I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Sub-Dean’s

Report

2

Matters of

Note

2

Gallery:

Photographic

Organ Tour

3

Programs

At a Glance

4

Convention

Corner

4

Official

Election

Ballot

Due 4/15

5

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Sforzando S U N D A Y ,

A P R I L 7

4 P M

A N N U A L

M E M B E R S

R E C I T A L

Southwest Jersey Chapter American Guild of Organists

© 2019 by SW Jersey AGO ….continued on page 11

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 6 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9

Above: St. Nicholas Church in Tallinn, Estonia. It dates back to the

13th century. Now deconsecrated, it serves as a museum for Estonian

art and a concert hall. Known for its excellent acoustics, it presents

weekly organ recitals and other musical performances. The instrument,

built in 1981, is a 4-manual Rieger-Kloss with 63 registers and 4711

pipes. The instrument can be heard by clicking on this link: https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM9o2nrd_lo Photo by Joe Routon.

Dean’s Message

-- by Vernon Williams In this month of April we find ourselves

in the busy season of Lent and Easter,

while many of us are also working to

prepare for our Regional Convention

which begins on June 30. There are

several ways to help in this effort. You

can volunteer to help with a convention

task, but if that isn’t feasible, there is

always the possibility of offering your

financial support where possible. Like all

conventions, ours depends on gifts and

sponsorships, and there are so many

ways to help out in that regard. Marilyn

Rabbai has some helpful forms on the

convention website. You can simply

make a donation, or you can decide to

help sponsor an event or performer. In

doing so, you will be making a tangible

P A G E 2

Sub-Dean’s Report -- by Vicki Nichols

Our performers this year are

André Vermeulen, Jonathan Stark,

Marilyn Rabbai, Glenn Rodgers,

Kyle Sheppard, Victoria Nichols,

and Vernon Williams. So come

out and enjoy a fine program

which will be followed by some

delightful refreshments.

Stay tuned! In May we will have

an organ crawl at Archmere Acad-

emy in Claymont, Delaware and

also at Dickinson High School in

Wilmington. We will let everyone

know the date once it is set.

S F O R Z A N D O

Hi Everyone! On April 7th, at

4 PM, we will have our annual

Members Recital hosted by

Vernon Williams at Trinity Epis-

copal Church, 207 West Main

Street, Moorestown. We have a

very exciting and varied program

this year featuring works by

Gilbert Martin, Lani Smith, Jo-

seph Jongen, Max Reger, P.D.Q.

Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude, Mar-

cel Dupré, Charles Tournemire,

Arthur Foote, and Henri Mulet.

“...at our annual

Members Recital

hosted by Vernon

Williams at Trinity

Episcopal Church…

we have a very

exciting and varied

program...” Matters of Note Cares and Concerns

A card was sent to Bob Parkhurst who was recently treated in Elmer Hospital, followed by rehab in Vineland.

Best wishes to Bob for a full and speedy recovery!

Hospitality

Thanks to everyone who brought desserts to our March program led by Joe Routon. We will have a reception

after the Member's Recital. There will be drinks and finger foods. Please let me know what you will be bringing.

Thanks, Cathy O’Neill cmo125@aol.com

Don’t forget to VOTE! Chapter elections are going on NOW and the deadline is fast approaching. New

office bearers include RuthAnn Arndt, Donna Banes, Steven Obarski and Christine Robinson. Information

about them can be found on page 6 of the March SFZ. We are grateful to all nominees for their willingness to

serve the Chapter by assuming or continuing these responsibilities, and we urge all our members to encourage

them by returning the ballot form. Send it by mail to Glenn Rodgers, the Teller of the Election, at 103 Tarlton

Court, Delran, NJ 08075 OR email to gcrodgers@aol.com. See ballot form on page 5 for full instructions!

Wednesday, April 24th at 7pm: Christopher Daly will play an organ recital at the St. Thomas Church on

the campus of Villanova University. The program is free and open to the public; a reception will follow. Mr.

Daly will be joined by the Villanova Faculty Choir. He will performs works by A.M. Brunckhorst, Clerambault,

Rameau, Bach, Messiaen, Rachmaninoff/Vierne, and Widor. Everyone is most welcome!

