Siena, I had the opportunity to see one of
the most well-preserved and unmodified organs from the 16th century in the beautiful Santissima Annunziata. It was a
wonderful sight!
We are pleased to announce the programs for 2015-16, and we are excited for what is in store! Please see the schedule
included with this month's Tracker. We are also very excited for our Nelson Memorial Concert artist, Stephen Tharp. He
is an incredible virtuoso and will be playing an interesting program of mostly transcriptions (including original transcriptions
of Rachmaninoff and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, among others). Don't miss it on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 pm,
when we will once again be able to enjoy the mighty and newly-renovated Austin organ at First Presbyterian Church.
Also, don't forget to put on your calendars our opening meeting on September 1st at the home of Rev. Jack
Powers. More information can be found in this issue!
Lyndon Meyer, SubDean
Beginning of the year party at the home of Reverend John C Powers
Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30pm – 2431 Terwilleger Boulevard in Tulsa.
Dinner reservations are due by Friday, August 28
fredelder@cox.net or 918-622-1472.
Cost of the dinner is $15.00 – make your reservation today!
Stephen Tharp
Stephen Tharp, hailed as “the organist for the connoisseur," is recognized as one
of the great concert organists of our age. Having played more than 1400
concerts across 45 tours worldwide, he has built one of the most well-respected
international careers in the world, earning him the reputation as the most
traveled concert organist of his generation.
He is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World, and was
given the 2011 International Performer of the Year Award by the New York City
chapter of the AGO. In May 2015, he was given the Paul Creston Award which
recognizes artistic excellence by a significant figure in church music and the performing arts.
Stephen Tharp earned his BA degree, magna cum laude, from Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL and his MM from
Northwestern University, Chicago, where he studied with Rudolf Zuiderveld and Wolfgang Rübsam, respectively. He has
also worked privately with Jean Guillou in Paris.
Following his acclaimed appearance at First Christian Church, Scientist, in June, 2014, Choir & Organ Magazine wrote:
“Stephen Tharp had the riskiest billing, closing out the (Boston AGO National) Convention in the only recital before the
entire gathering. Tharp responded with the performance of a lifetime [...] the whole thing so dazzlingly executed as to
emboss itself upon the memory."
Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 7:30pm
Douglas A Nelson Memorial Concert Series
and Tulsa Chapter AGO will present International Virtuoso
Stephen Tharp
First Presbyterian Church
709 S Boston Ave, Tulsa
Reception following • Free and open to the public
Program
Étude-Tableux No 9, Op 39
Prière, Op 20
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1897)
Symphonic (piano) Etudes, Op 13
Scherzo, from Symphony No 6, "Pathétique, Op 74
Sergei Rachmaninov (Transcription S Tharp)
César Franck
Paul Dukas (Transcription S Tharp)
Robert Schumann (Transcription Lionel Rogg)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Transcription Jean Guillou)
Membership Renewal –
We want to include you in the Chapter Directory – please renew
your membership or your Chapter Friend status today. Your
Chapter Friend donation directly supports Tulsa Chapter programs. We hope you will be a FRIEND!
On page 5 of this issue of the Tracker is the most current information that we have: if your name is not listed,
we haven’t received your renewal or Chapter Friend donation. The online renewal is very easy: your
Username is the initial of your first name and your last name. Your Password is your AGO membership
number, which can be found on the address label of every issue of TAO.
You can pay with a credit card, or you can print out the invoice so that you or your employer can send a check.
If you experience any problems, please contact Mike McCrary at michael-mccrary@utulsa.edu or 918-631-2793.
In the Community:
Tuesdays at Trinity ● 12:05 – 12:35pm
Sept 1 – Cody Lowery, Organist, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Okmulgee
Sept 8 – David Hughes, Organist, First Christian Church, Stillwater
Sept 15 – Karen Rich, Organist
Sept 22 – Kent Dennis, Pianist
Sept 29 – Linda Paul, Harpist
Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S Cincinnati, Tulsa
Begin-the-year-with-a-party • Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30pm
Dinner and meeting to start the year off with a party!
Rev. John C Powers’ home, 2431 Terwilleger Blvd, Tulsa • Reservations due by Friday, August 28.
