AGO American Guild of Organists
Binghamton, New York Chapter
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Christ Church Binghamton
Coming up!
Thursday, August 8
Summer Just for Fun Outing to Scranton
and Wilkes-Barre
(Details TBA)
Hartford Regional 2013
WELCOME TO THE BINGHAMTON CHAPTER WEBSITE
T2012-2013 Executive Boardhe Binghamton Chapter was founded in 1929 and supports the goals of its parent organization, the American Guild of Organists. Our chapter hosted the  Regional Convention in 2001 and has participated in such events as the October 16, 2008 Organ Spectacular. Our small but active group of approximately 55 members plans a variety of events to serve a diversity of needs. Some of us are organists, some of us build organs, and others are simply happy listeners.  Most importantly, we enjoy getting together and supporting one another in our musical endeavors.

The welcome mat is extended to new members. If you are interested in joining our chapter, you may download a membership form or contact  our dean or registrar for further information.


Happy Birthday!
Another Centenarian

Last year we recognized the centennials of the Wanamaker and West Point organs.

This year another iconic instrument celebrates its hundredth birthday.

The 102 rank Kotzschmar Memorial Organ in The Merrill Auditorium  in Portland, Maine, built by Austin,  has just had this milestone observed with a Festival culminating with a Grand Concert by Fred Swann and John Weaver.

Kotzschmar Organ
photo courtesy of Len Levasseur
The Kotzschmar organ was given to the City of Portland by Cyrus Curtis, publisher of the Saturday Evening Post. It is now one of the few municipal organs still owned by a city. The first municipal organist was Will C. McFarlane, who was instrumental in establishing the city's longstanding tradition of summer organ concerts. The city of Portland to this day supports the post of municipal organist, the present incumbent being Ray Cornils.

On the day after the centennial festival the organ was disassembled for removal to the premises of Foley-Baker for long needed restoration. Along the way the organ has suffered such indignities as having been moved out of the way for an expansion of the stage by a house mover - intact!

For more information see the websites of Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (now in its 33rd year) and Foley-Baker, Inc. A good article in the Bangor Daily News can be found here.
(Roll mouse over images to enlarge)

Pedals, Pipes and Pizza

On Saturday, March 16 from 10:00am to 1:00pm our chapter will be presenting a Pedals, Pipes and Pizza event. This will take place at United Presbyterian Pedals, Pipes and PizzaChurch, 42 Chenango Street, Binghamton. The presentation, for piano students age 8 and older, is designed to be an introduction to the pipe organ and its music. The sounds of the organ, how it functions and what it can do will all be demon- strated. Participants will have the opportunity of trying pieces that they know on the organ, experiencing the differences between the piano and the organ. The program will continue with a video about the organ and conclude with the performance of an organ piece. The session will end with pizza at the church. Parents are encouraged to attend but not required to do so. Click here to go to online registration page, or click here to download a registration form in PDF format to be mailed in.



Polly is continuing as this year's dean. She would very much like to find someone else to be the editor of Mixtures. Familiarity with Word or Publisher would be helpful, but we'd be very happy to help anyone willing to assume this task get started. Please Polly if you're interested or can think of someone you think might be willing to undertake this.

Kotzschmar console
photo courtesy Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ


Highly Recommended Reading!

This article in Symphony magazine explores the resurgence of interest
 in the organ in the concert hall

Broome County Arts Council Newsletter

It is very easy to get the BCAC Weekly Newsletter, which is literally packed with all that is happening in the local and area arts world. Individual members of Binghamton AGO Chapter can sign up to receive the newsletter of the BCAC by going to the Web Site http://www.bcartscouncil.com, clicking on Get Our Newsletter, and entering one’s email address.

Enjoy organ music in its infinite variety on PIPEDREAMS from American Public Media, broadcast each week on WSKG Binghamton 89.3 fm* on Sunday at 6:00am. Each week a new two-hour program also appears online, and hundreds of past broadcasts are continuously accessible in the PIPEDREAMS program archive at www.pipedreams.org
* see the WSKG website at http://wskg.org/radio.aspx for additional transmitter frequencies


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2012-2013 Executive Board
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