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Potomac AGO Chapter members Carol and Jerry Dennis attended the convention and submitted this report.
This is the First United Methodist Church of Hershey, PA.
Here is Carol Dennis beside the church banner.
Everyone is getting ready for the program featuring the new Letourneau organ.
The altar area of St. Patrick's Cathedral
The organ in the rear gallery with the Trompette en Chamade.
PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS
By Carol Dennis
In June, AGO Region III held its convention in Harrisburg, PA. For my husband, Jerry, and me, Harrisburg has always been a city we pass on the way to someplace else. This time we stayed. The program included some wonderful pipe organs in downtown churches as well as more outlying areas. The Harrisburg Chapter did indeed pull out all the stops to present a program that included recitals by some of today’s fine organists as well as the opportunity for young organists to compete and test their musicianship. Encouraging young organists with competitions, recitals, and specific programs for them was the theme of the convention. It was wonderful seeing so many young people attending and performing.
The convention formally opened with a Vesper Festival Celebration at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. There was full-throated hymn singing by all and beautiful psalm singing by the combined choirs of several local churches. The playing was outstanding on the newly renovated Austin/Gundling pipe organ. President Eileen Guenther welcomed everyone. Each day began with a prayer service at a local church followed by morning recitals, afternoon workshops and evening concerts.
One highlight was a trip to Hershey where we visited First United Methodist Church, on Chocolate Avenue of course. We were treated to a buffet lunch followed by a handbell concert and a recital on their new Letourneau pipe organ. No, there were no chocolate pipe organs!
Among others, Donald Sutherland and Jane Errera gave very informative workshops. Donald spoke from his perspective as a member of the AGO Long-Range Planning Task Force. He covered the history of the Task-Force as well as a number of the ideas generated by members like you concerning the future of the AGO. His talk was both thought provoking and entertaining.
Councillor Jane Errera spoke of that time when we start pulling in all the stops and find ourselves sitting in the pew rather than on the organ bench. Her retirement considerations included Finance, Fulfillment, Family, Friends, Fitness and most importantly, Faith. With humor and insight, she challenged us to meet our future before it meets us. Jane included a comprehensive bibliography with the number one book being the Bible, or Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.
The convention closed with a Grand Finale Concert at Harrisburg’s Forum Auditorium that houses a four-manual Moller pipe organ. Guest artist, Hector Olivera played several exciting organ works on the Moller before switching to his own Rodgers touring organ where he entertained us with his arrangements of famous orchestral music. He was indeed a modern day “one man band.” Maestro Olivera closed the evening with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture complete with “cannons.” He literally pulled out all the stops.
