Trinity College, Cambridge Choir

Sunday, September 17
7:00 pm.
First Presbyterian Church
609 SE Second St. Evansville

Our September meeting will be a concert by the world-renowned choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, England The concert will include a variety of music both accompanied and a capella.  The Evansville Chapter has made a substantial contribution to the Sacred Arts Series of First Presbyterian Church in order to help support this event, which is of central importance to the mission of our chapter.

Due to the nature of this event, a chapter business meeting will not be held PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY (no later than 6:15 CDT) to obtain a seat.  If you have questions about the event, call Robert Nicholls, Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church: 812-423-6297.
 

Our Summer Organ Social was a feast... for both the tummy and the eye. A group of around 35 people gathered for a scrumptious meal of carry-in dishes augmented by Shyler's BBQ. Following the meal, David Motz showed selected 3D slides of his recent trip to England and Scotland After this visual feast, David answered questions about the 3D photographic process.

Thank you to Neal Biggers, Sub-Dean, for making arrangements for the meeting, and to David Motz for sharing his spectacular art with us.

The McGary Family of Newburgh, Indiana has provided a generous gift to the University of Evansville Department of Music for the building of a portable pipe organ. The new organ is a memorial to Francile MacDonald McGary (1925-1997) who graduated from Evansville College Department of Music as a piano major in 1946.

The portable (portativ) organ was built by John Schreiner of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Schreiner worked for several years with the eminent C. B. Fisk Organbuilders of Gloucester, Massachusetts before establishing his own workshop. The portativ is built to the design of another eminent American organ builder, John Brombaugh of Eugene, Oregon.  The instrument contains 153 pipes housed in an oak cabinet with decorative panels of walnut carved to depict walnut branches and leaves by Morgan Pike, sculptress of Gloucester, Massachusetts

The new organ will be dedicated in a series of concerts during the 2000-2002 academic years.  

September 19. Dr. Douglas Reed, organist, Wheeler Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m.

November 10. Two's Company: Bach's  Double. Music by Johann Sebastian Each for two portativ organs, two choirs, and two keyboard dues. Performers will include AGO members Diane Earle, Margaret  Kimberling, Robert Nicholls and Helen Reed

March 20. Charlie McGary performing on clavichord, Italian harpsichord, French double harpsichord, and portativ organ.

National Improvisation Winners Announced

The following item is from a press release by the national office of the American Guild of Organists.

New York, August 11:

The AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS is pleased to announce First, Second, and Third Prize winners in the National Competition in Organ Improvisation (NCOI), held in Seattle, Wash. in conjunction with the AGO National Convention, July 2-6:

JUSTIN H. BISCHOF First Prize provided by the Holtkamp Organ Company, $2.000. 
ERNEST C. OELKERS Second Prize provided by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd, $1,500.
ROBERT NICHOLLS, aago Third Prize provided by Mary Louise Herrick, $750.

JUSTIN H. BISCHOF, a native of Toronto, Ontario and resident of New York City, is a graduate of Loyola High School in Montreal (1985), and completed the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the Manhattan School 

ERNEST C. OELKERS, a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada and resident of Lawrence, Kans., studied organ, piano, and harpsichord with Richard Grieg, Conrad Crimes, and Lawrence Ritchey.  Mr. Oelkers received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1996.  He is currently pursuing graduate study in music at the University of Kansas.

ROBERT NICHOLLS aago, a native of England and resident of Evansville, Ind, began his musical training as a chorister at Westminster Abbey under the direction of Simon Preston. Following secondary education as a music scholar at the Oundle School, he was admitted to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University, as a choral exhibitioner. After completing his bachelor of arts degree, he remained in Cambridge to sing with the choir of St. John's College under the direction of Christopher Robinson. In 1996, Mr. Nicholls joined the staff of the First Presbyterian Church, Evansville, Ind, and is currently director of music at the church. He now holds the master of arts degree from Cambridge University, and is actively involved with the RSCM in America program.

