| |  | Palo Alto/Peninsula andSan Jose Chapters Combined NewsletterLate Spring 2024 | A Message from Leadership | Spring is in full bloom, the business of Holy Week/Easter has ended, schools are entering the mad rush of year-end activities, and my time as Dean is almost finished. This last column is simply one of gratitude for the members whom I have worked with over the years (some for many, many years). This past year was filled with unexpected changes and challenges for me and I can not express how grateful I am for those on the San Jose Board who have truly helped me. They made sure that everything ran smoothly (flawlessly, even), did more than was required, and all with kindness.
Words are inadequate to express my thankfulness to them but music definitely speaks my emotions. One of the most moving pieces I play and listen to is Edward Elgar's "Nimrod" from Enigma Variations. This piece always inspires me to improve and to enjoy all the emotion that glorious music brings. I know the current and new board members will continue to inspire the Guild with musical events, growth, and friendship. Many wonderful events are in the works for this coming year, so I hope you will support them by attending, giving your time, bringing friends, volunteering at the National Convention in San Francisco this July, donating funds, promoting the Guild, or simply asking "how can I help?".
May organ music continue to fill your days! ~Fondly, Elisabeth Pintar | | Renee Gastelum Masters Student (Organ Performance, BYU), and SF AGO 2024 workshop presenter, in recital ay Sunnyvale Presbyterian May 19 ~ 7:00 pm
The free concert will be preceded by the San Jose chapter’s 2024-25 board installation (all chapter members welcome), at 6:15 in Fellowship Hall. A reception will follow the recital. If you’re willing to bring some finger food to share (i.e. platter of fruit, crackers and cheese, cookies), please email valeriesterk@gmail.com We’re expecting 100+ people, and would like to honor and congratulate Renee in style!
To learn more about Renee, visit her website |  | And we have a winner: Frasier Scholarship ‘24 | Congratulations to 16-year-old Elizabeth Kamas, the winner of the San Jose AGO chapter’s 2024 Frasier Organ Scholarship! The audition was held on April 27 at the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos. The judges highly recommended awarding her the $1000 scholarship, and invited Elizabeth to perform an organ recital next year. Elizabeth performed Bach’s “Little” Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Major (BWV 560), the Brahms chorale prelude on Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, Grand Lothbury Voluntary by Angela Kraft Cross, and the hymn Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service (Beach Spring).
Elizabeth is a bright and talented high-school student, in the 10th grade of her homeschool program and also enjoying classes at West Valley College. She has been studying piano for seven years, and with Margaret Kvamme since 2018. Elizabeth added organ lessons with Margaret in 2020, at the age of 12. She has participated in two Pipe Organ Encounters: Long Beach (2022) and Wheaton College (2023). She performed recently in Jörg Reddin’s masterclass in Los Gatos. Elizabeth is looking forward to attending the AGO National Convention in San Francisco this summer.
The San Jose chapter extends sincere appreciation to Joyce Rhodes, Dian Ruder, and Susan Snook-Luther, who served as the three judges for this year's Frasier scholarship auditions. We also thank the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos for hosting the audition. We look forward to hearing Elizabeth Kamas play for all of us soon. |  |  | | National Convention June 30 - July 4 updates: Single-day registration is now available ($345), which includes full access to the day's workshops, concerts, and vendor hub. Due to high attendance, only those with badges will be able attend convention workshops, concerts, and the vendor hub. Grab your daily or full-convention registration now, at this link.
Know music lovers who aren’t organ convention types? There are 2 ticketed concerts available to the general public: Tuesday, July 2, 8:00 pm: Faythe Freese, concert organist, in a multi-media performance with dance, projected artwork and special lighting, at Grace Cathedral (this is a repeat of the July 1 convention performance). Wednesday, July 3, 8:00 pm: Janette Fishell, concert organist, plays varied works including the world premiere of Suite for Organ by Mason Bates, at St. Mary’s Cathedral (with the convention cohort… you can sit with your ticket-holding non-convention friends if you like).
The above concerts have free tickets available to students of all ages. Please email tickets@sfago2024.org for more information.
Volunteers are still needed, particularly drivers (need not be guild members or registered for the convention). Contact Rani Fischer to see how you can help. | AGO member makes a difference for Music Education |  | Bob Birnstihl, 50-year San Jose chapter member and past-dean, retired in 2021 after 49 years as Organist/Director of Music Emeritus at Willow Glen United Methodist Church. He is pictured here in front of the Music Arts Wing named in his and spouse Timothy Peer’s honor at the Rock Ridge High School in Virginia, MN. Bob, whose passion for music started at Roosevelt (MN) High School’s Malone Band Hall, was active in choir and orchestra and had been student director, drum major and president of the high school band. The Virginia school district recently consolidated with those of two other cities to create the Rock Ridge Independent School District which built new campuses included the high school. The Music Arts Wing is comprised of three rehearsal halls—one each for band, choir, and orchestra, several practice rooms, a music lab, and a collaborative teachers’ office/lounge that overlooks a Commons area for the music students. What a fantastic way to pass on the gift of music! | Concerts and Special Events | *Chapter events (Palo Alto/Peninsula, San Jose, and San Francisco) are noted in red, marked with an asterisk, and are open to members of all 3 chapters. This newsletter uses San Francisco and Berkeley as northern boundaries for event listings. In the interest of space, events are now listed chronologically. Addresses and parking info can be found online by searching the venue. Ticketed events are noted; all others are free or freewill donation-funded. N.B. *Grace Cathedral’s Sunday afternoon organ concerts require advance registration to avoid a visitor’s fee.
