2021-2022 Chapter Program Calendar
Sunday-Friday, June 27-July 2 AGO OrganFest 2021
OrganFest is back with more outstanding organ performances, featuring performers and instruments from around the country, as well as Rising Stars and Pipe Talks. Recorded programs are still freely accessible to anyone at the OrganFest website.
Monday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. Annual Organ Scholarship Student Concert
Denver South Seventh Day Adventist Church, Denver
Our first concert of the 2021-2022 program year features the nine students who received scholarships for organ lessons this summer. Piano and organ teachers: your students are especially encouraged to attend and learn about the scholarship application process. A reception and music swap will follow the concert. The church requests that unvaccinated attendees wear masks, which will be available at the door; masks are optional for vaccinated individuals.
Saturday, Oct. 13, 9-11:30 a.m. R-R-Rocktober Skills Fest
Church of the Ascension (Episcopal), Denver
Join Jay Kraybill, DMA, FAGO, as she presents strategies for mastering what every organist needs to know. Topics include Guild certification skills and AGO Achievement Awards. Masks are required for all participants. The workshop is free; click here for an outline.
Friday, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. Unusual Repertoire:
The Undiscovered Genius of Women Composers, Part I
In this Zoom presentation, Lyn Loewi talks about the barriers to women composers and the benefits of diversifying our repertoire, through the eyes of such significant composers as Elfrida Andrée, Dame Ethel Smyth, Florence Price, and others. Dr. Loewi is a member of the AGO Task Force for Gender Equity and the Women's Sacred Music Project. Her Stanford DMA dissertation was on women composers for the organ. To view the presentation, click here.
Saturday, Dec. 4, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tenth Annual Historic Organ Tour
Every year, the Denver Rocky Mountain Chapter partners with Historic Denver to present a morning of history, architecture, and beautiful organ music. The three churches on this year's tour are Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway; Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 1900 California St.; and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2015 Glenarm Place. Tickets must be reserved in advance through Historic Denver. AGO members are eligible for a ticket discount; see the Drawknob for more information. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is required, and masks must be worn inside the churches.
Friday, Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. Organ Concert: Jason Roberts
Saint John's Cathedral, Denver
Saint John's Cathedral presents a free concert by the Director of Music Ministries at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New York City. Winner of the 2008 AGO National Competition in Organ Improvisation and the 2007 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition USA, Mr. Roberts is a graduate of Rice University, the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and the Manhattan School of Music. He has served on the faculty of Westminster Choir College, and his compositions have been performed at such diverse venues as Princeton University Chapel in New Jersey, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Westminster Abbey in London. His program will include the Vivaldi/Bach Concerto in A minor, the Duruflé Veni Creator Spiritus, and two improvisations on given themes.
Friday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. Unusual Repertoire:
The Undiscovered Genius of Women Composers, Part II
First Plymouth Congregational Church, Cherry Hills Village
This live members' organ recital is a follow-up to the Nov. 5 Zoom presentation, in honor of Women Composer Sunday (March 6). Performers are scheduled to include Susan Carl, Steve Lockwood, Linda Mack, Cheryl Saborsky, Thomas Strickland, Norman Sutphin, David Vogels, and Ricki Vorrath-Moyer. Composers will include Emma Louis Ashford, Emma Lou Diemer, Cecilia McDowall, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Meredith Monk, Blythe Owen, Florence Price, Erzsébet Szönyi, and Rebecca Groom Te Velde. Free and open to the public, with free parking at the church, 3501 S. Colorado Blvd. For the concert program, click here. For lists of recommended repertoire by women composers, click here or here.
Sunday, May 8, 3 p.m. Organ Concert: Kris Rizzotto
Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver
Latvian-Brazilian performer Kris Rizzotto is an active international recitalist and composer. Dr. Rizzotto is currently Director of Music at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. This concert will include the world premiere of an Easter Postlude by Italian composer Grimoaldo Macchia, dedicated to the performer.
Sunday, June 5, 5 p.m. Annual Chapter Meeting
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Denver
5 p.m.: Social time in the courtyard; 5:30 p.m.: Pentecost Prayers and Praises, Service of Remembrance, and installation of officers; 6:15 p.m.: Catered dinner ($22, payable at the door); 7 p.m.: Dessert and annual meeting. RSVP required by Monday, May 30.
