All are invited to attend an organ recital featuring a remarkable young talent. Mark Pall, a freshman at Dallas High School and a member of the Pennsylvania Northeast AGO Chapter, will present a concert of Advent and Christmas music on Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m. at Dallas United Methodist Church. Mark studies organ with chapter secretary Ed Loch. Those who attend this program are sure to be impressed by Mark’s talent of playing by ear.

The Pennsylvania Northeast Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is seeking information on regional churches whose organs were affected by recent flooding. If your church was affected, of if you know of a church that was, please contact us. Thank you.

The Arts Series at First Presbyterian Church, Clark Summit, will present Kevin O’Malia, organist, improvising the soundtrack to the classic silent movie “Phantom of the Opera” this Sunday, October 30 at 7:30 pm. There is no admission, but a free will offering will be taken. Put your costume on and join us!

Seven Berwick area organists will perform at First Reformed United Church of Christ, 301 West 2nd Street, Berwick, on Sunday, October 23 at 4:00 PM. A free will offering will be accepted to benefit the church’s organ fund. A reception will follow the performance. All are welcome to attend. For more information, call 759-8991 or 542-7338.

Don’t miss the world renowned brass ensemble “Harmonic Brass” perform with chapter member Mark Laubach tomorrow at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre. The “Powerplay” organ and brass concert begins at 7:30 PM and tickets are available at the door. Hope to see you there!

The Members’ Recital originally scheduled for Friday, May 6 has been postponed until the fall.

Our End-of-the-Year Dinner will be held Monday, May 23 at 6 p.m. at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre (across the street from Boscov’s). Following the dinner at 7:30 p.m., there will be an Organ Recital by Mr. Henk DeVries. Members are encouraged to invite their families, friends, colleagues, and pastors to the dinner and recital.

Click here for more information on the 2011 regional convention.

A concert will be held on Wednesday, February 16* in Saint Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception, 134 South Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre at 7:00 p.m. to mark the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of chapter member Mark Ignatovich as Director of Music at Saint Mary’s. Music will be performed by members of the music ministry for choir, congregation and brass as well as works for organ solo, and organ and brass ensemble. Some of the arrangers and composers represented on the program include, John Rutter, Carl Schalk, Paul Sjoland, Marcel Duprè, Gaston Dethier, Musorgsky, Handel, Beethoven, Gabrielli, and more. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information contact the parish office at 570-823-4168.

*Due to projected inclement weather, the concert was rescheduled for February 16.

In days gone by, when people would visit in homes, a customary form of entertainment was to gather around a piano or pump organ and sing hymns. You didn’t have to always sing perfectly in tune, and you didn’t have to listen to a sermon – you just sang and had fun doing it!

In that same joyous spirit, on Saturday, September 25th from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m., St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre will open its doors to any and all who wish to come by for a good, old-fashioned “hymn sing” – with a twist. The “HYMN-A-THON” will fill five full hours with singing hymns, and will raise money to support St. Stephen’s VOICE FOR LIFE Chorister Training Program for children and youth.

Fear not, you don’t have to be here for all five hours! But you’re invited to come and sing (or even just sit and listen) for as long as you’re able. If you have favorite hymns, you can request them in return for a designated contribution (pay by the verse). And for an extra contribution, you can even request a special organ piece or an improvisation based upon your chosen hymn!

Mark Laubach will be the organist for the day. Visitors to St. Stephen’s often remark what a joy it is to sing hymns with our magnificent Berghaus organ and in our wonderfully resonant and reverberant nave. You can be sure there will be plenty of “spine-tingling” moments when we raise our voices with saints and angels and our grand pipe organ (or piano, if you wish!).

Come feed your soul, request your favorite hymns, and sing to your heart’s delight! Bring friends and family. Sponsor hymns in honor or in memory of loved ones or to commemorate special anniversaries or celebrations. Come at any time and stay till your heart and spirit (and ears) are full!

For sustenance and nourishment, refreshments will be available in the fellowship hall.

Hymn request forms will be available in advance and at the door. For more information, call St. Stephen’s office at (570)825-6653 or send e-mail to mlaubach@ststephenswb.org.

Join members of the Pennsylvania Northeast chapter on Monday, September 13 for dinner at JJ Bridges at 6:00 PM, then bring your favorite organ music or an anthem to share with friends and colleagues at First Presbyterian, Clarks Summit. Please RSVP to our dean, Kay Ten Eyck by Sept 7. We will be ordering off the menu (separate checks). A children’s menu is available. Hope to see you there!

Pennsylvania Northeast Chapter now has a facebook page. Check it out!

The AGO National Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support is sponsoring a Race to Renew Membership Campaign. It promises fun, larger membership numbers, national recognition, and the opportunity to win $500 to use in any way the chapter chooses! The committee has divided chapters into three groups according to size, so that chapters will compete only with others of comparable membership strength. A winner will be selected randomly from each group. In order to be eligible to win, a chapter must renew 90% of the present membership roster and file its dues report to the National AGO office by September 1, 2010. Have you renewed your AGO membership for 2010-2011 yet? If not, please consider doing so during the Race to Renew campaign! If you have not received your membership renewal form, please contact chapter registrar Betty Porzuczek.

Our chapter will hold its annual Closing Dinner on Monday, June 7 at 6:30 pm at St. Mary’s Church of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The menu will consist of a variety of delicious German dishes prepared by Mark and Doreen Ignatovich. Cost is $15.00 per person. Please R.S.V.P. by June 3 to Mark Ignatovich or call 823-4168 x130 and leave a message. In addition to installing officers, we will also have a opportunity to sing Compline, led by our chaplain, Father Wagaman and Raphael Micca. Michael Sowa will accompany the service.

Bob Wech will give an organ recital this Saturday, May 8th at 7:00 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 30 Butler Street (off Wyoming Ave. behind Dairy Queen) in Kingston. The church’s organ is a Möller, rebuilt in 1974 with tonal design by Clifford Balshaw. Bob will perform works by Walond, Buxtehude, J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Franck. A free will offering will be collected to benefit the music program.