I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Sub-Dean’s

Report

2

Matters of Note 2

Gallery:

Summer

Enrichment

3

Programs

At a Glance

4

Convention

Corner

4

A Conversation

with

David Rhody

5

AGO National

Convention

Report

6

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Sforzando S A T U R D A Y ,

S E P T E M B E R 1 5

1 0 A M :

F A L L W O R K S H O P

M O O R E S T O W N

M E T H O D I S T Southwest Jersey Chapter American Guild of Organists

© 2018 by SW Jersey AGO

Dean’s Message -- by Vernon Williams

….continued on page 13

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 18

Photo by Joe Routon of the Richards, Fowkes & Co. organ at Village

Presbyterian Church in Kansas City. It has 59-stops and 3,800 pipes and

was used for two recitals at the Convention. See page 6 and 7 for Joyce

Ann Routon’s report on the convention, and more about Joe’s photos.

Greetings, and Happy September to all of

you! I feel particularly privileged to be

writing to you this fall, as we begin what

will certainly be one of the most memo-

rable years in our chapter’s history. The

reason for this, of course, is that we will

host the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conven-

tion next summer. We are blessed with

an outstanding Convention Committee,

expertly led by Evelyn Larter. Be sure to

check out Evelyn’s article in this issue for

the latest Convention news.

There are many jobs being very well

handled by the Convention Committee,

but I would like to give special mention

to Joyce Ann and Joe Routon, who have

done tremendous work in putting to-

gether a very exciting and high-powered

program of concerts and workshops.

While there are countless aspects to a

P A G E 2

Sub-Dean’s Report -- by Vicki Nichols

Mary Hamlin-Spencer. People

study this method in order to

identify patterns of tension,

develop awareness of the body

in movement, and to attain

more ease and coordination in

daily activities such as playing

the organ. Musicians who have

suffered from any sort of repeti-

tive stress injuries also find this

technique very helpful in alleviat-

ing their issues. Spencer is an

AmSAT certified Alexander

Technique teacher as well as a

BA and MM in organ perform-

ance. She is an adjunct profes-

sor of music at Towson, MD as

S F O R Z A N D O

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had

a nice summer. On Saturday,

September 15th at Moores-

town Methodist Church we

have a great two part workshop

planned. The workshop will

start at 10:00 AM with coffee

and donuts beginning at 9:30

AM. Our very own Glenn Rod-

gers will be presenting the first

half on handbells. He will cover

techniques for beginners, tips

on directing, and there will be

plenty of opportunities for peo-

ple to participate. Our second

half will be on Alexander Tech-

nique and will be presented by

“On Saturday,

September 15th at

Moorestown

Methodist Church

we have a great two-

part workshop

planned.”

Mary Hamlin-Spencer,

Alexander Technique presenter

Matters of Note Cares and Concerns: On Saturday September 22nd there will be a memorial service for Gae Finch's son

Pete at the Elmer United Methodist Church in Elmer at 11:00AM. After the service the church will be providing

a luncheon. Sympathy cards on behalf of the chapter were sent to Gae and the family of former member Mar-

tha Bradley who passed away in July. Get well cards were sent to Larry after his toe surgery, Marilyn after foot

surgery, and Gail after foot surgery. Hospitality: Thanks to Bill Mitchell for hosting our annual picnic and everyone who contributed food items.

Our September 15th meeting will begin with coffee and donuts. After the workshops we will have a luncheon. I

will bring the hoagies. We need side dishes, beverages, and desserts. Please let me know if you will be attending

and what you will be bringing.

Sunday, September 2nd at 1:15 pm: “Music for Labor Day” Lee Milhous, piano. Open to the Public •

Free Admission. The Grand Hall, The Evergreens, 309 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057

Sunday, September 16th at 1:15 pm: Carol Carpenter, flute/Celtic harp & Lee Milhous, piano. Open to the

Public • Free Admission. The Grand Hall, The Evergreens, 309 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057

Sunday, September 23rd at 3pm: LYRA, an a cappella group of six professional vocalists from St. Peters-

burg, Russia, will present a concert of Russian choral music. A reception will follow in the Susan D. Rodgers

Music Ministry Foyer. First United Methodist Church, 445 CAmcen Ave. Moorestown, NJ 08057. Contact

Donna Banes, 856-222-9369, for more information.