Choral Evensong • Sunday, September 6 at 5:00pm
Sung by the Trinity Choir: Byrd Responses; Service Music Stanford in C; Anthem Wilby’s “God be in my head”
Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S Cincinnati, Tulsa • Reception follows
NEATs Gathering • Wednesday, September 9 at 10:30am
“Celebrating NEATs Members Talents: Music, Writers, Art, Crafts” with musicians: Ruth Reather, Dorothy
McFadden (100), and Joan Bell; writers: Opal Clark Moss (103) and Phyllis Braunlich; Artists: Wendy McDaris,
Clarice Tannehill and Emma Nicholls. Bill Andoe, executive director and CEO of bArt Center for Music will talk
about their Creative Aging Program. Bring a covered-dish for luncheon and canned dog/cat food for Meals on
Wheels for Pets. For information call NEATs, 918-743-1303 • Yale Avenue Christian Church, 36th and S Yale, Tulsa
Third Thursday Recital Series • September 17 at 12:15pm
Presenting Tulsa Symphony Orchestra String Quartet
University UMC, 500 S College, Tulsa • Lunch available after the concert
Douglas A Nelson Memorial Concert • Thursday, September 17 at 7:30pm
Internationally-renowned concert organist Stephen Tharp in recital on the recently renovated Austin pipe organ
First Presbyterian Church, 709 S Boston Ave, Tulsa • Free • Reception follows
Theatre Organ Society Concert • Friday, September 18 at 7:00pm
Chapter members perform duets on the theatre pipe organ and a player piano, providing thrilling old music from
the first half of the Twentieth Century, presented in a novel (and toe-tapping) fashion • Free
Tulsa Technology Center, 129th E Avenue (Olive) and 111th Street (Florence), Broken Arrow
Evenings at the Bernsen • Friday, September 18 at 7:30pm
Presenting Amy Cottingham & Friends • Enjoy Amy at the piano; gypsy jazz music with guitarists Clay Welch and
Zach Miller and bassist Jordan Hehl; vocalist Sarah Feist and harpist Seth Lynn performing both classical and
Broadway; Sharla Pember on hammered dulcimer; Tulsa Latin Style Salsa Band • Tickets available at the door
Great Hall of the Bernsen Center, 700 S Boston Ave, Tulsa
Choral Evensong • Sunday, September 20 at 5:00pm
Sung by the Trinity Choir: Hancock Responses; Service Music Sumsion in G; Joubert “O Lorde the maker of all thinge”
Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S Cincinnati, Tulsa • Reception follows
Choral Evensong • Sunday, September 27 at 5:30pm
Sung by the Choir of Trinity Episcopal Church, Casey Cantwell, Organist and Music Director
Hancock Responses; Service Music Sumsion in G; Joubert “O Lorde the maker of all thinge”
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4200 S Atlanta Pl, Tulsa • Reception follows
Lunch and Conversation with Keith Getty • Monday, September 28 12:00noon – 2:00pm
Worship leaders are invited to a time of conversation and helpful instruction • Free, but donations appreciated
Reservations required by September 14 online: gettymusic.com/leaders
First Presbyterian Church, 709 S Boston, Tulsa
Hymns for the Christian Life • Monday, September 28 at 7:00pm
Keith & Kristyn Getty in concert as part of the 130th Anniversary Celebration
First Presbyterian Church, 709 S Boston, Tulsa • Advance Tickets ($25) at 918-584-4701
In the Region:
Organ Recital • Thursday, September 3 at 7:00pm
Andreas Sagstetter, Music Director and Organist of Stiftbasilika Waldsassen, Germany performs music of
Muffat, Bach, Mendelssohn and Boëllmann • Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N Shartel, Oklahoma City
40th Annual Faculty Recital • Thursday, September 10 at 7:30pm
Dr. Linton Powell presents his annual organ and harpsichord recital • Free
UT Arlington Fine Arts Building, Irons Recital Hall, 700 Greek Row Dr, Arlington, TX
First Presbyterian Church, 524 S. Duncan, Stillwater, OK
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AT 4:00PM
ANNIVERSARY ORGAN RECITAL
REBECCA TE VELDE AND BRETT CARVER, ORGANISTS
125TH ANNIVERSARY – FPC STILLWATER
60TH ANNIVERSARY – REUTER/BANKS PIPE ORGAN
FREEWILL OFFERING FOR THE GRAND PIANO FUND
RECEPTION FOLLOWING
Mildred Andrews Boggess Centennial Celebration (1915-1987) • September 25-26, 2015
The Organ Department at the University of Oklahoma was one of the most highly regarded organ programs in
the United States during the nearly four-decade tenure of Mildred Andrews Boggess (1941-1976). Professor Andrews
produced more Fulbright Scholars among her organ students (17 in total) and national organ competition winners (20 in
total) than any other professor in American history. Many of her students, including Dorothy Young Riess, Clyde
Holloway, Diane Bish, Delbert Disselhorst, Stephen Roberts, and Donald Dumler, went on to
become significant leaders in the organ profession, holding positions of note as performers,
church musicians, and pedagogues at numerous institutions.
