December and the holiday season are once again upon us!  While this is a busy time of year for everyone, those of us who are organists and choir directors face special challenges.  But with these challenges come moments of grace and opportunity! Not only for great music making, but through that music making to heal, inspire, and build community.

In the midst of all the duties and obligations that this season brings, please don’t neglect your own need to by touched and inspired – schedule some time for yourself to attend a concert or to support the work of a colleague or friend.  

In this season of giving, there are several ways that you can assist the Guild in its ongoing mission at both the local and national levels. As chapter members, you should be aware that the New York City Chapter supports the work of our national organization each year by making a contribution to the AGO Annual Fund. Contributions are also needed from individual AGO members and are of vital importance.  Information about how to make a donation to the Annual Fund, and details about many other opportunities to support the work of the Guild, can be found on our national website: www.agohq.org.  

You can also directly support the work of New York City Chapter in many ways during the year, but let me just suggest two: A contribution in any amount over and above your annual dues helps to fund chapter programming, and enables us to plan future events with confidence.  Also, taking an ad in our chapter’s 2008-2009 directory or in our monthly e-newsletter would be a great help to us and would also benefit you and/or your church music program as well.  You can find an order form on our chapter website: www.nycago.org. The deadline for placing an ad in the 2008-2009 directory has been extended to December 20th.  Ad prices begin with a business card size at $50.   Walter Klauss, who is in charge of advertising for the directory, and David Enlow, who is in charge of advertising for the chapter newsletter, would be happy to hear from you.  

Looking ahead to the New Year, it’s not too soon to mark your calendars for our Presidents’ Day Conference. This year the conference will take place at the Church of the Holy Family.  Events include a recital by Peter Richard Conte and classes with Thomas Murray and Alan Morrison  Why not invite a colleague or friend from near or far, or bring someone with you who has never attended an AGO event before.

Since it is also the season for giving thanks, let me express my heartfelt thanks to the members of the chapter executive board for all of their work throughout the year, and to each of you – through your membership, and through your attendance at chapter events, you make all that we do possible!

On behalf of the Board, I wish each of you great success in your music-making in the month ahead, and after all your work is done, may you find some quiet time to share the joys of this season with those who mean the most to you!

    Thomas Murray is University Organist and Professor of Music at Yale University, where he teaches and performs on the renowned Skinner organ in Woolsey Hall. Widely known for his interpretations of Romantic repertoire and orchestral transcriptions, his recordings (on JAV, Gothic, Arkay, Priory and other labels) are highly acclaimed.

 

             

Welcome to new members:

Wayne Burcham-Gulotta
Isabelle Demers
Casey Molino Dunn
George M. Hall, Jr.,
Kevin Kwan
Philip Baker
Neil E. Criste-Troutman
Douglas D. Knight
Malik Jardine
Patricia McCarthy
Christopher Sahar