Sunday, December 9th at 5pm: 37th Annual Messiah Community-Sing, Donna Banes, Director/ Glenn

Rodgers, Organist. Come and experience this beloved Oratorio by Handel. Join with hundreds who have come

to cherish this yearly, unique event! . First United Methodist Church, 445 CAmcen Ave. Moorestown, NJ

08057. Contact Donna Banes, 856-222-9369, for more information.

Wednesdays at 10 am, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. (Resuming September 12) The curator’s tour

will be conducted with a concert following. Check Boardwalkorgans.org for details. These events are free.

well as the music director at

Epiphany, Episcopal Church in

Timonium, MD. After the work-

shop there will be a luncheon

with hoagies provided. Pease

contact Cathy O’Neill at

cmo125@aol.com and let her

know what side dish, chips,

drinks, or desserts you will be

bringing. I hope to see you all

there!

Save the Date! Sunday, Octo-

ber 14th at 4:00 PM is our An-

nual Guild service at Grace Epis-

copal Church in Haddonfield

followed by our annual banquet.

See dinner reservation form page 10

Photo by Dean Metzler

P A G E 3

Gallery: Summer Enrichment

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

Clockwise from top left: James Higdon’s

recital on the Bales Recital Organ at the

University of Kansas; Cathy O’Neill, Char-

lene Cranmer and Gail Gassaway meet up

at the Augsburg-Fortress Summer Work-

shop; a night-blooming Cereus; the organ

at St. Sulpice, Paris, where Marcel Dupre

was organist; A feature photo from a

newspaper in Alexandria Bay, NY; Wayne

Wold, our new Mid-Atlantic Regional

Councillor presenting a summer work-

shop, Guy Kirk and Kate Morgan-Wible

take a lunch break at the workshop. Pho-

tos by Joe Routon, Vernon Williams and

Marilyn Rabbai.

...as seen in the Thousand Island Sun

...more photos of Paris on page 8

P A G E 4

S F O R Z A N D O

Convention Corner

-- by Evelyn Larter, CAGO

and Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO

There are just ten months to go now till we welcome our colleagues

from around the Mid-Atlantic Region to our convention. We hope

you have checked out our great website already, and encourage you

to visit it regularly for updates. Joe Routon has designed a beautiful

brochure which we will be mailing to the entire regional membership

in the next few weeks so look out for that too. Now is also a good

time to talk to your organist friends who are not members of the

Guild about this exciting opportunity coming to our area. It would

be wonderful if we could attract new members to our chapter

through this project. Please contact anyone on the Steering Commit-

tee if you would like additional copies of the brochure to share with

potential new members, or with any music lovers who might be in-

terested in supporting our endeavors.

Convention Website: https://www.agosouthjersey2019.org/

We are seeking financial support from all who share this vision for

our professional community and our region. Thank you to all who

have already made contributions! You can make a difference with

YOUR donation. As you renew your AGO membership, please add

your own donation for SJAGO2019. Make a tribute contribution in

honor or memory of a loved one, a chapter member, a mentor or

young artist. All gifts to the AGO are 100% tax deductible to the

fullest extent provided by law. Checks can be made payable to AGO

2019 Mid-Atlantic Regional. Please send them to:

Gail Gassaway

241 Night Hawk Circle

West Deptford, NJ 08086

Programs at a Glance (See Sub-Dean’s Report on page 2 for details)

Saturday, September 15 at 10AM : Fall

Workshops at Moorestown Methodist Church,

Coffee at 9:30, Lunch at noon

Sunday, October 14 at 4PM : Guild Service -

Evensong followed by Annual Banquet

Grace Episcopal Church, Haddonfield See dinner reservation form, page 10

Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 10AM:

Masterclass with Hector Olivera

Haddonfield Methodist Church

Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 7PM:

Hector Olivera in recital at Haddonfield

Methodist Church

Friday, December 28: Potluck Supper and

Holiday Party - location TBA

Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 10AM:

Rick Siefert presentation on the Wanamaker

Organ - Temple Lutheran Church, Pennsauken

Saturday, February 16 at 10AM:

