Past Activities

 

 

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Past issues of the Utah Valley Chapter newsletter and other historical information are archived here

 

Past Chapter Activities

 

A year-by-year outline of our chapter activities since 1987.

 

2005 Power Point Presentation

(without music)

 

 

Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

Activities from 1987 to present

 

2011-2012:  Dean Florence Hawkinson

 

2010-2011:  Dean Florence Hawkinson

 

2009-2010: Dean Mike Carson

 

September 18: The late Dr. A. Laurence Lyon, noted LDS composer and teacher, was honored at a musical tribute in Provo at the Oakhills LDS Stake Center. The program featured music for organ, piano, strings, and voice, performed by the composer’s friends, colleagues, and family members, including an appearance by the Utah Valley University Chamber Choir, directed by Dyanne Riley.

 

October 30: The chapter celebrated its 30th anniversary with a dinner party and program in Provo at the Edgemont South Stake Center. Founding members and former deans were recognized. Joan Stevens, dean from 1984-1986, addressed the group, and Seth Bott, Region IX winner of the 2009 AGO/Quimby Competition for Young Organists and student of Dr. Don Cook, performed a 30-minute concert.

 

November 13: Dr. Kenneth Udy, University Organist at the University of Utah, performed hymn-based organ literature at the Grove Creek Stake Center in Pleasant Grove.

 

January 22: Felipe Dominguez, chapter BYU student representative, gave a lecture on "Musical Implications of Early Fingering Techniques" at the BYU Harris Fine Arts Center.

 

February 21: David Chamberlin presented a “Festival of Hymns” in the Grove Creek Stake Center in Pleasant Grove. The program featured David playing some of his delightful hymn voluntaries and other pieces, as well as some exhilarating congregational singing.

 

March 21: Claire Rogers organized the annual Bach member recital at the Utah State Hospital chapel to honor “Papa Bach” on the 325th anniversary of his birth. The performers were: Carol Dean, Tanner Bowman, Jean Funk, Sheri Peterson, Mike Carson, Nora Hess, Gayle Farnsworth, Judy Wright, Florence Hawkinson, Miranda Wilcox, Ruth Ann Hay, Lori Serr, Ruth Eldredge, and Felipe Dominguez.

 

April 24: The chapter sponsored its annual Super Saturday at the BYU Harris Fine Arts Center with 175 eager attendees. There were many teens in the organ essentials classes. W. Herbert Klopfer, from the LDS General Church Music committee gave the keynote address and taught three classes.

 

May 21: A closing social/potluck/informal was held at the LDS chapel at 1929 West 1500 North in Lehi, attended by 22 people.  The informal member recital was held on a recently installed Johannus organ.

 

2008-2009:  Dean Mike Carson

 

September 11: Opening Gala at The Chillon in Spanish Fork. A buffet dinner was served, followed by the installation of the 2008-2010 incoming officers by Dr. Linda Margetts, Tabernacle Organist and AGO Regional Counselor of Professional Development. A special Lifetime Service Award and plaque were given to Dr. Parley Belnap, charter member of UVAGO and Professor Emeritus, BYU, in recognition of his dedicated service and distinguished accomplishments in organ education. Dr. John Longhurst, former Tabernacle Organist, was the guest speaker. Special music was provided by chapter member Lella Pomeroy.

 

October 22: "Organ Spectacular" at the Salt Lake Tabernacle by Thomas Dahl, organist and director of music at St. Peter's Church in Hamburg, Germany. This recital was presented by the BYU School of Music in commemoration of the AGO's International Year of the Organ.

 

November 21: Dr. Douglas E. Bush lecture "Hugo Distler: A 20th-Century Voice from the Past" at Provo Central Stake Center, celebrating Distler's 100th birthday. Brian Mathias masterfully played Distler's Partita "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" op. 8/1.

 

January 2: "Ninth Day of Christmas" potluck dinner, caroling, and a discussion led by David Chamberlin on the liturgical elements of the season. Held at Nancy Christensen's home in Santaquin.

 

February 22: Hymn-sing by David Chamberlin in the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork. CANCELLED due to electrical problems with the organ. Was rescheduled for April 26.

 

March 20: All-Bach member recital in commemoration of J.S. Bach's birth, organized by Claire Rogers, in the Provo Central Stake Center. Chapter members who played were Claire Rogers, Susan Jorgensen, Nora Hess, Nathan Hess (11 years old!), Mike Carson, Carol Dean, and Lori Serr.

 

April 25: "Super Saturday: Training for the Church Organist," held at Harris Fine Arts Center at BYU. Over 175 church musicians attended. Dr. Don Cook, organ area coordinator in the BYU School of Music, was the keynote speaker. Workshops were held through mid-afternoon. Event was chaired by Lori Serr, chapter board member over Professional Development.

