Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
Newsletter • October 2022
Engage, Support, and Uplift Every Organist!
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In this issue:
- Sub-dean's Message
- Upcoming Activities
- BYU Surplus Organs for Sale
- Utah Valley Pipe Organs website
- Musical Adventures in Jerusalem
- 2023 AGO Certification Exams
- BYU Online Organ Workshops
- Eccles Organ Festival
- Tabernacle Organ Virtuoso Performance Series
- Piping Up! Online organ concerts at Temple Square
- We value your membership
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Introducing Sub-dean Marcine Sawyer
My love for the keyboard began when I was a small child and according to most of my relatives, my piano playing was incessant. I believe that phase passed when my mom told me I had to practice for my lessons. My love for the keyboard has never ceased and I am grateful for the encouragement and support of good parents.
I received a piano scholarship to Ricks College, now BYU Idaho and studied with Dr. Del Parkinson. After receiving my associate degree, most of my time and attention turned to raising 5 children. During those years I was still heavily involved in music: church, community, and teaching.
When my children were mostly grown, I was accepted into the Organ Performance program at BYU and graduated in April 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts, emphasis in Organ after studying with Drs. Don Cook and Brian Mathias. Since graduation, I have had the opportunity to study with Dr. Neil Harmon.
The most significant gift I have received through music is the love and association of people, whether they be teachers, students, fellow musicians, or grateful listeners. Now it is my privilege to help organize UVAGO activities, and in the process meet many more friends. I look forward to that.
Marcine Sawyer
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Many thanks to Gaye Beeson and the Orem Sharon Stake for hosting our chapter. Everyone who would like to play the organ will have an opportunity.
Bring music to share.
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BYU Surplus Organs for Sale
BYU’s School of Music will move into their beautiful new facility as soon as it’s ready! In addition to saying goodbye to the building we’ve called home for decades; we need to say goodbye to some of our organs.
TWO of the organs that will NOT making the move are:
1) The Madsen Recital Hall’s Walcker Pipe Organ
2) The Rodgers, Model 835-B organ that currently resides in the ORGAN PRACTICE ROOM, located on the 2nd floor of the HFAC, room # E225.
Click the button below for prices, organ details, and BYU contact information.
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Utah Valley Pipe Organs—80 and counting!
We have been surprised to find out how many pipe organs there are in Utah County—80!—many more than we initially thought. With our onsite visits to see each organ, and with the help of many other individuals, including organists, organ enthusiasts, and the Operations and Maintenance Division in the Meetinghouse Facilities Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we now feel that we have an excellent working list of the pipe organs, the buildings where they are located, and the essential details (builders, model and opus numbers, number of manuals, ranks, etc.), including numerous photos of each organ.
We invite you to become part of the project. Please report errors, omissions, needed additions, and updated information to Mike Carson at: mcarson@uvago.org, or by using the contact information on the Utah Valley Pipe Organs website.
We hope this project will increase interest among organists, resulting in more training and cultural activities in those venues that house these unique instruments. You may view the instruments here: https://sites.google.com/view/uvpipeorgans/home.
Sincerely,
Mike Carson
Blaine Olson
James Welch
Photos: Spanish Fork West Stake Wicks organ
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Musical Adventures in Jerusalem by Jim Welch
Hello, Friends in Utah Valley AGO! My wife Deanne and I have been in Jerusalem for a few months now, and what an amazing experience this is--living at the BYU Jerusalem Center with a view over the Old City from our apartment; playing the Marcussen organ for the tour groups that come through; visiting as many historical sites as we can (and there are hundreds!); working with the wonderful and talented BYU students; and hosting the weekly chamber and piano concerts in the Center’s auditorium. I have been able to visit and play the organs at most of the other churches in Jerusalem, such as St. Savior Monastery, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Notre Dame de Jerusalem Catholic Church, and more. I also get to play the carillon on top of the YMCA tower every week. The students love taking in the view from the top of the tower and playing “Israel, Israel, God is Calling” on the bells (among other hymns.) It is such a privilege to walk every day where Jesus walked.
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Prepare for the 2023 AGO Certification Exams
The AGO has made changes to the certification exams. Watch a recording of the webinar, "A 21st Century Facelift for Certification Exams," here; the handout can be accessed here. Additional information about the certifications exams can be found on the Certification website.
Renee Gastelum, CAGO, AAGO, will be doing lecture series to help organists prepare for the CAGO and AAGO exams. Information can be found here.
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BYU Organ Online Training Sessions
The BYU Organ Online Training Sessions for Entry-level Organists have been scheduled for the coming season. These webinars are free of charge and available to pianists and organists in any location!
The presentations will offer a pre-recorded video from 7:00-8:00 pm Mountain Time, with interactive chat with the instructor during the video, followed by a live Question & Answer session until 8:30 pm Mountain Time. Recordings of each class will be available to view for one month following the live presentation.
Additional sessions for Beyond the Basics topics and Individual Feedback will be scheduled soon.
We hope to see you at many, if not all training sessions!
The Organ Console
Instructor: Dr. Don Cook
October 6, 2022
7:00-8:30 pm MT
This session is an introduction to the organ console, including the divisions of the organ and console devices such as thumb pistons and toe studs, expression and crescendo pedals, and other registrational aids.
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Sunday 16 October 2022 at 8:00 PM
Simon Johnson
Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral in London
All events are held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and live-streamed on our YouTube channel. Performances are offered free of charge. Donations are welcome.
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The 28th Season Replay! Did you miss a performance or want to enjoy it again? Click the Eccles Festival button below to watch on YouTube.
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Change in Date for the
Tabernacle Organ Virtuoso Performance Series
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is pleased to announce the remainder of the inaugural season of the Tabernacle Organ Virtuoso Performance Series. Dr. Gabriele Terrone, Organist and Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, Utah, will perform on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 7:30 pm in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. On Friday, November 4, 2022 at 7:30 pm, the Series will feature Dr. Andrew Unsworth, Tabernacle Organist.
These events do not require tickets and are free of charge to the public.
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The five accomplished Tabernacle and Temple Square organists, Richard Elliott, Andrew Unsworth, Brian Mathias, Linda Margetts, and Joseph Peeples, plus occasional guest organists, are featured in this online concert stream:
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We Value Your Membership
The chapter appreciates your continued support of its mission to "engage, support, and uplift every organist." If you already have a membership, you may receive an email reminder when it is time to renew it. Your contributions enhance the chapter's ability to sponsor monthly organ events each year. Please reflect on how your associations in the guild have supported and uplifted you, and consider joining or renewing today!.
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So do we!
"Like" our page to stay in touch with people, events, and important information regarding the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Photo by Kari Nay
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