Organ Registration workshop by David Cherwein

Location TBA

Friday, March 8 at 7:30PM:

Joe Routon’s Photographic Organ Tour

Haddonfield Presbyterian Parlor

Sunday, April 7 at 4PM:

Annual Members Recital at

Trinity Episcopal Church, Moorestown

May (date TBA):

Organ Crawl: Archmere , Claymont, DE and

Dickinson HS Theater Organ

July (date TBA):

Picnic and Annual Meeting at the home of

Glenn and Cindy Rodgers

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

A Conversation with David Rhody

-- by Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO David Rhody joined our AGO chapter as a

student member in 1958, encouraged by

his teacher Helen Carrell. He calculates

that he "...must be the second-longest

tenured member after Helen!" In the mid-

70’s he was elected treasurer, and over

the ensuing years he has held every office

except dean. He has served as subdean

under at least three deans; creating, orga-

nizing and introducing our chapter pro-

grams for about 20 years all told.

On top of all that, David became publisher

of our newsletter when Barbara Knight

was editor, in the mid 90’s: He remem-

bers: “Back then we still printed the Sfor-

zando at Staples and licked actual stamps

for over 100 copies. I moved the printing

to my church and then eventually on-line

which saved hundreds of dollars each

year. When Barbara became ill I took

over as editor and web master. I am

proud that James Thomashower praised

both our web site and newsletter in sepa-

rate columns in The American Organist,

which reflected well not on me but on our

Chapter as a whole.” He regularly wrote

articles on musically and historically signifi-

cant topics, and contributed interviews

with quite a few chapter members. David

has also been generous with his time and

legal expertise as our Professional Con-

cerns Coordinator.

His interest in the organ began in his

youth when he, a 3-year veteran of piano

lessons, became fascinated by the old

vacuum-tube Allen installed at the First

Presbyterian Church of Haddon Heights,

where his father served as pastor in the

late 1950's. Mae Roop, the church's or-

ganist, insisted that he further his piano

studies before beginning organ lessons.

His family moved to Haddonfield in 1958,

where Helen Carrell (then Collins) was

the organist at the First Presbyterian

Church. She became his teacher, alternat-

ing weekly lessons at the piano and the

organ.

As a student at Haddonfield Memorial

High School, David enjoyed studying lan-

guages, developing a particular interest in

Latin while enduring the torture of four

years of math insisted upon by his guid-

ance counselor because "that's what boys

take." Latin club was his favorite activity.

He went to the College of Wooster in

Ohio, a private liberal arts college ac-

claimed for its mentored undergraduate

research programs. He knew several

church friends who had gone there, but

rarely saw them once on campus. Helen

Carrell had prepared him so well in music

theory that he was the only freshman

music student at Wooster to exempt

from the required intro theory course.

He hadn't planned on studying more Latin,

but a funny thing happened: "... a senior

girl I had dinner with my first evening on

campus convinced me to try Latin, and I

ended up major-

ing in it. That

girl, Lori Kaji,

supposedly a

Latin major, was

unknown to the

department and I

never saw her

again, she also

was not in the

student directory

– leading me to

think she was a Roman goddess in disguise

sent to change my life."

During his 8 semesters at Wooster, David

studied organ with Dr. Jack Carruth, a

former student of Marilyn Mason at Michi-

gan. As David relates, "...he was wonder-

ful and died tragically young. After his

death at age 37 I began a one-man crusade

to have a memorial album of his recital

tapes issued, along the lines of the In Mem-

oriam for Garnell Stuart Copeland which

had just come out, and I thought I had

some clout as president my senior year of

Dr. Carruth’s 100-voice Westminster

Choir. But my efforts were vigorously op-

posed (for reasons he never explained) by

Department Chair Richard Gore, with whom

I had studied organ for one semester at Dr.

Carruth’s urging. So that effort was crushed.

I have one tape, an old reel-to-reel format,

which includes one of the first revival per-

formances of the Reubke Sonata. I guess they

are now all unplayable, what a shame."

