Progam ideas for chapters

Now is the time of year that many chapter program committees are meeting to plan programs for the upcoming program year.  I am grateful to Paul H. Hesselink, AGO District Convener who lives in Las Vegas, for compiling the following list of program ideas, and to Leslie Wolf Robb, Councillor for Region IX, for forwarding it to all of her fellow Councillors, including me.  I hope it's helpful to your chapter!  Jan

Program Ideas Gleaned from Issues of The American Organist  

August 2010 through July 2011 

I suspect that the “Chapter News” sections of TAO may be among the most “under-read” parts of the magazine.  There are many creative ideas contained in these reports of chapter activities.  In compiling this list of program ideas, the more “usual” events such as member recitals, student recitals, Halloween Spooktaculars, organ crawls, and other events often part of regular chapter programming were not included. In order to qualify for the list, the program reported had to have a unique or creative quality. The programs are referenced by issue, page numbers and chapter report so you can go back to the original description for the details.  


August 2010—pp.18-30
A presentation (DVD) of early American organs and organ music. (Monmouth, N.J. Chapter)
A workshop on “registration.” (Binghamton, N.Y. Chapter)
A “Members’ Choice Recital” (Westchester County, N. Y. Chapter)
“The Music of Canadian Composer, Denis Bédard” (District of Columbia Chapter)
“Chant Based Works for Organ” (Pittsburgh, Pa Chapter)
A program of organ music for four hands and four feet. (Northern Virginia Chapter) (See also January, 2011, Savannah, Ga. Chapter.)
Workshop on “What to Do with a New Piece.” (Oklahoma City, Okla. Chapter)
“Organ Music 2010: What’s New for Sunday Morning? And Some forget-Me-Nots” (Austin, Tex. Chapter)


September 2010 – pp. 18-32
Dessert buffet and viewing of AGO video Pulling Out All the Stops. (Lancaster, Pa. Chapter)

October 2010 – pp. 20-29

Not necessarily a “program idea” but perhaps useful:  “Getting to Know You.” Members are encouraged to submit brief bios and each newsletter will feature a number of them. (Greater Hartford, Conn. Chapter)

“Nordic Delights” – a program of Scandinavian organ music (Central New Jersey Chapter)

“Taize: How to Make it Work for Your Congregation” (Southern Indiana Chapter)

November 2010 – pp. 22-26

“Bach’s Schübler Chorales.” Program included singing of each of the chorales, a performance of the cantata movement, and playing of the organ setting.   (Louisville, Ky. Chapter)

December 2010 – pp. 26-36

An anthem reading session of works representing American folk, spiritual and gospel styles. (Miami, Fla. Chapter)

A panel of clergy and musicians discussing trends in liturgy and church music. (St. Petersburg, Fla. Chapter)

Workshop on “Music for Solo Voice and Organ.” (East Central Illinois Chapter)

January 2011 – pp. 22-39

“Improvisation workshop” based on Robert Lau’s new book, A Practical Approach to Improvisation for the Church Organist. (Suffolk, N.Y   Chapter) (See also June 2011 issue, York, Pa. Chapter)

“Improve Your Skills Workshop” covering subjects “Reducing Orchestral Scores for Organ,” “Choral Repertoire,” “Organ Repertoire,” and “Music Technology for the Uninitiated.”  (Southwest Jersey Chapter)

“A hymn and service-playing workshop.”  (Cumberland Valley, Md. Chapter)

“Workshop/master class on Couperin’s Messe pour les Couvents. (Pittsburgh, PA Chapter)

Hymn festival based on Hal Hopson’s The Writers Tell Their Stories (Monongahela, W. Va. Chapter)

Hymn festival “”We Believe in One God—Hymns of the Church Year Through the Nicene Creed.”  (Columbus, Ga. Chapter)

“How the Pipe Organ Works” for non-organists (but it could be helpful to organists as well). (Greater Greensboro, N.C. Chapter)

A Program of Music by Benjamin Britten (Knoxville, Tenn. Chapter)

Daniel Gawthrop’s tongue-in-cheek Pie Carols, sung to well-known tunes. (Northeast Tennessee-Southwest Virginia Chapter)

“Practice Techniques That Pay Off” (Chicago Il. Chapter)

“Organ Music by Women Composers” (Chicago, Il. Chapter)

Master class on the Organ Works of Paul Hindemith (Lexington, Ky. Chapter)

Master class on the Organ Works of César Franck (South Dakota Chapter) (See also May 2011 listing for South Dakota Chapter where it is stated that the organ works of Franck was the study focus for the chapter during the year)

February 2011 – pp.18-32

Video night—numerous videos on the pipe organ, its history, construction, etc. available. The video on the Life and Music of Jean Langlais, produced by the Mistrettas of the LA Chapter as an outgrowth of the Region IX Conclave in Las Vegas in 2006 (Ann Labounsky) would also be an excellent choice.    (Westchester County, N.Y. Chapter) See also: documentary video about J.S. Bach and The Art of Fugue (Knoxville, Tenn. Chapter)

Workshop with Susan and David Cherwien on “How they write words and music for their hymns.” [Ed. Another possibility might be Susan Bentall Boersma, anthem lyricist-in-residence for Beckenhorst Press.] (Lehigh Valley, Pa. Chapter)

Presentation  “The Organist as Pastor—Creative Hymn and Service-Playing.” (Pittsburgh, Pa. Chapter)

The Music of Craig Phillips, including newly commissioned work Scenes from a Gallery for organ, violin and flute. (Nashville, Tenn. Chapter)

Dramatic enactment of Mark Schweitzer’s The Organist Wore Pumps, a liturgical mystery (Louisville, Ky. Chapter) (See also June 2011 issue, Northeast Tennessee-Southwest Virginia Chapter for additional possibilities).

