copyright 2000
Cleveland Chapter
American Guild of Organists

Dean's Message November 2000

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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