posted Sep 30, 2009 1:28 PM by george tarasuk
Mike McFerron will lead a workshop in Finale in Lewis University’s Oremus Fine Arts Building on Friday, October 2nd at 7:00pm. If you have specific questions or topics you would like to discuss at our workshop, email them directly to me at gwtarasuk@gmail.com. Parking lots D & G are conveniently located near the Oremus Fine Arts Building. Our workshop will take place in the computer lab - located on the 2nd floor, room F218. Mike McFerron is a professor of music and composer-in-residence at Lewis University and he is founder and co-director of Electronic Music Midwest ( http://www.emmfestival.org). A past fellow the MacDowell Colony, June in Buffalo, and the Chamber Music Conference of the East/Composers’ Forum, honors include, among others, first prize in the Louisville Orchestra Composition Competition (2002). first prize in the CANTUS commissioning/residency program (2002), recipient of the 2005 CCF Abelson Vocal Music Commission, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “First Hearing” Program (2001). McFerron’s music can be heard on numerous commercial CDs as well as on his website at http://www.bigcomposer.com. |
posted May 11, 2009 8:18 AM by george tarasuk
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updated May 11, 2009 8:20 AM
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Our last chapter event of the season will be on Sunday, May 17th at 3pm at Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Lemont, Illinois (follow the link for directions). A chapter favorite: My Favorite Things is a casual get together and opportunity to share one or two of your favorite works for organ in a beautiful space. Light refreshments will follow. I look forward to seeing you. Consider bringing a friend! George Tarasuk Dean, SW Suburban, AGO |
posted Apr 17, 2009 12:16 PM by george tarasuk
THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THIS MONTH’S PROGRAMMING
The Finale Software Workshop scheduled for April 26 has been CHANGED to:
A DEMONSTRATION OF THE HAUPTWERK PROGRAM
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LOCATION: The home of Dick Siegel
1733 Amelia Ct
Crest Hill, IL 60403
TIME: Sunday, April 26th, @3pm
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Many thanks to Dick Siegel, CAGO, who has offered to give an alternate "Techno-Time" presentation of Hauptwerk – a virtual organ system. This computer program brings the experience and sound of playing some of the greatest organs in the world to your church or home.
With the Hauptwerk program, anyone with a home computer and a MIDI keyboard can access such instruments as the Buzard Chamber organ at the U of I/Champaign or the E.M. Skinner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Chicago.
Hauptwerk is most often used:
- For study and practice at home by organists, organ enthusiasts and music students.
- In churches, theatres and concert halls to power digital organs and voice expanders.
- To upgrade old digital/electronic organs to the latest audio technology and realism, without having to buy a complete new console.
- In commercial and home recording studios to provide the ultimate pipe organ sound.
- For music composition and arrangement.
- For historical organ and music study and research.
- For making playable documentary recordings of endangered or valuable pipe organs.
- As an instrument on which to learn the organ in schools, music colleges, etc.
For more information on the Hauptwerk program visit: http://www.crumhorn-labs.com/index.shtml
The presentation is part of SW AGO’s continued "Techno-Time" workshop series and will be given at the home studio of SW AGO Treasurer, Dick Siegel. Dick has a well appointed 4 manual Skinner (pictured on pg 1) along with about a dozen other instrument files ranging from French baroque to English romantic .
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posted Mar 5, 2009 12:55 PM by george tarasuk
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updated Mar 5, 2009 1:19 PM
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A Spiritual Journey to Greater Creativity:
A Retreat for Musicians
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Sponsored by the Southwest Suburban Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
Retreat Location: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
15050 S. Wolf Road, Orland Park, IL 60467
Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
♦
Have you ever wondered what it would take to unlock more of your creative potential? Then join other like-minded musicians in a retreat as they explore reasons why creativity becomes blocked and how to recover and foster its development. So break free from the ordinary. Discover something new and novel. Seize the oppor-tunity.
Attendance is open to all musicians (AGO members and non-members). A free will offering to be taken. The retreat director will be Richard Nicholas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology at the University of St. Francis and member of the Southwest Suburban Chapter of the AGO. Please RSVP by contacting him at 815-740-4250 by March 12, 2009. |
posted Feb 3, 2009 10:44 AM by george tarasuk
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updated Feb 3, 2009 10:42 AM
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On Saturday, February 7th at 9am, Andrew Paul Fredel will be leading a workshop on psalms at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Lemont. This educational session will explore the practical elements and aesthetic of sung psalmody.
The session is intended to connect with those who are 'digging in' for the first time to this treasury of our sacred music heritage, but also as some helpful review for those who've experienced or studied these areas previously. Andrew Paul Fredel is Music Director at St. Peter's Church -in-the-Loop in downtown Chicago. He hold the Choir Master Certificate (ChM) from the Guild, and is particularly interested in and has studied the many ways psalms are sung in worship. He was invited to present a similar presentation at the AGO National Convention here in Chicago in 2006.
