September, 2010    

GREETINGS! AND WELCOME TO A NEW SEASON of programming for the Rochester Chapter, AGO! I hope you have had a restful and rejuvenating summer, and are enjoying these last few days before the full fall schedule resumes.

Lots of planning has been going on – and continues to go on– behind the scenes for our chapter this year, and I'll highlight just a few of the imminent programs to be aware of.

Our first meeting of the season will be our Opening Service and Installation of Officers to be held on Sunday, September 19 at 3pm at the historic First Universalist Church, 150 Clinton Avenue South, Rochester [map]. Gordon Porth will be our host, and Rev. Sally Hamlin from First Universalist, and Rev. Julie Cicora, our Guild Chaplain, will lead the service. Please join us for this brief reflective service, followed by a reception and information on the historic Hope-Jones organ installed at the church.

The very next weekend, we kick off our second blockbuster season of the Rochester Celebrity Organ Recital Series (RCORS) with our first program presented by renowned organist Cherry Rhodes at Asbury First United Methodist Church, 1050 East Avenue, Rochester [map] on Saturday, September 25 at 8 p.m. More about that shortly...

Our program year will continue with the EROI Festival November 11-14 (see http://www.esm.rochester.edu/eroi/festival-2010.php) for full details and registration) and our second RCORS recital with Olivier Latry from the Paris Conservatoire and Notre Dame de Paris on Sunday, November 14 at 2pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral!

You should have received - or will shortly - separate emails with full details of the RCORS season - including recitals by Cherry Rhodes, Olivier Latry, and John Scott - truly a blockbuster season! When you receive the season flyer, please consider supporting the series financially as you are able - AND forward the email flyer to as many of your friends, choir members, or others you think might be interested in attending and supporting the series. That's the best way to ensure the series' success, and our ability to continue to bring world-renowned performers and teachers to Rochester! Additionally, you'll receive an email flyer specifically about Cherry Rhodes' first RCORS program of the season. Since it's very soon, please print it and display at your church, and feel free to forward it by email to as many people as possible! Thanks in advance for YOUR help!

Other events planned for the year include a continuation of our Lessons with the Masters series; a possible organ crawl (plans being developed); a lecture on the life and works of Maurice Duruflé by noted author James Frazier, along with a recital of Duruflé organ works presented by Eastman students; the young artists' playing competition in the spring, and of course our annual banquet!

A great year, all in all, lies ahead, and your Board and I look forward to sharing it with you! When asked if you can help, I hope you'll respond with a resounding "yes", and if you have ideas you'd like to get in the hopper for future consideration, please feel free to email or phone me or any Board member with your ideas.

Soli Deo Gloria! …Peter DuBois