Sunday, April 28th at 3pm: Christopher Daly will play an organ recital at the Church of Saint Vincent

Pallotti in Haddon Township, NJ. The program is free and open to the public; a reception will follow. Mr. Daly

will perform works by A.M. Brunckhorst, Guillain, Bach, Messiaen, Rachmaninoff/Vierne, and Widor. Everyone

is most welcome!

Congratulations to Anthony Falatico, who was featured in Alumni Spotlight by the Westminster Founda-

tion of Princeton. Anthony was an organ major and voice minor at Westminster Choir College and graduated

in 1957. He later earned a master’s degree in voice from Temple University. He has been active in the Central

New York, Philadelphia and SouthWest Jersey AGO chapters and served as our dean from 2003 - 2004. Read

more about his 6-decade career as an organist, choral director and baritone soloist, with commentary:

https://www.facebook.com/westminsterfoun/photos/a.1744816545587945/2100903929979203/?type=3&theater

Sunday, May 5 at 3 pm: Dueling Organs. Organists Gordon Turk and Jinsok Kraybill play the 1855 Jardine

Tracker and the 1955 Möeller Organs at The Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church, 312 Daretown Road, Elmer NJ

08318. Admission is Free. Sponsored by Music Around the County/Salem County Arts Alliance. For further

information contact Joanne Owen at 856-769-3212(H) or 609-420-0309(M).

Archmere Academy Art Show

….continued on page 4

P A G E 3

Gallery: Photographic Organ Tour

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 6

Photos by Dean Metzler, Marilyn Rabbai

and Vernon Williams. More on page 11….

….continued on page 11

Matters of Note -- continued from page 2

Convention Corner

-- by Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO

We are looking forward to hosting a fantastic regional, and the ex-

citement is really building. We need all hands on deck and THIS

MONTH is a great time for EACH member of our chapter to help us

reach our fundraising goal. Here's how:

Make a contribution! Individual support from chapter members is

especially appreciated.

Buy an ad! You can honor a loved one, colleague or institution with

program book advertising. Ranging from $65 to $350, ads are a

highly affordable way to celebrate your inspiration.

Sell an ad! Contact your worship committee, clergy members,

administrators and music boosters in your congregation. By contrib-

uting to the AGO South Jersey regional, they are supporting your

source for professional development while helping to provide unpar-

alleled educational and cultural benefits to our local communities.

Deadline for Program Book advertising copy delivery is April 17,

2019. Email me at mwrabbai@verizon.net and I will be glad to send

you a sample cover letter, answer any questions you many have, or

help you create an ad.

Be a sponsor! Concerts, workshops, events and promotional items

are still available. Check out all the options on our convention web-

site: agosouthjersey2019.org/

Register! Even if you can't make the whole convention, you can and

should attend for one day.

Many thanks to those of you who have already donated generously

and helped this convention become a reality.

Programs at a Glance (See Sub-Dean’s Report on page 2 for details)

Sunday, April 7 at 4PM:

Annual Members Recital at

Trinity Episcopal Church, Moorestown

May 18:

Organ Crawl: Archmere , Claymont, DE and

Dickinson HS Theater Organ

June 30 - July 3:

AGO Mid-Atlantic Regional Convention

July 21 at 3PM:

Picnic and Annual Meeting at the home of

Glenn and Cindy Rodgers

P A G E 4

S F O R Z A N D O ….continued on page 5

Wednesdays at 10 am,

Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City,

NJ: The curator’s tour of the

magnificent Midmer-Losh organ

will be conducted with a recital

following at noon. Check Board-

walkorgans.org for details and

schedule updates. These events

are free, but there is an opportu-

nity to support the organ restora-

tion project. Come prepared!

Free Demonstrations of the

Fred. J. Cooper Memorial

Organ at the Kimmel Center:

Join the fun on the following Sat-

urdays at 1pm: April 20, May 4,

June 15. For more information or

group reservations, call 215-790-

5886.

Gulbransen Rialto II elec-

tronic organ looking for a new

home. Free to interested party

willing to transport it to new loca-

tion. Contact owner Bill Humbert

at 609-790-1124.

