Organ Tuning Day at St. Mark's

Today was organ tuning day. Our organ tuner/technician is Dave Klug who is often assisted by his mother Fran. Here is a picture of the organ console from a perspective that most people at St. Mark's will never see it from (and are probably happy to keep it that way!).

Also, there is a picture from the inside of one or the organ chests.

Dave uses a digital tuner. He showed me how it told him one of the pipes was "three cents sharp." I asked how much that was in real money and he told me a cent is roughly 1/100th of a step.

Ringers Needed for the New Season!

Wanted: Musicians to ring handbells in the St. Mark’s Ringers, our advanced handbell group.

As the result of adding a fourth octave of bells, we have positions for three more ringers available. Ringers should be able to read notes in treble and bass clefs accurately, read simple and syncopated rhythms, and be able to follow (but not play) more than one note at a time, as in a piano or choral score.

The St. Mark’s Ringers will begin its usual Wednesday night rehearsal schedule in the Fall and provides music for worship services about once per month in addition to playing for major festival days.

If you are interested in ringing with us, please contact Tony Cruz or any member of the St. Mark’s Ringers as soon as possible.

More Pictures from Lake Junaluska

Back from the Lake

I returned from Lake Junaluska, North Carolina last night. As usual, the Lake was beautiful and it was an exciting week of making, hearing, and learning about music! The event was the annual Music and the Liturgical Arts Week.

The week featured handbell, youth, adult, and children's choirs as well as dance, drama, and visual arts.

I went with my friend Cynthia S. (see the picture) who sings in the choir at Faith United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. (I was the music director there for 5 1/2 years, leaving in 1999.

About 900 people (youth, children, and adults) attended the confernence.

Dr. Jerry Ulrich, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Georgia Tech, directed the adult choir in a service based on Psalm 81, including music specifically composed for the service with a melody based on the zip code and name of Lake Junaluska! The service included dramatic readings, dance, chant, English Cathedral Music, and Gospel Music. As he said, we can say we were at the lake "when we did something different." He's right and I'm really glad that I was there.

Michael Burkhardt was the conference organist. He accompanied our hymns with great skill and gave an exciting concert on the Cassavant organ at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, NC. During the concert, he had the packed church (probably about 500 and nearly all of them musicians) sing "All People That on Earth Do Dwell" (Old 100th) which we ended with the doxological verse "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. . ." The organ roared as the voices soared and I know that I will carry that sound with me always as a goal for congregational singing and organ accompanying. (Thank you, thank you, thank you, Michael Burkhardt!!! It was amaaaazzzzzing!!!)

What a week it was! Next stop: Houston, Texas for the Association of Lutheran Musicians biennial conference in July.

Voice Recital on June 30th at 7PM

Students of Dr. Carole Clifford will present a voice recital in our nave on Saturday, June 30th, at 7 pm. This recital is free and open to the public. It will be well worth your time to attend. Dr. Clifford is the director of the Orange Park Chorale and her bio can be found at www.orangeparkchorale.com.

The concert will include German Lieder, French Melodies, English Art Songs, and operatic favorites.

Here is information about the students who will be singing:

Michelle Brock-Kemp is a private music teacher who holds a music degree from Florida State University School of Music, is a soloist with the Orange Park Chorale, and also plays saxophone and clarinet. Michelle taught middle school chorus and music theatre for 4 years at Switzerland Point Middle School in St. Johns County.

Nathalie Fares, first place winner of the 2007 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) North Florida chapter auditions and a second place winner of the 2007 Southeastern Regional auditions, is preparing to work on a Master’s degree in vocal performance. Nathalie was accepted at The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music, and for 3 years she was trained in vocal performance under the guidance of Moldavian soprano Dr.Lilia Dragomir.

Clinton Weinberg, a versatile musician holding a Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance from the University of North Florida, received his first musical training as an instrumentalist. He has also been a featured baritone soloist in works covering the range from classical oratorio to Broadway. As a recipient of a full assistantship at Valdosta State University, Clinton will begin graduate studies towards a Master's Degree in Voice in August 2007. See Clinton's website at www.clintonweinberg.com.

Please come and invite your friends and family!

To the Mountains

This week I'll be in the mountains at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina for Music and the Liturgical Arts Week sponsored by the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.

It will be a week of singing, ringing, dramatic arts, dance, visual arts, workshops and non-stop fun. You can see more specific information at www.sejmusicweek.com.

This will be my tenth year at the lake for this event and it is part of my continuing education. I always come back rejuvenated with new ideas and new music!

Roger Feingold will play the organ in my absence.

See you next week!