Past Events

As was common in English semi-opera, there were spoken as well as sung parts, and our performance will also feature a delightful narration of the story by professional actor and singer David Rodriguez.

As was common in English semi-opera, there were spoken as well as sung parts, and our performance will also feature a delightful narration of the story by professional actor and singer David Rodriguez.

Along with observing the 100th anniversary of public performances on the organ, this recital will also observe the 200th anniversary of Franz Liszt (who was the father-in-law of Wagner, a composer whose work was performed on the first Cadet Chapel organ recital) and the 50th anniversary of the passing of York Bowen, an English composer influenced by Liszt and Wagner. Called by many the “English Rachmaninoff,” his organ Fantasia is a compelling work and though half the length of Liszt’s Fantasia on “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam” is very much in the same mold.

The program on the 11th will be: Wagner - Prelude to “Parsifal” (first performed at the Cadet Chapel on November 12, 1911); Liszt - Fantasia and Fuge on “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam”; Karg-Elert - Chorale Prelude on “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”; Sowerby - Carillon; and Bowen - Fantasia for Organ

You are cordially invited to witness and support these young Musicians of the Future as they perform music especially selected for this event.

Additional musical collaboration will be provided by John Baratta, Paul Scatenato, James Osborne, and members of the FDR Brass Quintet.

Six organ students drawn from the organ program at FDR directed by John Baratta will perform a complete work, excerpt, hymn or improvisation lasting 2-5 minutes. In dialogue with each performer Mr. Bertolozzi will provide commentary and explore possible new perspectives to cultivate and encourage imagination in performance.

• Prelude and Postlude played on the newly refurbished Gress-Miles Pipe Organ


• Sacred Bridge Choir – a Jewish-Christian interfaith choir that sings music from a variety of musical and faith traditions


• Poughkeepsie New Yorkers (barbershop singers)[ebul[
  
• Mid-Hudson Mexican Folkloric Dancers


• Strawberry Hill Fiddlers


• Amahl and the Night Visitors” performed with costumes and singers, and with dancers from the Poughkeepsie City Ballet

• Sunday, April 11, St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 55 Wilbur Blvd., Poughkeepsie


• Sunday, April 18, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 2611 South Avenue,
  Wappingers Falls


• Sunday, May 16, St Paul's Episcopal Church, 161 Mansion Street, Poughkeepsie


• Sunday, May 23, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 2611 South Avenue, Wappingers Falls

We have planned a Green Convention: most venues are within walking distance of the hotel, and your registration will include a pass for unlimited travel on all modes of public transportation for seven days. We will offer the option of a bus transportation package for an additional fee (minus the cost of a mass-transit pass) but convention participants are strongly encouraged to help us keep Boston as clean and free of idling buses as possible.

Boston is a city of landmarks: historical, political, architectural, and musical. As organists, how would we trace the development of our craft without the landmark American organs, churches, and halls of greater Boston? Think of Aeolian-Skinner at Symphony Hall, The Christian Science Mother Church, and The Church of the Advent; Charles Fisk at Old West Church; Ernest M. Skinner at Old South and Trinity Churches. There are new landmarks of our craft here, too: Richards & Fowkes at First Lutheran Church; Shoenstein at Christ Church, Cambridge; and the lovingly restored Welte at Church of the Covenant. It is good to visit and revisit the landmarks of our identity and even better to do it together!

Among the artists matched up with our landmark venues are Christa Rakich, David Briggs, Hatsumi Miura, Peter Sykes, and Diane Meredith Belcher. The New Philharmonia Orchestra will perform with James David Christie at Symphony Hall, two brass ensembles will join organist Barbara Bruns for an evening of polychoral splendor at Trinity Church, and Peter Krasinski will improvise accompaniment to a silent movie on the ultra-orchestral Skinner in Old South Church. Pre-convention events include the AGO/Qimby Regions I and II Competitions for Young Organists on Tuesday, June 30, and a concert that evening by Stuart Forster on the new Schoenstein organ in Christ Church, Cambridge – the post once held by E. Power Biggs.

We are very pleased to offer complimentary registration for up to twenty-five students with ID. Please get the word out! Students should register by email or USPS directly to Mary Sue Willie, Registrar, 41 Hillcrest Road, Concord, MA 01742; cvmwillie@aol.com.

Early member registration (by Feb. 28, 2009) is $295. It goes up $50 to $345 on or after March 1. Senior registrants and spouses/partners of all registrants receive a $50 discount. Please see the convention website where you can register online with PayPal: www.agoboston2009.com.
Our hotel is the Back Bay Hilton, located in the heart of Boston. And the room rate is unbeatable! How often can you stay in the heart of Boston on the Fourth of July for just $189 per night? To reserve your room, follow the link on the convention website or call 1-800-HILTONS. The local hotel number is: 617-236-1100.