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 6

SOUTHWEST JERSEY CHAPTER

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS

ELECTION BALLOT 2019-20

Please complete your ballot, do not sign it. Place it in an envelope, sign your name across the back flap, and mail before April 10th

to:

Glenn Rodgers, Teller of the Election

103 Tarlton Court

Delran, NJ 08075

You may also vote by email to Glenn at gcrodgers@aol.com by April 15th.

DEAN – Vote for one

___ Vernon Williams

___ (write-in choice)________________________________________________

SUB-DEAN – Vote for one

____ Victoria Nichols

____ (write-in choice)_______________________________________________

TREASURER/REGISTRAR - Vote for one

____ Gail Gassaway

____ (write-in choice)_______________________________________________

SECRETARY – Vote for one

____ Cathy O’Neill

____ (write-in choice)_______________________________________________

EXECUTIVE BOARD CLASS OF 2022 – Vote for four

____ Ruthann Arndt

____ Donna C. Banes

____ Stephen F. Obarski

____ Christine Robinson

____(write-in)_____________________________________________________

____(write-in)_____________________________________________________

____(write-in)_____________________________________________________

____(write-in)_____________________________________________________

P A G E 6

S F O R Z A N D O

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 6

Live Passion Palm Sunday Evening

April 14th at 7PM

Presented by Methodist Youth Fellowship and Adult Choir

Join us in the Sanctuary as the scenes of Holy Week unfold and are brought to life

by our youth, with anthems by the Adult Choir

and congregational singing.

Reception to follow in the Susan D. Rodgers Music Lobby

First United Methodist Church

446 Camden Avenue

Moorestown, NJ 08057

P A G E 8

S F O R Z A N D O

Positions Available/Substitute List -- by Peter Homon

Editor’s Note: We are updating and hoping to expand our Substitute List. If you are available to substitute, please contact Peter

Homon, our Referral/Position Coordinator. Please forward or refer any items concerning positions available or substitute needs to Peter at

lapajar@yahoo.com or call 856-665-0149.

Positions Available: First Presbyterian Church, Woodbury Heights NJ - Director of Music needed: Organist / Adult Choir Director, Adult Bell

Choir and Youth Choir, 11:00 AM Sunday service, Thursday evening rehearsals. Please Contact Lori Taylor at bensmama68@comcast.net or

(856) 906-1637.

Protestant Community Church/Cathedral of the Woods, Medford Lakes,NJ - Choir Director needed to conduct Adult Vocal, Adult Bells, Children's

Vocal. Flexibility in scheduling rehearsals, one service, contact Rev. Tim Meadows pccrtm1@gmail.com or 609-654-4220 (3/19)

These musicians are available on Sundays and also for weddings and funerals other days:

Charlene Cranmer 609-458-2993 (Southampton, NJ - June July and August only) ctcranmer@comcast.net

John Dow 856-327-1739 (Millville) jedowfam@aol.com

Mary Johnson 856-332-8869 (Pine Hill) mebayj47@yahoo.com

George Mitchell 856-795-0970 (Cherry Hill) babayaga430@verizon.com

Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC 856-321-3465 (Cherry Hill) knenartovich@hotmail.com

Joanne Owen 856-769-3212 (Woodstown) lbjkowen1982@comcast.net

These substitutes are available for weddings and funerals or Saturday work only:

Patricia M. Fronczek, 856-397-2773 (Blackwood) theloveofsong@comcast.net

Evelyn Larter, CAGO 856-358-1112 (Elmer) ERLarter@juno.com

Lee F. Milhous, 215-348-8872 (Doylestown PA) leefmilhous@verizon.net

Cathy O’Neill, 856-0192 (Sewell, NJ) cmo125@aol.com

Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO 856-589-3901 (Pitman) mwrabbai@verizon.net

V O L U M E 8 , I S S U E 6 P A G E 9

(609) 970-9131

Steven A. Jones

CHAPTER EMERGENCY FUND Our Chapter has begun the sponsorship of a fund to provide short-term emergency aid to Chapter mem-

bers who find themselves temporarily in need of assistance. No dues money will be used for this aid, but tax-deductible contributions will be

welcome at any time. A committee of three, consisting of the Dean, the Chair of Professional Concerns, and another member of that committee,

will award aid as the need arises. Any Chapter member may recommend a member in good standing who, for reasons such as illness or unem-

ployment, deserves our help, by contacting the Dean or the Chair of Professional Concerns. All cases of course will be confidential. If you would

like to contribute to this cause, please send your tax-deductible donation (made out to SWJersey Chapter AGO) to our Treasurer Gail Gassa-

way, marked for “Musicians’ Emergency Fund.” Mail to: 241 Night Hawk Circle, West Deptford NJ 08086.