Hope to see you there!
George Tarasuk
Dean, SW Suburban AGO |
posted Dec 9, 2008 1:46 PM by george tarasuk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2008
Contact: F. Anthony Thurman
212-870-2310, <fathurman@agohq.org>
EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT
ANNOUNCED BY THE AGO
Restricted Access to Online Job Postings Begins December 15, 2008
NEW YORK CITY—The American Guild of Organists is pleased to announce an exclusive benefit of AGO membership. Effective Monday, December 15, 2008, job listings posted online at <www.agohq.org> will only be accessible by AGO voting members. Individuals wishing to view these pages must first validate their membership using their last name and AGO membership number, found on the mailing label of The American Organist Magazine. This policy decision, to deny the general public access to the job postings, was approved unanimously by the AGO National Council at its meeting in October 2008.
"Membership has its privileges," remarked AGO Executive Director James Thomashower. "By limiting access to our online job postings, we are increasing the value of membership to our voting members by providing priority access to job information not available to others. Employers can rest assured knowing that their job postings are being seen by the members of the world's largest organization devoted to the organ and choral music. These individuals have pledged to abide by the AGO Code of Ethics and Code of Professional Standards."
AGO membership is open to all and includes working professionals—organists, choral conductors, teachers, organbuilders, technicians, and suppliers to the field—as well as students, clergy, amateur musicians, and dedicated supporters. Individuals can join the AGO through local chapters or as a member without chapter affiliation. To join a local chapter, individuals can identify the chapter nearest them using the zip code search from the AGO home page. Membership numbers will be provided to those who join a local chapter once the chapter's dues report is received at AGO National Headquarters. Alternatively, an individual can join as an AGO independent member online at <www.agohq.org/store> and receive their membership number via e-mail within two business days. Independent members can always transfer to a chapter membership at a later time.
A detailed description of all AGO voting membership categories can be found online at <www.agohq.org/membership>. For further information, please contact the AGO membership department, <members@agohq.org> or 212-870-2310.
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posted Nov 25, 2008 11:43 AM by george tarasuk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Church of the Transfiguration............
Press Release.....
Palos Park, IL - November 21, 2008 - The combined Episcopal church choirs of St. Helena's in Burr Ridge, Church of the Holy Family in Park Forest and Church of the Transfiguration in Palos Park present a festival of traditional lessons and carols at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at Transfiguration. Lesson readers will include Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney, former Palos Park Mayor Carolyn Baca, Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller and Palos Fire Protection District Chief Steven Carr, as well as local clergy. A lessons and carols service celebrates Christ's coming to lead the world from darkness to light and recalls hope for the advent (coming) of the Messiah. The music chosen for the service will illuminate the spiritual dimension of each of the nine Advent lessons, beginning with the fall in Eden and leading to Christ's birth. Selections will include works by Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina, classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and 20th century composer Erik Routley. The congregation will sing Advent carols such as "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry." The combined choirs will be directed by George Tarasuk, organist and choirmaster at Transfiguration. Everyone is welcome. The program is free but an offering will be accepted. St. Helena's, Church of the Holy Family and Transfiguration are parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. About the Church of the Transfiguration The Church of the Transfiguration, a progressive parish of the Diocese of Chicago, is located at 12219 S. 86th Ave., Palos Park, across the street from the Plush Horse ice cream parlor. Sunday services are at 8 and 10 a.m. For information, call (708) 448-1200. Website: http://www.transfigpalos.org The Church of the Transfiguration The Rev. Lane G. Hensley Pastor e-mail: lhensley@transfigpalos.org phone: (708) 448-1200, ext. 25 George Tarasuk Organist and choirmaster e-mail: gwtarasuk@gmail.com phone: (312) 814-3916 |
posted Oct 23, 2008 8:24 AM by george tarasuk
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updated Oct 23, 2008 8:44 AM
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F o r I m m e d i a t e R e l e a s e :
F o r F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n C o n t a c t
R i c h a r d S i e g e l 8 1 5 / 7 4 1 - 2 1 8 5 o r
R S I E G E L 9 2 0 @ A O L . C O M
A s p e c i a l A l l S o u l s D a y O r g a n R e c i t a l a n d B e n e d i c t i o n h a v e b e e n s c h e d u l e d f o r 3 : 0 0 p . m . S u n d a y , N o v e m b e r 2 , 2 0 0 8 a t t h e C a t h e d r a l o f S t . R a y m o n d , 6 0 4 N . R a y n o r A v e . , J o l i e t a s a m e m o r i a l t o t h e d e c e a s e d d i r e c t o r s a n d m e m b e r s o f t h e C a t h e d r a l C h o i r .
R e v . J o s e p h S i e g e l w i l l p r e s i d e .
