Dean's Message June 2000

Thirty-eight members and guests, along with parishioners of St. Christopher's Church, enjoyed a beautiful service of choral evensong at the annual meeting of the Cleveland Chapter on May 7. The lovely setting of St. Christopher's On The River, the cordiality of the church in hosting a wine and cheese reception before our dinner, the beautiful a capella singing of the quartet and the skillful playing of the Hradetzky organ by Yuri Sato McElliott all contributed to make a memorable event.

It was my privilege to present our first Cleveland Chapter Award for Excellence in Sacred Music to Karel Paukert. Karel was selected from nominations submitted by chapter members by a committee consisting of Patricia Bowers, Patricia Genchi, Evelyn Muranko, and Marguerite Ziegler. Karel was selected for his work at the Cleveland Museum of Art where he oversees the concert series and presents numerous organ recitals. He is also Director of Music at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights and has taught organ at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Karel's CD of organ music recorded on the Hradetsky organ at St. Christopher's was acclaimed in TAO and is available at the Museum bookstore.

Also at the meeting I presented a certificate to the Chapter that we received from Severance Hall acknowledging our endowment of a pipe in the reinstalled Severance organ. This gift was voted by the Executive Committee to be paid for from funds from our Magellan account. Now all of us can feel that we have some connection with the great organ that will once again be heard in Severance Hall. You can view the certificate on our web-site.

Also at the meeting new officers were installed. In addition to the officers who are continuing from last year the following were elected to the Executive Committee: Nicole Keller, Jason Lorenzon, and James Riggs. Thank you to Gratian Nugen and the nominating committee and to all those who consented to run for office.

Special thanks are due to Carol Neff for arranging the annual meeting and all of our meetings this year. Also to Yuri Sato McElliott for playing the Choral Evensong service and the quartet of John McElliott, David Dicillo, Michael McKay, and Edward Powell. The Rev. W. Taylor Moore, Jr., Rector of the church, conducted the service.

On completion of my first year as Dean, I feel that we have accomplished much. I have enjoyed working with officers and committee members and look forward to next year. I do think that most of the work was done by a few people. We are all busy but if you could volunteer for one thing in the course of a year it would be helpful. Let me know what you would like to see happen with the AGO.

Look for details of plans for the coming year in August and don't forget to pay your dues.

Relax
Sleep in the sun
Smell the flowers
Be alive.

Fern