From the reports I have received the Pipes Spectacular
concert sponsored by our chapter was a huge success. I was unable
to attend the concert due to the death of Wayne's mother. We
have lost three parents between us within the last two years.
We still have Wayne's father, who is 90 years old.
With about 350 in attendance this was the best-attended
chapter event in recent memory. Kudos to Anne Wilson for planning
the program. In addition to Anne the other organ performers
at the concert were Todd Wilson and Tim Robson. Instrumentalist,
choirs from Church of the Covenant, Forest Hills Church and
Euclid Avenue Congregational Churches and dancers all contributed
to the event. Jim Riggs worked on publicity and Carol Neff planned
the reception. Many thanks to all involved!
The imaginative programming was designed to bring
in a diverse audience and to show that organ concerts can be
fun! Such varied programming would not be possible at every
organ recital but I hope members were able to garner at least
one idea for an innovative piece for their next recital. Let's
stamp out DULL organ recitals!
And the fun goes on! On November 12, at 4:00 PM
at West Shore Unitarian Church in Rocky River, we will present
Ji-yoen Choi, winner of the AGO 2000 National Young Artists
Competition. Ms. Choi is a native of South Korea and is currently
a student of David Higgs at Eastman. The Seattle convention
reviewer in TAO called her performance of the Bach C-major Prelude
and Fugue "so rhythmically compelling that one could hardly
sit still" and her performance of Albright's Jig for the Feet
full of "crackling energy." Let‰s have a good turnout for this
brilliant young artist!
A part of the prize of the winner of the Young
Artist Competition is concert management from Karen McFarlane
Artists, Inc. Karen was given an award at National Convention
this summer for her role in instituting this prize. Karen donates
her services to provide career management to the winner. After
the November 12 recital we will host a reception to honor Karen,
who will be retiring from her agency at the end of this year.
Karen will continue to manage the Competition winner.
It has been a great asset to the Cleveland community
and to the Cleveland AGO chapter to have Karen's agency in our
city. Karen assumed management of the Murtagh/McFarlane Artists
Inc. in New York City in 1976 and moved the agency to Cleveland
when she married Chick Holtkamp. Karen's artists have included
most of the best-known concert organists of our time and more
recently European choirs. Karen has taken great personal interest
in the careers of young artists and has been a friend as well
as a manager to them.
I have enjoyed getting to know Karen and Chick
in the time I have lived in Cleveland. Chick makes a show-stopping
pizza. Karen is a gracious hostess. Karen's quiet courage and
dignity in the face of adversity have impressed me. Please join
me at this reception so we can wish Karen well.
Fern
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