 

April 26: Hymn-sing with David Chamberlin at the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork, featuring festive hymn singing and original organ solos by the organist. A 20-minute recital of Bach, Mendelssohn, and Chamberlin preceded the program.

 

May 15: Chapter "Informal" at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Chapter members played the Tabernacle organ in an informal setting. Organized by Ruth Ann Hay, chapter board member.

 

June 23: Ruth Eldredge, an honors music graduate at Brigham Young University in 2007 and a recent Masters of Musicology graduate from Oxford University (England), lectured on the topic, "Bach's Two-part Inventions: What Can We Learn from Learning the Inventions?" at the State Hospital Chapel in Provo.

 

July 10: the chapter hosted an informal gathering at the home of member Claudia Johnson in Cedar Hills to meet Region IX Councillor Frances (Frankie) Nobert, who was in Utah to attend a Bonneville District leadership meeting the following day. Dr. Nobert played several selections on the Rodgers organ for the 20 people in attendance, and the group enjoyed socializing and refreshments afterward

 

 

2007-2008:  Dean Nancy Christensen

September 19Ruth Eldredge gave a power point presentation about her summer spent studying at Cambridge, England and her upcoming graduate studies at Oxford.

October 23Chapter recital celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Dietrich Buxtehude. Doug Bush and Don Cook also gave presentations.

November 15 – Don Cook demonstrated the new Rodgers organ in the Marriott Center

December 16 – Christmas recital [cancelled]

January 27 – Hymn Sing with David Chamberlin

February 28 – Lella Pomeroy presentation on French Romantic organ music [cancelled]

March 22  - Annual Bach chapter recital

April 26 – Super Saturday organ workshop for church organists

May 20An evening with noted composer, Frank Ashdown. He shared his life story as a composer then he, Don Cook, David Chamberlin, and Jim Drake played some of his music.

 

2006-2007:  Dean Nancy Christensen

August 27 – Joint meeting with the Salt Lake Chapter at First Presbyterian Church

September 11 -  Opening social—Music fair.  Members perused and listened to new music.

October 3 – Chapter recital celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of Johann Pachelbel

November 9 – James Drake on the Alexander Method of performance relaxation

December 1 – Christmas party at Jeanine Lepinsky’s home.  Potluck supper.  Played and sang Christmas music.

January 9 – Pedagogy evening.  Presentations by Parley Belnap, Don Cook, Lori Serr, Carol Dean, and Amy Johnson.

February 7Ruth Eldredge gave a power-point presentation on her study abroad in Portugal and David Chamberlin gave a slide presentation of his recent trip and performances in Germany.

March 16 – Annual Bach chapter recital

April 28 – Super Saturday organ workshop for church organists

May 20  - Picnic at the Bigelow organ factory followed by a quiz on hymn trivia from the LDS hymnal.

 

 

2005-2006:  Dean David Chamberlin

September 29 – Opening social. “Music to Make You Laugh and Smile,” held in Dr. Douglas Bush’s office at BYU

October 16 – “Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord” David Chamberlin, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City.

November 4 – Member Romantic Recital at Lella Pomeroy’s LDS Chapel in Springville

December 18  - Community Christmas Choir; Douglas Bush, director, and Larry Tomkinson, organist

January 3  - Sharing of Voluntaries by David Chamberlin at LDS Chapel 481 E. Center Street in Orem

February 12 – “Tour of Hymns,” Thomas Hinckley and LDS Ward in Santaquin

March 18 – Member Bach Recital, Provo Central Stake Center

April 8  - “Super Saturday” organ workshop at BYU

May 6  - Closing Social, Member Recital / Picnic at the Utah State Hospital Chapel

 

2004-2005: Dean David Chamberlin

September  - Opening AGO Meeting/Social

October - Observation of Suzuki Organ Teacher teaching young students using pedal extensions, in SLC - combined meeting with Salt Lake Chapter. 

November - Daniel Gawthrop Organ Concerto featuring Rick Elliott and BYU-Idaho Symphony Orchestra, Tabernacle, SLC.

December - Community Christmas Choir, led by Douglas Bush

January – Member recital:  Evening of Performing Romantic Organ Music

February - Hymn Sing by Douglas Bush

March - Evening of Performing Bach’s Organ Works

April  - Super Saturday Organ Workshop at BYU

May - Closing Member Recital/Potluck at Glenn and Mary Potter’s home in Park City (3-manual Rodgers)

 

2003 – 2004:  Dean Cindy Wells

September – Organs at Richard Adams’ home

October –meeting rescheduled

November – Music for Christmas, organ arrangements

December – Baroque Ensemble, etc.

