It’s really hard to believe that Easter has come and gone! Although, we are Easter people and really celebrate the resurrection continually throughout our lives, we look to the Resurrection as a sign of hope which gives meaning to the living of our lives daily!
Musically I know that Easter was a day full of celebration, too! Easter is the culmination of our year’s hard work with our choirs and instrumentalists! Sometimes Easter signals the end of another musical season is nearing. However, we all know that the month of May can be even more full of musical “endings” than the month of December!!! Let’s all celebrate the good work everyone has done. Summer is coming!!
Last Saturday we gathered at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh for the 5th Annual Smorgansbord. One of the highlights of the event was interviewing and interacting with Joshua Sobel, our 2017 Cooper-Miller Scholarship Winner. As a ninth grader it was a joy to hear him play a Bach Little Prelude and Fugue and the Gordon Young “Prelude in Classic Style” ALL FROM MEMORY!! Joshua will attend the Hartford POE. He was given a $ a two year membership in the Central NC Chapter. We know Joshua will be one of the “Rising Stars” in a couple of years!! Lorraine Magnuson, Chair of the Scholarship Committee, presented the Certificate to Joshua.
There was a table of used music that attendees could swap or purchase by donation that the proceeds will benefit the Cooper-Miller Scholarship. Lots of good stuff was available!
Leonard Smith shared a portion of his very large collection of Hymnals from various denominations and eras. It was fascinating to look through and even touch some of these very early hymnals.
Lee Harris, Chapter Treasurer always amazes us with her dazzling pedal technique. She presented several solutions to playing difficult pedal passages. She also performed impromptu the Wilhelm Middleschute pedal solo made famous by Virgil Fox!!
We were informed by Kelly Groom about what to discuss with your Organ Tuner and also how to use the new digital gadgets being installed with most new organs (as well as on even older instruments).
Another highlight was viewing a video of Marcel Dupré playing at St. Sulpice at various ages in his life. To watch a Master improvise a Prelude and Double Fugue was amaz- ing! But, also to hear him play several of his own composition while watching his hands made the pieces even more meaningful. Mark Andersen,
Sub-Dean, studied personally with Dupré in France back in the late 60’s. We listened to Mark talk about his personal relationship with Dupré; about his experience playing at Meudon (Dupré’s home organ) and St. Sulpice, and how to improvise! What a day!
Many thanks to Karl Zinsmeister for hosting the event! Many thanks to Andy Liepins for developing the Webpage and Lyn Francisco for updating the Facebook page regularly!
Please check these resources. They are valuable tools! Many thanks to Tamara Lewis (and her husband, Todd!) for producing the Newsletter each month, too!
One of the things we’re trying to do is to become good stewards of our resources. By sending out the Newsletter electronically and by uploading it to the website we are saving not only financially but saving the environment by using less paper and other natural resources. You can read the Newsletter online or print out your own copy if you wish. For those who still do not have a computer, you will continue to receive a print copy in the mail.
The Board will meet on Thursday, May 4th at 10:30 am at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church on Canterbury Road in Raleigh. All Board meetings are open to anyone. If you would like to become involved with the Chapter as an officer or committee member please let me know.
Peace to all!