For our opening program, Grand Rapids AGO Chapter Member Joel Gary performed on the Mighty Wurlitzer at the Van Andel Public Museum and also gave a very interesting history of the Wurlitzer Company and this particular instrument. Prior to the program a lovely dinner was enjoyed at the Days Hotel across the street from the museum.

Listen to "Put On A Happy Face" by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams

Listen to "Romanza" by Richard Purvis

September Newsletter

Dr. Huw Lewis of Hope College presented a masterclass on the Aeolian Skinner organ recently refurbished and expanded by Quimby Pipe Organs at Calvin Christian Reformed Church.

The participants in the masterclass were Rebecca Eekhof, student of Joan Ringerwole, who performed Toccata in e minor by Pachelbel; Carolyn Hiestand, student of Karl Schrock, playing Basse de trompette and Recit from Marchand's Premier Livre d'Orgue; Jeffrey Roland, student of Elizabeth Claar, who performed the Fugue from Sonata no. 11 in d minor by Joseph Rheinberger; Christopher Dekker, former student of Huw Lewis, performing Maurice Durufle's Fugue on the Theme of the Carillon of Hours.

Pictured l-r  - Carolyn Hiestand, Huw Lewis, Jeffrey Roland, Karl Schrock, Chris Dekker, Joan Ringerwole, Elizabeth Claar, Rebecca Eekhof

October Newsletter

David Briggs (Organist Emeritus, Gloucester Cathedral, England) presented a master class on organ improvisation at Park Congregational Church.  Helen Hawley, Director of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Larry Visser, Director of Music at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church participated in the MasterClass.

Pictured  l-r Helen Hawley, Larry Visser, David Briggs

November Newsletter

December Newsletter

The evening honoring Larry Visser as Grand Rapids Chapter AGO Composer of the year was a time of worship including several of Larry's choral and organ compositions, three hymn concertatos, and an original hymn. LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church was host to a capacity crowd for this service.

The service participants included The Rev. John Steigenga, LaGrave’s Minister of Seniors, who served as liturgist, the LaGrave Chancel Choir under the direction of Merle Mustert, a brass ensemble made up of amateur and professional musicians, timpanist Perrin Rynders, oboist Alanna Rynders, and organist and pianist, Larry Visser.

The service was entitled Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down and was divided into various sections following the liturgical year (e.g. Worship the God of Praise, Worship the Good Shepherd, Worship the Infant Christ, Worship the Suffering Servant, Worship the Ascended King, Worship the Spirit of Truth, and Worship the Christ to Come).

Anthems included Be Lord, Within Me, I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb, Do This in Remembrance of Me, Peace I Give to You, The Lord Bless You and Keep You. 

Organ solos included Four Chorale Preludes on LOBE DEN HERREN:  In organo pleno, Noel on IN DULCI JUBILO, What Wondrous Love Is This?, Partita on VENI CREATOR:  Come as a Dove, and Come as Fire. 

Hymn concertatos included Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven, Christ Shall Have Dominion, and Jerusalem the Golden. 

The evening concluded with Larry’s hymn text and tune, From the Heights of Heaven Resounding. 

Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Organist and Choir Director at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, presented a master class on choir training at the chapter’s April meeting at First (Park) Congregational Church.  During his six years at All Saints, he rebuilt the choir of Men & Boys and the St. Cecilia Girls’ Choir into flourishing groups.  Using the chapter members as the demonstration choir, he led them through a “rehearsal,” including practical hints about rehearsal planning and employing a variety of his choral techniques, from vocalization to teaching new choral pieces of varying difficulty.  To end the “rehearsal,” the group listened to his choir performing one of the pieces used in the workshop.  What a fitting way to end the evening!

Our final meeting of the season was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church where we enjoyed a meal prepared by the cooks at Westminster.  At this time election of officers and council members for the ensuing year was held and appreciation was expressed to those retiring from office. Cliff Hill, owner of Cliff Hill Music in Westlake, Ohio, was the featured presenter for the evening.   Mr. Hill gained his expertise in choral, organ, piano and orchestra literature during twenty-four years working with the Princeton University Bookstore Music Shop. He opened his own music store in 1999.  Mr. Hill is a great resource for music and provided complimentary packets of choral music to all who attended this fun reading session.