January – Conducting Skills Workshop

February – Provo Tabernacle Organ Crawl

March – Super Saturday

April – Member recital

May – Closing social at Gayle Farnsworth’s cabin

 

2002 – 2003: Dean Cindy Wells

September – Opening Social, Carillon Concert – Neil Thornock

October – Conference Center Organ Crawl

November – Hymn Playing Survival Skills workshop

December – Carol Sing at the State Hospital Chapel

January – “Moral Measure of Music,” Thomas K. Hinckley

February – Theater organ at Mike Ohman’s home

March – Super Saturday Workshop

April - Easter Concert, Lella Pomeroy

May – Member Recital

 

2001 - 2002: Dean Parley Belnap

September - "Hymn Playing Survival Skills for the Beginner to Advanced Organist"

October - Organ crawl, Lively-Fulcher organ revisited

November - Ken Udy lecture on Alexander Schreiner at the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork

December - Mapleton Chorale Christmas Concert at the Provo Tabernacle

January - "Alexander Technique" by Dr. James Drake

February - cancelled

March - Dr. Don Cook organ recital

April - Super Saturday organ workshop

May - Tour of Bigelow Organ Factory and member recital at the Alpine Tabernacle

 

2000 - 2001: Dean Parley Belnap

September - Potluck dinner/organ tour at Bigelow Organ Factory

October - Pipes Spectacular at Provo Tabernacle

November - Organ crawl at the U of U.  Lively-Fulcher Organ

December - Mapleton Chorale Christmas Concert in Springville

January - "The Organist as Accompanist" workshop at the Oak Hills Stake Center

February - Hymn Sing in the BYU deJong Concert Hall

March - Malva Freymuth workshop on "Mental Practice and Imagery for Musicians" at BYU

April -Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza with silent movie at BYU

May - Pipes 'n' Potluck, member recital at Heritage Music

 

1999 - 2000: Dean LuJean Moss

September - BYU Organ Students report on their summer trip to Germany

October - Preludes, Postlude, and Hymns Workshop at the Sunset Stake Center.

November - Dr. Parley Belnap's report on his experiences at the Jerusalem Center at LuJean Moss' house

December - Tour of the Cathedral of the Madeleine.  Also, master class/recital by Kimberly Marshall

January - "A Festival of Hymns,” a hymn sing in the Madsen Recital Hall

March - AGO/BYU Student Award Recital

April - Hymn Playing Workshop at Heritage Music

 

1998 - 1999: Dean LuJean Moss

September - Opening Social at LuJean Moss' house

October - Hymn Playing Workshop for Youth at the Provo Community Church

November - Workshop on Understanding Organ Registration and Adapting Piano Choir Music to Organ at Heritage Music

December - Provo City Library presentation (cancelled)

January - Second American Classic Organ Symposium in SLC on Temple Square

February - An Evening of Hymn Singing at the Provo Central Stake Center

March - St. John's Passion, BYU's Early Music Ensemble, Cathedral of Madeleine, SLC and Provo Tabernacle

April - Pedals, Pipes, and Pizza at the North Park Stake Center

May - Open House at Bigelow Organ Factory

 

1997 - 1998:  Dean Larry Tomkinson

September - Opening Social at Lion's Park

October - Christmas music at Sunset Stake Center.

November - BYU organ student presentation, Kimberly Keller Moody

December - Christmas get-together at LuJean Moss'

January - BYU performance class

February - Hymn Playing/Organ Techniques Mini-Workshop at Heritage Music.

March - Performance of Bach's B-Minor Mass, by BYU's Early Music Ensemble

April - Tribute to Robert P. Manookin at Sunset Stake Center

May - Field trip to Hal Stoddard's "Hooper-nacle" in Hooper, Utah

 

1996 - 1997:  Dean Larry Tomkinson

September -"Festival Organ Exhibit," picnic and Carillon Bell concert

October - Lecture by Ron Poll, "Festival Organ" event

November - ideas for using the hymns for preludes and postludes

December - get together at LuJean Moss's home

January - World's Largest Town Hall Meeting

February - John Ferguson, master class and hymn sing

March - BYU organ students play Bach

April - James Drake, the Alexander Technique

May - Closing social, potluck dinner at Lee Clark's house

 

1995 - 1996: Dean Lella Pomeroy

September - Potluck dinner at Robin Cardon's

October - Don Cook, "Technology and Tradition:  The Computer Age Affects the Organ"

November - David Day (BYU Librarian), Tour of BYU Library

December - no meeting

January - Robert Clark Master Class/Recital, BYU

February - Ron Poll, organ crawl at Provo Tabernacle

March - Open house at Bigelow Organ Factory

April - "World's Largest Organ Recital," AGO Centennial, BYU

May - Closing Social, potluck dinner at Lee Clark's house

 

1994 - 1995:  Dean Lella Pomeroy

September - Installation dinner for new officers, Utah County Building

October - Mike Carson, Overview of new music available, State Hospital Chapel

November - Gerald Dick, Lecture/demonstration on how to write hymn introductions, interludes, free accompaniments, Community Church

December - no meeting

January - Lella Pomeroy, The Organ as an Accompanying Instrument, Springville.