He continued his organ lessons after gradua-

tion, while a first-year teacher: " I taught the

year after college graduation in Orrville,

Ohio, the home of family-owned Schantz

Organs and Smuckers Jelly – I taught both a

Schantz and a Smucker in my Latin classes.

My favorite lessons were always the complex

grammar topics, but the students seemed to

prefer entertaining history lessons such as

Hannibal and the wars with Rome (which I

also loved teaching)." At this point, Jack Car-

ruth, his mentor and friend, told him “Your

future is not in Orrville Ohio.” David was

offered a job at Moorestown High School,

returned to New Jersey, and “…taught there

happily for 35 years.”

Guided once again by Helen Carrell, he suc-

cessfully completed the Service Playing Cer-

tificate exam in 1984. His proctor was

Wesley Day, a dual member serving at that

time as Director of Music at St. Mark’s in

Center City. As David relates, “He was so

calming that I have tried to emulate him each

time I have served as an exam proctor.” He

has now been studying with Helen for nearly

60 years!

….continued on page 8

P A G E 6

Organists Invade Kansas City

-- by Joyce Ann Routon, CAGO, SPC

Kansas City hosted the National

Convention of the American

Guild of Organists in July. Since

we had never been to Kansas

City, we were looking forward

to checking it out. We were

pleasantly surprised. Kansas City

is a very modern city with lots of

parks, green spaces, and culture,

including many wonderful new

organs.

Learning that Independence,

home of the Truman Library, is

only about 30 minutes away, we

went a day early to see it. The

National World War One Mu-

seum is located just a couple of

blocks from the convention ho-

tel, so we took advantage of

spare time before the convention

to visit the museum. Many other

Pre-convention concerts and

services were available on Satur-

day and Sunday for those who

wished to attend.

As the convention didn’t officially

start until Monday night, the

Reuter Organ Company, located

about an hour away in Lawrence,

Kansas, offered free bus trans-

portation to tour their factory

on Monday morning.

The Opening Celebration was

held in Helzberg Hall of the

beautiful new modern Kauffman

Center for the Performing Arts

with its Casavant Freres organ.

The pipe display reminded us of

the Disney Concert Hall in Los

Angeles, where that pipe display

has been compared to a package

of McDonald’s French fries. The

pipes in the Kauffman were

askew, but the sound was not

affected. Beginning with a remem-

brance of long-time AGO member

John Obetz, who broadcast recit-

als weekly from the Auditorium in

Independence, the program com-

memorated the 100th Anniversary

of the end of World War One.

The first of fifteen commissioned

works was heard. In addition to

the organ, a chamber ensemble,

brass, and percussion performed.

Following the Opening, the Kansas

City Chorale performed in the

same location.

During the week, many organists,

choirs, and instrumental ensem-

bles were heard. Michael Barone

led a Pipedreams Live! program

with Rising Star 2016 NYACOP

competition winners playing. Some

other highlights were recitals by

James Higdon, Chelsea Chen,

Todd Wilson, and Hector Olivera.

Since Kansas City is home to at

least 30 barbecue restaurants, one

night we were treated to a Kansas

City Barbecue Dinner.

Glenn Rodgers ably chaired his

final Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting

and turned over the gavel to our

new Regional Councillor, Wayne

Wold. Joe had been asked to be

the Official Photographer of the

convention, so he was kept very

busy.

One unusual event was a commis-

sioned work by Pamela Decker

for organ and ballet dancers, “The

Seven Last Words and Triumph of

Christ.” Another outstanding

performance included a choir

directed by Anton Armstrong, the

wonderful conductor from St.

Olaf College.

The Exhibit Hall included 75 dis-

plays by publishers, organ builders,

music stores, software companies,

music schools, and concert man-

agements. Outside the Exhibit

Hall, we and three other Regional

Conventions had displays advertis-

ing our 2019 conventions.

The Closing Ceremony back in

the Kauffman Center featured the

Kansas City Summer Festival Or-

chestra with Kimberly Marshall

and Thierry Escaich and ended

with a reception.

If you get a chance to attend a

national convention, don’t miss it!

“ If you get a

chance to attend a

national convention,

don’t miss it!”

S F O R Z A N D O

Above: Community

Church in Independence,

Missouri. Below: Photo

taken at the Reuter

factory, before the

convention.