The AGO NATIONAL COMPETITION IN ORGAN IMPROVISATION seeks to further the art of improvisation by recognizing and rewarding superior performers in the field.  The competition was open to all members, regardless of age, of the AGO or Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). Seven Semifinalists were selected from the Preliminary, Tape Round; three were chosen for the Final Round For both the Semifinal and Final Rounds, each competitor was required to (1) improvise, in any form, based on a given free theme; and (2) improvise in the form of a Theme and Variations, based on a given hymn tune, chant, or chorale.  Judges for the Semifinal and Final Rounds were Bruce Neswick, David Hurd, and Susan Ferre.
 

CONGRATULATIONS, ROBERT!!
 

MT. PLEASANT CHURCH
8900 Baumgart Road
Evansville, IN
Mt. Pleasant Church is seeking an organist for its 10:30 A.M. Sunday morning service.
The worship time at Pleasant Church incorporates a blend of contemporary and traditional music styles. Our church is new, young and full of potential! This could be your chance to be a part of a great music ministry. if you are interested in the
position, please contact:
Jason Woolsey: 812-867-8900

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Mt. Vernon, Indiana.
Organist 2 or 3 times a month for 1 Sunday service and 1 mid-week choir rehearsal. To begin after September 3. Salary: $100/Sunday service. Additional travel expenses negotiable. Call Judy Jacobson at 812-424-5013.

BETHEL UNITED CHURCH of CHRIST
3029 N. Green River Road
Evansville, Indiana
Large area church wants to build its youth program. Looking for an enthusiastic musician able to recruit and create avenues for our youth to participate in the music ministry of church. Weekly rehearsals & minimum 1 Sunday per month. Send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:
Bethel UCC
Attn. Music Committee
3029 N. Green River Road
Evansville, IN 47715
or call. 812-473-0135. Ask for Laurel.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
320 Cherry St.
Evansville, Indiana
Director of Music Ministries. Part-time position (5-10 hrs./week). One Sunday service, one mid-week rehearsal, special
services. Salary negotiable. For more information, call Rev. Leonard Harmon, 812-425-8296.
 

SEPTEMBER

17   TRINITY COLLEY, CAMBRIDGE
CHOIR CONCERT
First Presbyterian Church
609 SE Second St.
Evansville
7:00 p.m.

19   DOUGLAS REED, organist
Dedication of Francile McGary Organ
University of Evansville
Wheeler Concert Hall
7:30 p.m.

OCTOBER

14   PROGRESSIVE RECITAL and Moonlite BBQ Dinner
Owensboro, KY
4:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER

10    TWO'S COMPANY:
Bach's Double
Neu Chapel
7:30 p.m.

17     JAMES DIAZ, organist
Winner of the 2000 Dallas
International Organ Competition
Wheeler Concert Hall
University of Evansville
7:30 p.m.

SUBSTITUTE AVAILABLE
Robert Ford, organist. Master of Music, Eastern Illinois University, 24 yrs. experience as church organist. 
Phone: 812-882-7708.
 

Two University of Evansville organ students have been appointed to new intern-ship positions at local churches for the fall semester, 2000.

Luba Tkachuk will serve as intern at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Lynn Renney Director of Music. 

Steven Roby will intern at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Henderson, Neal Biggers, Director of Music.

Both students will participate in all aspects of the sacred music programs at the churches. They will also serve as Neu Chapel Organ Scholars at the University of Evansville.

The new Internship Program strives to benefit both sacred music students and local churches. 
 

1.   Students can learn a great deal of practical knowledge from being involved in a well-developed sacred music program.
2.   Students can acquire practical work experience which will be of great benefit for their further advancement and for building their resumes.

Benefits for local churches include:

1.   Students can provide assistance with the Sacred Music program of a church with only a modest financial commitment by the church.

2.   The Sacred Music Practicum
program presents a mission opportunity whereby a well-established program can shape the life and career of a young person. By extension, the church can help shape the lives of many people through excellent music in worship.