“Teaching is more than a matter of technique. It is an art. Organ teachers are the guardians of a
living tradition. A distinguished teacher should pass his art on to another generation with the
tradition enriched and still-growing.” -Mildred Andrews Boggess
Celebrate her life and legacy at these public performances:
Faculty Showcase Concert – Friday, September 25 at 8:00pm
Alumni/Student Recital – Saturday, September 26 at 11:00am
Gala Concert by George Baker – Saturday, September 26 at 8:00pm
Visit ou.edu/aoi for more information and a complete schedule
Coming in October:
“Organ & Others” Concert • Sunday, October 4, 6:00pm
Dan Vaughan, Cheryl Melvin and other musicians show off the recent upgrade of the 1977 Reuter pipe organ
Christ United Methodist Church, 3515 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa
Organ Recital • Sunday, October 11 at 3:00pm
Joseph Arndt, Organist/Choirmaster in recital • Reception following
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4200 S Atlanta Pl, Tulsa
42nd Annual Organ Recital • Sunday, October 11 at 4:00pm
Organist and Music Director Ron Pearson in recital • Reception following
First Presbyterian Church, 709 S Boston Ave, Tulsa
CHAPTER NEWS
Financial Report August 17, 2015:
Checking
Savings
Nelson Fund
Total
$2,726.37
$62,716.96
$56,581.91
$122,025.84
In the September issue of THE AMERICAN ORGANIST?
There is a nice article about Mike Bedford’s retirement on Page 14.
AND –
Look for Mike’s short story “A Hallowe’en Tale” in the October issue!!
Congratulations!
to these current members of the Tulsa Chapter:
AGO members receive the award-winning magazine The American Organist,
and all the other benefits of membership.
Joseph Arndt
Michael Bedford
Sean Bowman
Alice Brook
Casey Cantwell
Charles Chapman
Linda Cooper
Michele Cowen
James Craven
Barbara Elder
Fred Elder
Gerald Frank
Eliot Glaser
Jon Grigson
Norma Helen Hampton
Karen Hiller
Nedda Horvath
Ferne Howell
Rocky Kollmeyer
Dale LeStourgeon
Lonnie Liggitt
Jeanette Maxfield
Mike McCrary
Carolyn McCright
Karen Meyer
Lyndon Meyer
Gay Miller
Joel Panciera
Susan Panciera
Ron Pearson
Paul Pinkosky
Linda Polk
Judith Popp
Karen Rich
John Riester
Anne Roberts
Vicki Schaeffer
Alta Selvey
Bill Shambaugh
Vicki Smith
Tom Starnes
Michelle Steanson
Phyllis Swift
Bruce Wilkin
THANK YOU to these current Chapter Friends:
Tulsa Chapter Friends support programming and other activities.
SPONSOR ($200 and above)
Michael Bedford
Fred and Barbara Elder
Tom and Karen Rich
PATRON ($100 to $199)
Casey Cantwell
Lyndon Meyer
SUSTAINING ($50 TO $99)
CONTRIBUTING ($10 TO $49)
James Craven
Joyce Hatchett
Gerald Frank
Nedda Horvath
Ferne Howell
Carolyn McCright
Mike McCrary
Teresa Petray
Joel and Susan Panciera
Bill Shambaugh
John Simmons
Ruth Tatroe
Richard and Peggy Ziglar*
*In honor of Susie M Daugherty
Should YOUR name be on one of these lists?
Join AGO today; renew your membership; or be a Chapter Friend!
Free Music: Gleason “Method of Organ Playing,” music by Bonnet, Franck, Rowley and
more. Contact Dr. Jim Green at jbjgreen@gmail.com for more information.