P A G E 1 0

Rae Ann Anderson, CAGO

Miriam Bisbing, SPC

Helen C. Carrell, CAGO, SPC

Mark A. Cole, SPC

Charlene Cranmer, CAGO, SPC

Lawrence DePasquale, CAGO

Ruth O. Fink, AAGO, ChM

Ethel H. Geist, CAGO

Carol Louise Knisell, CAGO

Evelyn Larter, CAGO, SPC

Irina Nenartovich, CAGO, SPC

Marilyn Rabbai, CAGO, SPC

David L. Rhody, SPC

Glenn L. Rodgers, AAGO

Joyce Ann Routon, CAGO, SPC

For more information on Professional

Certification requirements, proce-

dures, materials and deadlines, visit the

website of AGO National Headquar-

ters: www.agohq.org

Our next issue will be May, 2019.

Deadline for articles, announcements, pictures and reports will be

Thursday, April 25.

Patrons, Contributors and Advertisers

Contributors 2018-19

Nathanael Francis

Guy Kirk

Patrons Rae Ann Anderson

Helen Carrell

Charlene Cranmer

John Dow

Ruth Fink

Gail Gassaway

Ethel Geist

Reneé Hatzold

Evelyn Larter

Robert Mead

Stephen Obarski

Joanne Owen

David Rhody

Glenn Rodgers

Richard Sakowski

Robert Scara

AGO CERTIFIED MEMBERS

Thank you,

S F O R Z A N D O

Sforzando is the official publication of the SouthWest Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The AGO is a

multi-denominational, non-profit organization chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New

York in 1896.

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Marilyn Rabbai, mwrabbai@verizon.net

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Joe Routon

REFERRAL & POSITIONS AVAILABLE COORDINATOR: Peter Homon, lapajar@yahoo.com, 856-665-0149

PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS COORDINATOR: David Rhody, drhody1@comcast.net; (856)795-6735

CHAPTER OFFICERS

DEAN: Vernon Williams, vwilliams@trinitymoorestown.org

SUB-DEAN: Victoria Nichols, sieglinde1776@aol.com

TREASURER/REGISTRAR: Gail Gassaway, cloaked17@verizon.net

SECRETARY: Cathy O’Neill, cmo125@aol.com

WEBSITE: www.agohq.org/chapters/southwestjersey

Dean’s Message -- continued from page 1

contribution to the success of the con-

vention, and many people will appreciate

it! See the Convention Corner for all the

latest news.

Our well-attended March event was

hosted by David Rhody at Haddonfield

Presbyterian Church, and featured Joe

Routon’s spectacular slide presentation of

organs that he and Joyce Ann have seen

in their world travels over the years. Joe

is renowned for his photography, and has

been the official photographer for a num-

ber of national and regional conventions.

The convention work yielded many pho-

tos from across the United States, but

there were many photos of European

organs as well. Marilyn Rabbai and I

scoured the Internet and our CD libraries

to find some recording excerpts to give

an impression of the sound of a few of

the organs. After the presentation we

enjoyed delicious desserts and lively con-

versation. As a special door prize, David

provided two tickets to the Nathan Laube

recital at the Kimmel Center. Jonathan

Stark was the lucky winner.

Coming right up: our annual Members Re-

cital is on Sunday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m. at

Trinity Church in Moorestown. Vicki has

more details on the interesting and varied

program featuring seven of our chapter

members in her Sub-Dean’s column. As

many of you know, the Trinity organ was

renovated by Chuck Gibson and Steve Jones

a few years ago. If you haven’t heard the

“new” organ yet, you will be surprised at

how much better it sounds. After the re-

cital there will be a festive reception in the

Parish Hall. I hope to see you there!

Members Recital

Sunday April 7 4PM

Trinity Episcopal Church

Moorestown, NJ