DEAN'S WELCOME
The Spokane Chapter was chartered on September 16, 1946. Famous organists who have played instruments in our city include Louis Vierne, Marie-Claire Alain, Alexander Schreiner, Christopher Herrick, David Craighead, John Ellis, Michael Kaminski, Paul Manz, Virgil Fox, Carlo Curley, Tom Hazelton, James David Christie, David Cherwien, Marilyn Mason, Alec Wyton, Ladd Thomas, Ronald Arnatt, John Ferguson, Sondra Soderlund, Fred Swann, Mel Butler, Clay Christiansen, and Cameron Carpenter.
Just as famous in our region are Harold Einecke, George Scott, Bob Kee, Ed Hansen, Joseph Munzenrider, Melvin West, Carole Terry, David Dahl, Kraig Scott, Paul Barte, Ann Elise Smoot, Douglas Cleveland, Joseph Adam, Nancy Cooper, James Barrett, Michael Young, Jim Tevenan, John Bodinger and Janet Ahrend.
Our chapter hosted successful Regional Conventions in 1957, 1967, 1977 and 1999. We participated in The World’s Largest Organ Recital in 1996 and Pipes Spectacular in 2000. Our first Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) for high school students was held in July of 2007 with 24 students attending.
In recent years, we have embarked on several projects to encourage and support new organists. In 1995, we produced a CD and cassette of local organists playing works based on hymn-tunes. Organists Unlimited is still available – please see the “Recordings” page of this site for more information. Funds from this project, as well as the ‘profits’ from our last convention, have been designated for supporting new organists. We hosted chapter competitions in 1997, 1999 and 2003 and Pedals, Pipes and Pizza in 1995, 1997 and 2003. We have also provided prize money and sponsored a student recital for Musicfest Northwest, (formerly Allied Arts Festival), since the Organ Division was re-instated in 1999. Our chapter serves as a consultant to Spokane Public School District #81 with regards to the Austin pipe organ at the Lewis & Clark High School Auditorium which was recently rebuilt as part of the renovation of the high school. The District compensates our chapter and we in turn put these fund towards organ scholarships for local students.
I invite you to browse through our site to find information about programs and recitals, pipe organs in our area and membership in the AGO. If you need a substitute organists or choir director or are interested in learning to play the organ, please see the “Personnel” page. To learn about joining our chapter, visit the “Membership” page. (The only requirement to join is that you love organ music and like to have fun! You do NOT have to play the organ to be a member.)
Enjoy your visit.