CHRIST UMC, Tulsa – PIPE ORGAN UPGRADE
The Reuter pipe organ at Christ United Methodist Church in Tulsa was
installed in 1977. It started showing signs of wear and needed an
upgrade of the relays, couplers and combination action system. The
upgrade was completed in Feb/March this year by Dan Vaughan of
Vaughan Keyboard Service Inc. of Rockwall TX. The upgrade includes
multiple memory levels, a transposer, programmable crescendo and
sforzando, an LCD screen, reversible pistons, Pedal to Great coupler, a built in digital recorder, a USB connection for a
thumb drive, and a new extended length optic cable between the console and the pipe room. This upgrade also allows
for a possible integration of using MIDI with the pipe organ in the future.
A free concert at Christ UMC is scheduled for Sunday Oct 4th at 6:00pm to show off these new features and to give a
better understanding of everything that was done. The concert will feature solos and duets from Cheryl Melvin (CUMC
organist) and Dan Vaughan (the organ tech and also organist/worship director at First Presbyterian Church in Rockwall
TX), the CUMC Chancel Ringers & Chancel Choir, plus other musicians. We welcome everyone to come & enjoy!
All Saints Anglican Cathedral - Choirmaster & Organist. This parish offers traditional liturgies
according to the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the English Missal. Emphasis on Gregorian chant,
Renaissance polyphony, traditional English hymnody (The Hymnal 1940), and classic organ works.
One High Mass per week, plus holy days, regular Evensong, and Advent Lessons & Carols. For further
details, please contact Lance Davis at gitlance@gmail.com or at 918-605-1915(call/text).
Unity Church of Christianity - Pianist/organist to support our Sunday Service. We have a Shimmel Grand Piano, Rogers
Organ and Kurzweil keyboard. We are a New Thought Church and applicants must be comfortable with progressive
Christian thinking, theological interpretation and music. This is a part time position – we have one service at 10:30am on
Sunday plus extra holiday services. Salary is to be determined upon hire. Applicants should send resume with two
references and contact phone number to Rev. Mary Anne Harris at 3355 S. Jamestown Ave, Tulsa, OK 74135.
anovarising@gmail.com or call the church at 918-749-8833.
St. Monica and St. Augustine Catholic Church - Organist/pianist to enhance our Sunday worship. We have a Protégé
electric organ, a Rodgers electric organ and studio pianos. Applicants should be versatile in all kinds of church and
spiritual music, especially African American Spiritual songs. In addition, applicant must be comfortable with the Catholic
Mass, be willing to learn new music and Mass settings, and work with the pastor and choir director. This work is part
time: Every Sunday from 8 am to 12 pm, one to two hours on Thursday evenings for practice, some Holy Days of
Obligation, as well as Holy Week. In addition, funerals are also a possibility. Salary is to be determined upon hire.
Applicants should send resume with two references and contact phone number to Fr. Jim Caldwell at 633 East Marshall
Place, Tulsa, OK 74106. Jammingjim1999@yahoo.com or Church Phone 918-587-2965.
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Enid – Organist for one service on Sunday and one rehearsal on Wednesday
(Wednesdays are negotiable if there is a travel issue). Contact Elizabeth Allen, Choir Director at (580) 478-8673 or
Father John Toles at (580) 237-4737.
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Chickasha – part time (15-20hrs) organist/director. 12 rank Möller Artiste organ.
2 Sunday masses: 9am English, 11:30a Spanish (Fluency in Spanish is not required for this job!)
2 choir rehearsals both Wednesday evening (currently scheduled at 5 and 7:15p)
Several Holy Day masses throughout the year. If interested contact Joel Schroeder at secretary@holynamechickasha.org
For more info from the current organist/director you may contact Alvez Barkoskie at taurus86_iv@yahoo.com
Registration is officially open for the
EAST TEXAS PIPE ORGAN FESTIVAL, November 8- 12, 2015.
Visit the website today to place your order and to register for this year's
festival with special guest of honor Albert Russell!
www.easttexaspipeorganfestival.com
Also, be sure to call the Kilgore Comfort Suites to book your rooms for this
year's East Texas Pipe Organ Festival, November 8-12! Call to reserve your
room today, and make sure you tell them it's for the organ festival. Please
call the hotel directly (instead of making reservations online, which just
does not work!): 903- 984-2385. . . . Lorenz Maycher
SOUTHWEST AGO REGIONAL CONVENTION A BIG SUCCESS!
A great crowd of 219 attended the four-day event, June 28 –
July 1, 2015, that was designed and hosted by the Fort Worth Chapter. AGO members came from all over the
six state region of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, and even from outside
the region: Australia, Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, and Nevada.
