A Summer Filled with Music

I am excited to have several major musical activities planned this summer.

First, I plan to see the American Ballet Theater's performance of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty in New York on June 13.  I have a friend who is dancing in this ballet.

http://www.abt.org/performances/performance_display.asp?Event_ID=885&Date_ID=1731

While I am in New York, I will also attend a performance by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Alan Gilbert of Arthur Honegger’s oratorio, Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher (Joan of Arc at the Stake)

http://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/1415/joan-of-arc-at-the-stake

Second, while Kevin Birch, the Music Director for St. John’s and St. Teresa’s churches, is concertizing in Europe this summer, I will play the organ for all the Masses at St. John’s Church the weekends of June 28/29, July 4/5, and July 12/13.  I will also play at St. Teresa’s on July 5 and 13.  I am excited about this and I am learning new hymns in preparation.  Some friends will play duets with me at some of the Masses. 

Third, I will attend the Organ Historical Society convention from June 30 through July 3 in western Massachusetts (Springfield).  I look forward to connecting with friends and hearing accomplished organists play on historic organs.  For more information:

www.organsociety.com

Fourth, from July 20 through 30 I will be in Montreal at the McGill University Summer Organ Institute.  I enrolled in courses in Continuo taught by Hank Knox and in French Classical music taught by John Grew.  In preparation, I am learning some French Classical music by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1679-1749).  This institute is offered every two years and this is the first time I will attend.  

http://www.msoa.ca/content/msoa2015/courses-15/index.shtml

St. John’s Organ Society Summer Organ Concerts in Bangor

I am on the Board of the St. John’s Organ Society.  We have six wonderful organ concerts planned for this summer on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm on the historic E. & G.G. Hook organ, Opus 288 (1860) at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York Street, Bangor.  The first concert on July 23 features George Bozeman of Deerfield, New Hampshire.  I am responsible for most of the publicity for these concerts.  For more information on these wonderful events visit our web page:

http://hookopus288.net/summer-concert-series/

At the console of the Visser-Rowland Organ, Opus 6 (1976), at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church, Bar Harbor, Maine.  Practicing on May 27, 2015 for the American Guild of Organists Member Recital