Bottom right: Kauffman

Performance Center.

Photos by Joe Routon

….more pictures on page 7

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

Kansas City Convention photos,

continued from page 6

Above: Performance of Pamela Decker’s “The Seven Last Words

and Triumph of Christ” for organ and dancers. Below: Kauffman

Performing Arts Center. Bottom: Organ at Grace and Holy Trinity

Cathedral in Kansas City. Photos by Joe Routon.

Joseph Routon,

Convention photographer

Our own Joe Routon was the official photographer for the AGO

National Convention in Kansas City. He is always generous and

happy to share his fabulous captures right here in the Sforzando. It is

easy for us to see why his work garners rave reviews. We just had

to share a special example, which came in the mail after the conven-

tion ended:

Dear Mr. Routon,

I wrote to Tony Thurman at AGO Headquarters last week about the

photos that had appeared in the AGO Monthly Newsletter, and he

suggested that I share with you directly my reaction to your photos

(though I didn't know at the time who the photographer was).

"Those 177 photos are a priceless amalgam of the convention, and

they capsulize its every moment and event. Beautifully & evocatively

done by someone who knows what he's doing, the photographer has

managed to capture the very soul of the convention in all its manifes-

tations. I do sincerely hope that you'll keep them up and make them

permanently available somewhere, because I can't imagine a more

attractive or fitting advertisement for the next - or any - AGO con-

vention. This is one of those cases where every photo is worth a

thousand words, and the result is the finest photographic record of

an AGO convention I have ever seen."

The extraordinary range of your photographs - from the couple hav-

ing lunch in the hotel cafe to an anonymous browser poring over

music in the Exhibits room - raises the collection from an impersonal

archive of organ cases and consoles to a most impressive personal

memoir. Many Thanks for showing us the many and varied sides of

the Kansas City Convention!

Sincerely, Wm. A. Little,

Professor of German and Music Emeritus, University of Virginia

While at the convention, Joe was asked to take professional photos

of concert organists Katelyn Emerson and Lynn Davis. The results,

as usual, are stunning!

P A G E 8

S F O R Z A N D O

After teaching almost 20 years he took a year off without pay to try

law school: “I went to New York Law in lower Manhattan and loved

living in NYC. After a year I went back to teaching and finished law

school at night at Rutgers Camden. I briefly practiced in wills and

estates but it was not my thing. I do not regret the law degree how-

ever, which was very interesting; I used my skills and labor law train-

ing as Grievance Chair for my teachers’ association."

When asked how his vocations influence one another, David replies:

“My law, Latin and music careers have competed for my time but

don’t have much else in common. I had been substituting at Haddon-

field Presbyterian since freshman year at Wooster and did a lot for

organist Albert Robinson (a SWJ Chapter Dean in the 70’s as well)

and especially for Joyce Ann Routon, who was a dream colleague.

We really shared the position in many ways, with me subbing for

Joyce Ann for most of each January and a month each summer. She

also appointed me regular organist for the 8:30 service every Sunday,

a position I held for over 25 years. When she retired my duties

dropped off drastically and I soon was earning so little per year that I

realized I might as well retire.”

Among his favorite experiences as an organist, he cites a full perform-

ance of Elijah at Haddonfield Presbyterian, in which he accompanied

Part 1 at the 9:30 service and Albert Robinson played Part II at the

11:00. “It was a thrilling experience. I also got to accompany the

Moorestown HS concert choir winter program for many years on

the High School’s little Allen Organ when they performed master-

pieces such as the Bach Christmas Oratorio, Elijah, the Vivaldi Gloria and

Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio – all abridged of course, but including

all major arias and many solos. Director Jane Stetler, sister-in-law of

our former member Doris, did some great work with that choir.”

In 2001 he took the opportunity to retire from teaching at the mini-

mum age, with plans to practice law. Then, he says, “… I realized the

joys of being retired and have loved travel, concerts and sports ever

since. Thanks to that wonder Facebook I am in touch with over 500

former students!”