The Sheraton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth served as home base for the convention, but buses took
registrants to 8 area churches, the campus of Texas Christian University, the Redman organ shop, Temple
Beth-El, and the museums in Fort Worth’s cultural district.
The convention started with the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists, with
Monica Czausz winning the $1000 prize and Owen Reid winning the $500 prize. A wide variety of programs
was offered: recitals featuring the organ, handbells, and harpsichord; workshops covering notation software,
certification, new organ and new choral music, tips on working with choirs, organ improvisation in worship
services, how to include the organ with other instruments in contemporary worship music, and more.
Religious services included the opening festival service, a Catholic vespers service, and a Taizé service.
The exhibit hall, complete with cash bar, was the center of attention each evening, providing a place not only
to visit the exhibit booths but to reflect on the day’s events and partake in lively conversation.
Two commissioned compositions were premiered: “Procession: A Gloryous Faire for Handbells and
Organ,” by Sondra Tucker and a work for organ and choir, “Christie eleison,” by S. Andrew Lloyd. The
convention included two lunches, a regional business meeting and dinner, and a closing banquet with
southwestern cuisine and a mariachi band in keeping with the convention’s motto: “Together... where the
West begins.”
As a further measure of success, the convention will provide a significant financial return to the
chapter’s treasury. Perhaps the best measure of success is the many emails sent by registrants after the
convention closed: “Thanks to all the members of the Fort Worth Chapter for a superb convention, one of the
top in my recent memory. A stellar program, and I thought that the level of the performances not only was of
an exceptionally high standard of playing, but also of exquisite, heart-touching and vibrant artistry— a
treasure trove of riches.”
-H. Joseph Butler, DMA, AAGO, Convention Coordinator
Chapter website: www.tulsaago.org
Casey Cantwell, Dean
casey@caseycantwell.com
918.809.9162
Lyndon Meyer, Sub-Dean
lmeyer@churchofsaintmary.com
918.373.9068
Eliot Glaser, Auditor
eg@eliotglaser.com
Members-at-Large
Karen Hiller (2016)
Vicki Smith (2018)
Ferne Howell (2020)
Fred Elder, Treasurer
fredelder@cox.net
Karen Rich, Secretary/Historian
karen.rich.tulsa@gmail.com
Mike McCrary, Auditor
michael-mccrary@utulsa.edu
Send items for inclusion in the October issue of the TRACKER by September 23 to Karen.rich.tulsa@gmail.com
2015-2016 Programs
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
6:30 PM
Start-the-year-with-a-party Party
Home of Rev. John C Powers, 2431 Terwilleger Blvd, Tulsa
Thursday, September 17, 2015
7:30 PM
Douglas A. Nelson Memorial Concert
International Concert Organist Stephen Tharp in Recital
First Presbyterian Church, 709 S Boston Ave, Tulsa
Thursday, October 22, 2015
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
“Music for the Fall Festivals”
Dinner/Meeting
Recital presented by Tulsa Chapter Members
Christ the King Catholic Church, 16th and S Quincy, Tulsa
Monday, November 23, 2015
“Improvisation Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry:
Strategies for the Successful Liturgical Improviser”
Dinner/Meeting
Workshop by Bruce Neswick, Trinity Cathedral, Portland, OR
Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S Cincinnati, Tulsa
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
Service of Lessons and Carols
Dinner/Meeting
Camerata Singers and Members of Tulsa Symphony
Boston Avenue UMC, 1301 S Boston, Tulsa
Friday, February 5, 2016
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
Recital
Dinner/Meeting
Organist Damin Spritzer, University of Oklahoma
Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S Cincinnati, Tulsa
Thursday, March 3, 2016
6:30 PM
7:30 PM
AGO/Quimby Regional Competition Winner
Dinner Meeting
Organist Monica Czausz, Student at Rice University
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4200 S Atlanta Pl, Tulsa
Friday, April 22, 2016
6:00 PM
7:30 PM
Oklahoma City Exchange Recital
Joint Dinner/Meeting with OKC Chapter
Recital by Joseph Arndt, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tulsa
Christ the King Catholic Church, 8005 Dorset Drive, Oklahoma City
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
6:30 PM
End-the-year-with-a-party Party and Election of Officers
Home of Dale and Cheryl LeStourgeon, 5109 E 106th Street, Tulsa
Need more information? Contact Lyndon Meyer: lmeyer@churchofsaintmary.com or 918-373-9068