The menu has downgraded. It is at the bottom of this page.
|
Home > Our Chapter > Monthly Chapter Programs
| September 19, 2005 September 19 was the date for a delightful “organ crawl” to Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hastings to see and hear the historic 1867 Odell Organ, Opus 63, which was originally installed in the Episcopal Church of St. Mark in Grand Rapids, the church where Leo Sowerby sang as a boy chorister. Dinner was served in the Fellowship Room in which Bob Schirmer, resident historian at Emmanuel Church, had a display of old photos, documents and other artifacts. After dinner, he spoke to us in the sanctuary, telling about the organ’s move to Hastings in 1910, using the lower space of the bell tower for the location of the organ chambers, and its most recent restoration by George Bozeman in 2000. A Service of Installation of elected officers and council members followed. The Reverend William DeVries, chapter chaplain was the officiant. Joel Vander Zee and Bill Voetberg played the service music. |
 Bob Schirmer at Emmanuel Episcopal Church |
| October 17, 2005 Our meeting at Trinity United Methodist Church was a workshop on practice technique presented by host organist, Gregory Crowell. He used his "friend" -- a small skeleton model -- which he bent into all kinds of shapes to show us the physiology of properly using our arms and hands, backs and behinds, legs and ankles. He explained proper movements the body should make when playing the organ so pain and injury may be avoided. He told us that "playing the organ should never be a painful experience, especially to the organist!" It was a most helpful sesssion for both pianists and organists. |
 Dr. Gregory Crowell at Trinity United Methodist Church |
| November 21, 2005 Our meeting was held at Second Congregational United Church of Christ Church, and featured a presentation by Judy Congdon, professor of organ and college organist at Houghton College, Houghton, NY. Dr. Congdon reviewed several recently composed Lent and Easter pieces as well as new collections of Lent and Easter music from various publishers, and also discussed how these pieces might be used in liturgical settings. Besides her reviews, Dr. Congdon performed some of the compositions. She also presented guild members with a valuable list of organ music for these seasons of the Liturgical Year composed after 2000. |
|
| No December Meeting | |
| January 23, 2006 Having enthused Grand Rapids’ organ music lovers at last summer’s Region V Convention, Bradley Hunter Welch returned to the city for a masterclass at Central Reformed Church on January 23 lecturing on “Practice Techniques That Pay Off.” Some of his tactics include developing an aural image, dividing a piece into small sections, piano practice, using the metronome on off-beats, and using light registrations to achieve clarity. Welch also guided two organ students, Joel Vander Zee (Western Michigan University) and Gavin Craig (Calvin College), in pieces they brought that included particularly difficult passages. Welch remained in Grand Rapids that week to participate as lecturer and performer for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Symposium held on the campus of Calvin College. |
 Bradley Welch with Joel Vander Zee |
| February 20, 2006 Members met in the chapel of Calvin Theological Seminary for a program of music for handbells and organ presented by the Calvin College Handbell Choir under the direction of Stephanie Wiltse, and assisted by organist Norma deWaal Malefyt. A variety of new and accessible music was played and additional information was available in extensive hand-out material. Emily Brink, Chapter Dean and Adjunct Professor of Church Music, Calvin Seminary, was the hostess and coordinator of the event. |
 Calvin College Handbell Choir directed by Stephanie Wiltse with organist, Norma deWaal Malefyt. |
| March 20, 2006 Organists from three West Michigan Chapters participated in a Master Class on March 20, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, using the church’s new four manual, 69 rank, Walker pipe organ installed early last year. This event, held on the eve of the 321st birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach, was the first of two events in celebration of the life and work of the great master. The class was conducted by David Higgs, Professor of Organ at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, who had also played a recital on the organ the previous evening, and featured chorales illustrating various styles of composition from J. S. Bach’s Orgel-Büchlein. Performing were Elizabeth Claar, Christopher Dekker, Janet Hill, Kent Hill, Aaron Renninger and David Schout. |
 Howard Slenk (standing, right) introduces David Higgs (standing, left, center) at the beginning of the Master Class |
March 21, 2006 On the 321st anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, an Orgel-Büchlein Marathon was held in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. The 46 compositions of the "Little Organ Book" were played by eight organists from several Michigan chapters. Each chorale, sung first by the audience, was followed by the playing of the chorale prelude. Playing for Part One, beginning at 4:00 PM, was John E. Hamersma (1-4, Advent), Caron Farmer (5-9, Christmas), Elizabeth Claar (10-14, Christmas), and Darlene Greenman Ross (15-19, New Year and Epiphany) completed the first session. After a break for dinner, the second session began at 8:00 PM. Playing for Part Two were Gregory Crowell (20-26, Passion), Karl Schrock (27-32, Easter), Janlee Richter (33-39, Pentecost, General), and Joy Schroeder (40-46, General). |
 (Left to right) Joy Schroeder, Karl Schrock, Caron Farmer, Gregory Crowell, Elizabeth Claar, Janlee Richter. Not pictured: John Hamersma and Darlene Greenman Ross |
| May 1, 2006 Our May meeting was a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to recognize the efforts of all those who made the 2005 Regional Convention such a success. In addition to election of officers and new board members for 2006-2007, we celebrated with an elegant dinner at the Peninsular Club in downtown Grand Rapids followed by a delightful presentation by Michael Bloss at First (Park) Congregational Church introducing the new Muller Organ. Michael was the Director of Music at Park Church until he returned to St. James Cathedral as Organist and Director of Music in Toronto in 2004. |
 Michael Bloss at Park Church |