May 5, 4:00. pm: Christopher Keady, organ, *Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
May 12, 4:00 pm: Christoph Tietze, organ, Cathedral of St Mary, San Francisco
May 19, 4:00 pm: Choral Evensong for Pentecost, St. Paul’s, Burlingame
May 19th 4:00 PM Evensong for Pentecost. St Andrew's Episcopal Church, Saratoga. Choral concert following the service: music by Philip Stopford, Karl Jenkins, Moses Hogan, et al.
* May 19, 7:00 pm - Renee Gastelum, Master of Music candidate at BYU and winner of the San Jose chapter’s Frasier scholarship 2023, in recital at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. We will also install the new SJ chapter officers at 6:15 in Fellowship Hall at the church, preceding this event. Reception to follow the concert.
* May 25, all day - Peninsula organ crawl: hoping to visit First United Methodist Palo Alto, All Saints’ Palo Alto, Carmelite Monastery Santa Clara, and St. Nicholas & St. William Parish Los Altos. Visit the PA/Pen chapter website for up-to-date info.
May 26, 4:00 pm: David Hirst (UK), organ, Cathedral of St Mary, SF
June 2, 2:00 pm: Alexander Straus-Fausto, organ, *Grace Cathedral, SF
June 2, 4:00 pm: Margaret Martin Kvamme, organ music by women composers, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Carmel Valley. Tickets: $25 at the door (18 and under free). Reception (3 pm) precedes the 1-hour concert.
* June 8 (note date change), 10am - Choral Reading: anthems for small choirs, St. Bede’s Menlo Park. Bring your favorite anthems that are easy & effective.
June 16, 4:00 pm: Chase Olson, organ, Cathedral of St Mary, San Francisco
June 23, 4:00 pm: Hans-Uwe Hielscher, organ, Cathedral of St Mary, San Francisco
June 28, 8:00 pm: Aaron Tan, organ, in a recital: Bay Area venue TBA (check late June newsletter and look for emails from the Dean)
June 30, 4:00 pm: Christoph Tietze, organ, Cathedral of St Mary, San Francisco
June 30 - July 4 - National AGO Convention in San Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland, and Palo Alto | Talented graphic and web designers in our midst: Bob Birnstihl (pictured with his arms wide in the photo above), was the designer of the San Jose chapter’s 35-year-strong “starburst en chemade” logo for the 1989 Regional convention in San Jose. Bob’s design inspired the San Jose chapter’s new logo designed by graphic design student Emily Moran (daughter of Vlada), which you can check out on our brand-new website. (Bob says he loves the new logo!) Duane Soubirous was the designer of the website, and our treasurer Colin Whitby-Strevens is maintaining it temporarily, until we find a person who would like to be trained in updating the information on it. Please reach out to Colin if you would like to learn more. And tremendous thanks to all of the people who created and maintain these important pieces of our media presence! | The San Jose chapter’s new website: https://www.agosanjose.org has a password for access to the various lists it contains. The password is agomember. | Benefits of Membership: Log in with OnCard to the National Website and click on the Member Benefits tab. Watch these AGO webinars to learn more: | |
Hope Lutheran Church, San Mateo: Seeking an every-week or part-time organist to provide organ and piano music for Sunday services at 10am, plus Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Christmas Eve etc. Rehearse with choir/choir director once weekly (1 hour) September - June. Some summer rehearsals with other musicians may be necessary. 2-manual Schoenstein organ. Partner with the Pastor, Choir Director, Bell Choir Director, and Worship Committee. Salary of $28,000 + 4 weeks’ vacation for a qualified person fulfilling all duties of the year-round position. Phone the church office for more information: (650) 349-0100 Other positions: Several organist and/or music director jobs remain unfilled in the area (Episcopal congregations) and are undergoing job description revisions. Please email Margaret Kvamme if you wish to be connected with their search processes. | The next newsletter will be published in late June (before the national convention). The deadline for submitting concert listings, articles, photos, job listings and notices of organs (with standard pedalboards) or harpsichords for sale, is June 10. Click on the red button below for a set-up email where you can conveniently type and attach items. | | | |
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