A Service of Psalms and Songs (Saginaw Valley, Mich. Chapter)

Open console session, perhaps on the newest organ in town or one that usually isn’t very accessible. Important is that the individual organists be scheduled for a certain amount of time and that they have the time alone with the organ without listeners…for those who might be more timid! (We have done this   at UNLV in Las Vegas and should probably do it again now at Christ Church Episcopal on the new 54-rank, four manual Schantz.) (Sioux Trails, Minn. Chapter)

Organ Music 2010 – What’s New for Sunday Morning? a survey of newly-published organ literature. (Oklahoma City, Okla. Chapter)

March 2011 – pp. 14-26

The Care and Feeding of Small---and Even Smaller--- Choirs. (Portland, Maine Chapter)

Teaching New Music to Congregations (Harrisburg, Pa. Chapter)

Celebrating a Chapter Anniversary (Richmond, Va. Chapter)

Exploring: Organs and Organists—Where we have been—Where we are now---  Where are we going?  (St. Petersburg, Fla. Chapter)

Ways in which organists can avoid physical stress and injury at the keyboard. (Taubman technique) (Spartenburg, S.C. Chapter)

Cookies and Carols an informal meeting in a member home featuring seasonal organ and piano music, carols old and new.

April 2011 – pp. 20-32

Elements of the Service Playing and Colleague Exams (Suffolk, N. Y. Chapter)

“AGO Gives Back,” an evening of caroling at a retirement home (Spartanburg, S.C. Chapter)

Used organ music sale before and after a session/meeting. Perhaps proceeds could be used to support a scholarship fund. (Ann Arbor, Mich. Chapter)

“A Digital Saturday,” an opportunity to hear three electronic organ installations. (Los Angeles, Calif. Chapter)

May 2011 –pp. 16-28

Creative Use of Handbells in Worship (Miami, Fla. Chapter)

Jehan Alain Centennial Celebration (Charlotte, N.C. Chapter)

A Trip Down Memory Lane—Reminiscences by AGO Members and Friends (Knoxville, Tenn. Chapter)

Program of Organ Music and Vocal Selections Suitable for Weddings.  Wedding “horror” stories were shared over dinner. (Northeast Tennessee-Southwest Virginia Chapter)

June 2011—pp. 16—29

J. S. Bach Birthday Marathon  (Richmond, Va. Chapter)

“How to Learn Vierne” (Wilmington, N.C. Chapter)

“Gregory’s Music: Magnificent Monody (A Whistle-Stop Tour of Western Plainsong).”  (Charleston, S. C. Chapter)

The Music of Calvin Hampton (1938-1984) (Knoxville, Tenn. Chapter)

A Festival Service Featuring the Music of Healey Willan (1880-1968) Saginaw Valley, Mich. Chapter)

July 2011—pp 20-27

“Bach Birthday Bash” – A performance of Orgelbüchlein by seven members of the chapter. (New Hampshire Chapter)

“Organ Expo 2011” An event for the public, parents and children, organ demonstration, with hands-on time after the presentation. (Suffolk, N. Y. Chapter)

“This Works for Me,” a workshop by members sharing favorite anthems and organ selections (Harrisburg, Pa Chapter)

“A Virtual Tour of the North German Baroque Organ.” “An interactive journey of some of the most beautiful organs in the world.” (Charlottesville-Albermarle, Va. Chapter)

“Bach Birthday Bash,” a progressive concert featuring local organists, instrumentalists and choral groups in three churches. (Tampa, Fla. Chapter)

“Great Hymns of the Faith: A Festival of Hymns.” Singing of nine hymns and playing of compositions based on the hymn tunes. (Wilmington, N.C. Chapter)

“Voluntaries Old and New” designed around the liturgical year featuring both well-known and contemporary composers. Followed by a “garage sale” of music donated by chapter members, proceeds to benefit the AGO Annual   Fund. (Columbia, S.C. Chapter)

Workshop on “Effective Accompanying” (Grand Rapids, Mich. Chapter)

“A ‘POP’ Concert” (preludes, offertories and postludes) (Fort Worth, Tex. Chapter

I may have “missed” some ideas for programming which could be perfect for your chapter.  Some of the program ideas above will depend on what sort of local talent you have in the chapter, what your chapter’s budget may allow for the importing of a specialist, etc.  I hope, however, that you may find some ideas useful for your chapter.