The opening program of the year was a Guild Service at Mayflower Congregational Church with the  Muskegon-Lakeshore Chapter, Holland Area Chapter and Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The music was led by the Mayflower Congregational Choir directed by Mark Webb and organist Jonathan Tuuk. The Rev. Scott Hoezee, the Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary was the preacher. In addition the chaplains of the various chapters participated as liturgists for the service. This service included the installation of officers for the coming year.

You may listen to the entire service HERE
Service Bulletin

September Newsletter

Mayflower Congregational Church

Trinity Lutheran Church was the location for a program featuring music for handbells and organ. Larry Biser, Helen Hawley and Jonathan Tuuk are members of the Grand Rapids Chapter who performed with Embellish, a local professional handbell ensemble directed by Stephanie Wiltse. Embellish, a 13 member ensemble, played works for handbells and organ as well as several new compositions they have recently recorded for GIA. A full house thoroughly enjoyed new music which most of us have not previously known. Blue Lake Public Radio recorded the program for later broadcast.

October Newsletter

Embellish

On Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. the Grand Rapids Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents Pipelines, a program for fourth graders which introduces them to the pipe organ. This program was begun in 1995 and is currently supported by funding from the Anne Heyboer Vander Heide Fund of the Grand Rapids Foundation. The program is presented in cooperation with Central Reformed Church which has graciously offered its facilities for this important event.

On Sunday, November 13 we will present a special recital at Mayflower Congregational Church which will inaugurate the Anne Vander Heide Young Artists Organ Recital Series. Anne Vander Heide was a longtime member of the Grand Rapids Chapter of AGO and this series is co-sponsored by the Anne Heyboer Vander Heide Fund of the Grand Rapids Foundation.

Our special guest artist is Nathan Laube, one of the shining new organ stars. The concert is at 3:00 p.m. and this meeting will not include dinner.  There will be a reception for Mr. Laube in the Atrium following the recital. You may hear and see Nathan Laube perform the Franck E major Chorale here.

November Newsletter

Nathan Laube

The members of the Grand Rapids Chapter of AGO met at Aquinas College. The focus for the evening was on technology in music.  GRAGO members, Joel Gary and Nick Palmer, were the presenters for the evening.  Joel Gary, in his session, "MIDI - Not Just Another Four-Letter Word,"  gave members a brief history of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in Kretschmer Recital Hall.  He also demonstrated some ways organists may incorporate MIDI, using an Allen organ provided by Westfield Organ Company.  Down the hall in the piano lab, Nick Palmer led a workshop on the music writing software, Sibelius. Beginning with a "how to notate a hymn," members were guided through various steps using Sibelius. While "technology" may be a frightening word for some organists, the program for the evening provided members with a taste of how technology can positively assist organists in their various roles as musicians.

December Newsletter

No December Meeting  - Merry Christmas

Wanamaker Organ

St. Mark's Episcopal Church was the venue for an event featuring several harpsichordists on a variety of instruments. Dr. Gregory Crowell was the facilitator for this event. Harpsichordists performing included Larry Biser, Elizabeth Claar, Gregory Crowell, Marilyn Ossentjuk, and Joan Ringerwole.

Also performing were Jimmy Leach on the valveless Baroque Trumpet and Pablo Mahve-Viglia on and early cello.

January Newsletter

Dr. Gregory Crowell

Marilyn Ossentjuk will be the host for a Members' Program at Fountain Street Church on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Performers include Grand Rapids Chapter members James Metzler, Elizabeth Claar, Eric Strand, David Heinze, Brian Bartusch, Rhonda Sider Edgington and Joel Gary. In addition, students Allison Schepers and Elizabeth Kim will also perform

The Austin-Allen organ at Fountain Street is one of the largest instruments in the Midwest and this is a great opportunity to hear a wide variety of literature on an instrument with huge tonal resources in a very felicitous musical setting.

There is no admission charge and all are encouraged to attend.

February Newsletter

Fountain Street Church

Irene Beethe, organist of Immanuel Lutheran Church, will present The Music of Charles Ore at her church.   Composer Dr. Charles Ore will be our special guest. Charles W. Ore is a nationally recognized organ recitalist, a composer of organ and choral music, and a leader in the use and development of improvisation in organ playing. From 1961 until 1966, he was Minister of Music at First Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago and a member of the music faculty at Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois. He joined the Concordia, Seward faculty in 1966 and taught there until his retirement in 2001, serving as chair of the Department of Music from 1995 to 2001. He was cantor of Pacific Hills Lutheran Church in Omaha from 1975 to 2001 and associate organist of First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln from 2001 to 2006; in 2006 he was appointed organist of First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln.

Dr. Charles Ore

Helen Hofmeister Hawley will present a recital on the Beckering Family Carillon on the Pew Campus of Grand Valley State University in downtown Grand Rapids. Helen holds both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from the University of Kansas and has done post-graduate study in Cologne, Germany.  She received her carillon instruction at the University of Kansas as a student of Albert Gerken.  She is on the national board for the GCNA (Guild of Carillonneurs in North America) and also has served as a juror on the Exam Committee.  Ms. Hawley has performed carillon recitals in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington; and in Europe, Belgium, and the Netherlands. She currently serves as Minister of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids.

Helen Hofmeister Hawley