February - Ed Hansen, Master Class, BYU

March - Doug Bush, Lecture on J.S. Bach and his culture/Member recital, Provo Central Stake

April - Hymn sing, presented by BYU students, Oak Hills Stake Center

May - Joan Stevens and Parley Belnap, Lecture on Flor Peeters, BYU

 

1993-1994:  Dean Carol Dean

August - Opening Social at Robin Cardon's Chalet

September - Sandra Soderlund, Lecture on "The Eight Preludes and Fugues," SLC

October - American Contemporary Repertoire Session

November - Joan Stevens, How to accompany Handel's "Messiah"

December - Christmas dinner

January - DeeAnn Brinkeroff, "The Elizabethan Virginalists and Their Figural Technique"

February - Dan Berghout, Lecture/recital of Jehan Alain

March - "All Bush Night," members played the music of Doug Bush

April - LuJean Moss and Claire Rogers, "Appropriate Music for Sacrament Meeting"

 

1992 - 1993:  Dean Carol Dean

August - Box supper dinner on lawn at BYU/Don Cook, Carillon Concert

September - German Baroque (except J.S. Bach)

October - Holiday Music

November - English, Italian, and French Eras

December - Doug Bush, Lecture on J.S. Bach/dinner

January - Joan Stevens and J. J. Keeler, Special Occasion Music

February - Parley Belnap, German Romantic Period

March - Parley Belnap, French Romantic Period

April - Don Cook, European Contemporary Composers

 

1991 - 1992:  Dean Thomas K. Hinckley

September - Panel discussion: "Programs for Sacred Musical Training and Performance"

October - David Warner, "Sacred Style of Singing"

November - Provo Central Stake Choir rehearsal discussion with conductor and organist

December - Don Cook, Organist/choir interface

January - Arthur Henry King, Discussion on "Renaissance of English Music, 1870- WW II"

February - Mini Workshop on Sacred Music

March - Report on the "Historical Organ in America Conference"

April/May - Celebration on the First Two Centuries of Congregational Hymnody: Luther to Bach.

 

1990 - 1991: Dean Thomas K. Hinckley

August - Opening Social, Exchange Park

September - Richard and Liz Elliott, "The Sound of Music" by Rodgers and Hammered Strings: A comparison of hymn playing, techniques on the piano and organ.

October - Richard Elliott and Parley Belnap, "The Vision of Organ Training at BYU"

November - Parley Belnap and Doug Bush, lecture on hymn playing

December - Mike Bigelow and David Chamberlin, "Considerations of Organ Tone as it Pertains to the LDS Tradition"

January - Open house at Bigelow Organ Factory February - J.J. Keeler, "Appropriate Prelude and Postlude Music for worship services"

March - Thom Hinckley and Doug Bush, "Celebration of Hymns of the Restoration"

April - John Longhurst, "Discussion of playing choral accompaniments on the organ"

 

1989 - 1990: Dean Scott Mills

August - Opening Social, Nunns Park, Provo Canyon

September - Doug Bush, Lecture on European Organs

October - J.J. Keeler, Piano Practice for Organists, canceled, held in January

November - Ecumenical Service

December - BYU Organ Tour

January - J.J. Keeler

February - James Welsh Recital, SLC

March - Geoff Myers, Late 19th and early 20th century organ composers

April - Thom Hinckley, "The Pipe Paradigm"

May - Chapter Recital, Madsen Recital Hall

 

1988 - 1989:  Dean Scott Mills

August - Opening Social, Jo Oaks Cabin

September - J.J. Keeler, "The Evolution of Organ Pedagogy from the 19th Century to Present"

October - Bigelow Organ Factory Tour

November - All Faith Thanksgiving Service

December - Carillon Tower Crawl

January - American Classic Organ Symposium, SLC Tabernacle Organ

February - Thom Hinckley, "What Makes a Good Hymn?"

March - Walter Whipple Recital

April - Chapter Recital, Provo Tabernacle

May - Robert Cundick and Louis Whitman lecture, Assembly Hall, SLC

 

1987 - 1988:  Dean Scott Mills

September - Parley Belnap, Goals of AGO and BYU Organ Certification Program

October - James Drake, "Alexander Technique for Relaxation While Performing"

November - Doug Bush, Reconstruction of a 17th Century Lutheran Service

December - Doug Bush, Christmas Music of Scheidt and Buxtehude

January - Karel Paukert, Master class/recital, Assembly Hall, SLC

February - J.J. Keeler, French Traditions in the Organ Music of J.S. Bach

March - Ralph Woodward, "Appropriate Music for Church Worship"

April - cancelled

May - Organ Crawl, SLC