David has been a tireless advocate and active member of our chapter,

and he believes that our future will be filled with inspiration and ex-

citement as we host the Regional Convention in 2019. Here’s what

he has to say about membership in the AGO: “The main benefit I

believe is our solidarity, the idea that we work not alone but with

thousands of colleagues from whom we can learn and with whom we

can be a force to reckoned with.”

A Conversation with

David Rhody,

-- continued from page 5

Thank You, David…..from all of us!

Above, St. Gervais, Paris, where Louis and Francois Couperin

were organists; Below, St. Sulpice, Paris, where Marcel Dupre

was organist. Photos by Vernon Williams

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1

P A G E 1 0

S F O R Z A N D O

ORGANIST/CLERGY DINNER

to immediately follow the October 14 Guild Service

This is an opportunity for each of us to invite our pastors and/or lay presidents to join us

for Evening Prayer and a meal (your treat)!

The Legacy

136 White Horse Pike, Audubon

(on the eastbound side, diagonally across from Nationwide Housing)

From Grace Church in Haddonfield, turn right onto Kings Highway, drive to Route 30, and turn right.

The Legacy will be on the left side when reaching Audubon. The drive is under 10 minutes.

Reservations must be received by Gail Gassaway, 241 Nighthawk Circle, West Deptford NJ 08086-1801

by Monday, October 8. Late reservations will not be accepted.

Checks are to be made payable to Southwest Jersey A.G.O.

CHOICES: $27 per person including gratuity

Meals include a choice of soup or salad, water and a fountain beverage or iced tea with one refill with the

meal

Please indicate on the line how many meals.

_____ Chicken francaise or _____ Chicken marsala

_____ Broiled tilapia or _____ Stuffed tilapia

_____ Pork Chops

_____ Penne Vodka

_____ Roast beef with noodles

Meal includes choice of a starch and vegetable choice on the day of the meal.

Dessert choices: pudding, jello, ice cream and coffee or hot tea.

Your Name_______________________________________________________________________________

Names) of guests___________________________________________________________________________

MAIL THIS FORM TO GAIL GASSAWAY BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5.

Positions Available/Substitute List -- by Peter Homon

Editor’s Note: We are updating and hoping to expand our Substitute List. If you are available to substitute, please contact Peter

Homon, our Referral/Position Coordinator. Please forward or refer any items concerning positions available or substitute needs to Peter at

lapajar@yahoo.com or call 856-665-0149.

Positions Available:

Union Presbyterian Church , Carney's Point - Organist only, Thursday evening rehearsal for one choir, 2 M Allen Protege, 10:30 service. Contact

Charles Musser, Music Director by phone 856-299-6239 or 6254 Shell Rd. Carneys Point, NJ 08069. (7/18)

St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Willingboro - Organist/pianist only, 1 service, Adult choir as well as several other choirs that sing on occasion. 2

manual Allen, baby grand piano, Yamaha Clavinova keyboard, Contact Nina D. Bonner at stpumc@verizon.net or 201 Levitt Pky, Willingboro,

NJ 08046 (5/18)

These musicians are available on Sundays and also for weddings and funerals other days:

Carolyn Thomas Cuperwich 201-317-5291 (Tabernacle) cthomas.musician@gmail.com - piano, organ, cantor, choir director

John Dow 856-327-1739 (Millville) jedowfam@aol.com

Mary Johnson 856-332-8869 (Pine Hill) mebayj47@yahoo.com

George Mitchell 856-795-0970 (Cherry Hill) babayaga430@verizon.com

Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC 856-321-3465 (Cherry Hill) knenartovich@hotmail.com

Joanne Owen 856-769-3212 (Woodstown) lbjkowen1982@comcast.net

Tony Vattimo 215-859-6021 (Williamstown) tony@tonyvattimo.com

These substitutes are available for weddings and funerals or Saturday work only:

Patricia M. Fronczek, 856-397-2773 (Blackwood) theloveofsong@comcast.net

Evelyn Larter, CAGO 856-358-1112 (Elmer) ERLarter@juno.com

Lee F. Milhous, 215-348-8872 (Doylestown PA) leefmilhous@verizon.net

Cathy O’Neill, 856-0192 (Sewell, NJ) cmo125@aol.com

Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO 856-589-3901 (Pitman) mwrabbai@verizon.net