T h e a s s i s t a n c e o f t h e m e m b e r s o f S t . R a y m o n d s P a r i s h i s r e q u e s t e d i n a s s e m b l i n g a l i s t o f t h e d e c e a s e d m e m b e r s o f t h e C a t h e d r a l C h o i r s . T h e n a m e s r e c e i v e d w i l l b e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e m e m o r i a l p r o g r a m t o b e s p e c i a l l y r e m e m b e r e d a t t h e c o n c e r t . T h o s e p a r i s h i o n e r s h a v i n g n a m e s o f d e c e a s e d m e m b e r s o f t h e C a t h e d r a l C h o i r s a r e a s k e d t o c o n t a c t R i c h a r d S i e g e l b y e m a i l a t R S I E G E L 9 2 0 @ A O L . C O M
T h e m u s i c t o b e p r e s e n t e d i s o f h i s t o r i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e t o t h i s o c c a s i o n , b e i n g b e d r a w n f r o m t h e r e p e r t o i r e o f t h e f i r s t o r g a n i s t s a t S t . R a y m o n d s , J o s e p h L y o n s a n d R o b e r t P i r c , t o w h o m , w i t h t h e f o r m e r m e m b e r s o f t h e C a t h e d r a l C h o i r s , t h e p r o g r a m w i l l b e d e d i c a t e d . F o r m o r e t h a n 4 0 y e a r s b i s h o p s , p r i e s t s a n d p a r i s h i o n e r s o f S t . R a y m o n d s w e r e i n s p i r e d b y t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e s e c o m p o s i t i o n s w h i c h a d o r n e d t h e w e e k e n d l i t u r g i e s .
T h e r e c i t a l i s t f o r t h i s o c c a s i o n , R i c h a r d S i e g e l , i s a S t . R a y m o n d ' s G r a d e S c h o o l g r a d u a t e a n d f o r m e r o r g a n a n d c h o i r s t u d e n t o f B o b P i r c . S i e g e l s e r v e d a s a s s i s t a n t o r g a n i s t a n d c h o i r a c c o m p a n i s t a t t h e C a t h e d r a l i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s . H e h o l d s a M a s t e r s d e g r e e i n M u s i c a s w e l l a s D o c t o r a t e s i n L a w a n d S a c r e d M u s i c . S i e g e l h a s t a u g h t m u s i c a t t h e c o l l e g e l e v e l , i s a p u b l i s h e d a u t h o r a n d c o m p o s e r , a c a r i l l o n a n d o r g a n r e c i t a l i s t , a n d h a s b e e n e l e c t e d t o m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e P o n t i f i c a l I n t e r n a t i o n a l S o c i e t y o f S a c r e d M u s i c i n R o m e a n d a s a P a p a l K n i g h t o f t h e H o l y S e p u l c h r e . H e r e c e n t l y a c h i e v e d C o l l e a g u e s t a t u s i n t h e A m e r i c a n G u l d o f O r g a n i s t s .
S i e g e l i s a n e l e c t e d W i l l C o u n t y C i r c u i t J u d g e a n d c u r r e n t l y p r e s i d e s o v e r C h a n c e r y a n d C i v i l c a s e s i n J o l i e t .
T h e r e i s n o a d m i s s i o n c h a r g e b u t a c o l l e c t i o n w i l l b e t a k e n , t h e p r o c e e d s o f w h i c h w i l l b e d i r e c t e d t o w a r d t h e c o n t i n u e d r e n o v a t i o n a n d u p k e e p o f t h e C a t h e d r a l p i p e o r g a n .
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posted Oct 10, 2008 9:45 AM by george tarasuk
Dear SW Suburban AGO,
I'd like to let you know that tomorrow, Saturday, October 11, I will be aired in an interview with Virginia Beehn on Family Radio (FM 91.9 - WJCH) at 6:30 AM, with repeat airings at 12 noon and again at 5 PM.
The topic is on our Organ Spectacular (of course) which will be NEXT Sunday, October 19, at 3 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran in Lockport.
Thank all of you who volunteered to participate in this event!
If you plan on performing and you've yet to send Roxanne Packer your selection, please do so at roxanne.packer@gmail.com by October 11, so Roxanne can prepare the program for the event. Best, George Tarasuk Dean, SW Suburban, AGO |
posted Aug 14, 2008 1:48 PM by george tarasuk
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updated Aug 14, 2008 2:09 PM
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Our first event will celebrate the International Year of the Organ with a member’s recital on October 19th, 2008, 3PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lockport.
Not to be confused with just any members’ recital. This recital will have the resources of TWO INSTRUMENTS! Thanks to chapter member, Lee Maloney of The Organ Gallery at Steinway of Chicago, we will have an Allen organ to play (or battle it out!!) alongside St. Paul’s Ahlborn-Galanti.
Participation is easy.
- Simply select one or two works for organ solo/ preferably duet
- email the details to Roxanne at Roxanne.packer@gmail.com by October 10th, and
- Start practicing !
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