CHIFF 'N CHATTER

The Diapason has lots of good ink for Cleveland Chapter one more time! This time it is Karel Paukert! On its p. 12, an almost foot-long column discusses his new CD, entited Karel Paukert plays the Kradetzky Organ at St. ChristopherÕs by-the-River. The disc is just under 67 minutes and contains 23 pieces, only three of them over five minutes: Italian Dances , other works of Pablo Bruna, Bernardo Pasquini, Francios Couperin, Johann Pachelbel, Jose Antonio Carlos de Seixas, Domenico Scarlatti, J.S. Bach, some carols by Wilbur Held, other pieces by Louis Lefebure-Wely, Ramon Noble, George Shearing and Gabriel Verschraegen. Lots more in the article; the author, W.G. Marigold from Urbana, Illinois, suggests "There is surely no need to provide information about Paukert, a much-admired performer who is invariably meticulous, scholarly, and highly sensitive to musical values. The playing is delightful!" Ah, we knew that.

Around town: Todd Wilson and Fern Jennings showed Michael Barone, host of Minnesota Public Radio's Pipedreams around Cleveland after the Gillian Weir concert. Michael provided commentary for the live broadcast on WCLV, as well as for the Thomas Murray concert at Severance Hall. They visited organs at St. PaulÕs in Cleveland Heights, Euclid Avenue Congregational, Trinity Cathedral, and Trinity Lutheran. Michael is interested in any older well-preserved instruments in Cleveland. If you know of any, contact Fern or Todd. (FJ)

The National AGO announces the grand opening of the newly expanded AGO Online Store, http://www.agohq.org/store. All AGO educational resources and gifts may be purchased by members and friends of the AGO over a secure server. Items available for purchase are identified with a brief description and graphic image. AGO members receive a 10% discount on all merchandise.

Westminster Conference on Worship and Music: July 8-13, 2001, held at Westminster College, New Wilmington PA, 50 north of Pittsburgh. It is sponsored by the Presbyterian Assn. Of Musicians. If you would like information on this event, call Larry Heath, Conf. Dir. at 724.775.2936 or e-mail at musicmin@forcomm.net.

Carol Neff had an opportunity to play the new organ at Severance Hall as part of the 69th annual Lake Erie League Choral Festival. She accompanied the choir from Cleveland Heights High School as they sang Joseph Martin's "A Festive Call to Praise" directed by Craig McGaughey. It was an exciting experience! The console sits a long way from the pipes! When you play a key, it seems like an hour and a half until the sound gets back to you. Now that takes some adjustment! [One assumes that CN has used a bit of hyperbole?]

The Convention Programming Committee is meeting monthly to organize the concerts, worship seravices and workshops for our June 22-25, 2003, Regional Convention. If you have any suggestions, please let Fern Jennings or Carol Neff know of your ideas! We expect that this will be a wonderfully exciting convention!

The Executive Committee will meet on Monday, April 2, at West Shore Church at 7:30 PM.