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 1 P A G E 1 1

P A G E 1 2

Rae Ann Anderson, CAGO

Miriam Bisbing, SPC

Helen C. Carrell, CAGO, SPC

Mark A. Cole, SPC

Lawrence DePasquale, CAGO

Ruth O. Fink, AAGO, ChM

Ethel H. Geist, CAGO

Carol Louise Knisell, CAGO

Evelyn Larter, CAGO, SPC

Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC

Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO, SPC

David L. Rhody, SPC

Glenn L. Rodgers, AAGO

Joyce Ann Routon, CAGO, SPC

For more information on Professional

Certification requirements, proce-

dures, materials and deadlines, visit the

website of AGO National Headquar-

ters: www.agohq.org

Our next issue will be October, 2018.

Deadline for articles, announcements, pictures and reports will be

Tuesday, September 25.

Patrons, Contributors and Advertisers

Contributors 2017-18

Andre Vermeulen

Peter Homon

Guy Kirk

Nancy Stokkng-Perry

Miriam Bisbing

Mark Dishong

Patrons Richard Sakowski

David Rhody

Ethel Geist

Stephen Obarski

Joanne Owen

Gail Gassaway

Rae Ann Anderson

Helen Carrell

William Fenimore

Robert Gladden

Reneé Hatzold

John Dow

Evelyn Larter

Marilyn Rabbai

Ruth Fink

Victor Pettyjohn

Robert Scara

George Mitchell

Patricia Patelski

AGO CERTIFIED MEMBERS

Thank you,

S F O R Z A N D O

Sforzando is the official publication of the SouthWest Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The AGO is a

multi-denominational, non-profit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New

York in 1896.

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Marilyn Rabbai, mwrabbai@verizon.net

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Joe Routon

REFERRAL & POSITIONS AVAILABLE COORDINATOR: Peter Homon, lapajar@yahoo.com, 856-665-0149

PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS COORDINATOR: David Rhody, drhody1@comcast.net; (856)795-6735

CHAPTER OFFICERS

DEAN: Vernon Williams, vwilliams@trinitymoorestown.org

SUB-DEAN: Victoria Nichols, sieglinde1776@aol.com

TREASURER/REGISTRAR: Gail Gassaway, cloaked17@verizon.net

SECRETARY: Cathy O’Neill, cmo125@aol.com

WEBSITE: www.agohq.org/chapters/southwestjersey

Dean’s Message ...continued from page 1

successful convention, the program is

the heart and soul of it, and there is no

doubt our convention program will

have great substance and appeal to our

organist colleagues in the region, and

will be a major enticement for them to

attend. Thank you, Joyce Ann and Joe!

One of the goals of both the Conven-

tion and our own Program Committee

is to inspire us in our work. It is al-

ways refreshing and encouraging to

make contact with other organists, to

hear them play, and just to chat and

exchange stories and ideas. During the

course of last year David Rhody and

the Program Committee put together

an excellent set of events for us to

enjoy this season. We begin on Sep-

tember 15 with a pair of workshops on

handbells and the Alexander Tech-

nique, led by Glenn Rodgers and Mary

Hamlin-Spencer. Please see Sub-Dean

Vicki Nichols’ column inside for details.

I think one reason we all need regular

inspiration for our work is that our

work is intended to inspire others. We

need encouragement too! There are

many ways to fill the creative well, so to

speak, such as listening to good music,

taking time to reflect or meditate or

take a walk, or spending time in nature.

But being with your fellow organists is

especially rewarding, and I hope you will

be able to take advantage of the fine

programs being offered this year. You’ll

be able to learn while being in the sup-

portive company of friends.

So I hope you have had some time to

relax and regroup this summer, and are

ready for the SouthWest Jersey Chap-

ter’s exciting season of programs and

Convention preparation!

Left to right: Maris and Vernon Williams, and Evelyn

Larter's brother Raymond Wylie and his wife Cath-

erine in Lincoln Cathedral on August 13, for a service

of Choral Evensong. The choir of the Church of the

Holy Spirit, Harleysville, Pennsylvania, directed by

Sue Ellen Echard, sang Vernon's Magnificat and Nunc

Dimittis during the service.