Southern Arizona American Guild of Organists

The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (SAAGO) presents Pedals, Pipes & Pizza every year, making it the perfect opportunity to introduce students from middle school through high school, to the King of Instruments - the Magnificent Pipe Organ. More than an introduction to the pipe organ, participants will receive instruction on playing the instrument as well as being able to actually sit at the console and play the instrument. There will be qualified, experienced, instructors on hand as well for anyone wishing to pursue private organ lessons. We urge all our members, advertiser, friends, and patrons of SAAGO to invite a young musician. Invite your grandchild, your great-grandchild, your neighbor and their young musician to this superb event on January 25, 2025. It's going to be something the students will never forget, nor will you as a host. Space is limited; therefore, download the registration form and flyer (see below in the post) and get the registration form into SAAGO as soon as possible. This event opens a whole new world to a young pianist, keyboard player, etc..

To sweeten the deal, this year's Pedals, Pipes & Pizza offers two (2) NEW! opportunities for participants: 1) We are offering the student participants a chance to be registered to win SIX (6) FREE LESSONS on the Magnificent Holtkamp Organ - THE VERY ONE THEY ARE PLAYING AT PEDALS, PIPES & PIZZA - from World Renowned Organist, Dr. Jeffrey Campbell, Associate Director of Music & Organist at Saint Philip's In The Hills Episcopal Church. 2) Through the graciousness of Dr. Valerie Harris, Dean -Central Arizona Chapter | American Guild of Organists (CAZAGO), SAAGO has been able to borrow this unique "Build Your Own Pipe Organ Kit" (the Orgelkids Kit) in order to make this year's Pedals, Pipes & Pizza a unique, exciting, and hands-on experience. Thusly, we are having an organ building activity in place of the usual video for a truly an experiential exercise filled with fun and learning.

Julia Brown, director of music and organist at First United Methodist Church in Eugene, Oregon, maintains a full schedule of teaching, performing and recording. She has appeared in concert in North and South America and in Europe, having performed for the AGO Regional and National Conventions, the Latin American Organist Conventions, the Oregon Bach Festival and other international organ and music festivals.

Her organ and harpsichord recordings of W.F. Bach, J. S. Bach, Buxtehude and Scheidemann have gained high critical acclaim.

The performing organist for the Roy Johnson Memorial Organ Series will be Doug Leightenheimer. Doug is a past Dean of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (SAAGO), as well as a long-time organist and choir master at St. Michael and All Angels Church in Tucson, Doug has also served on the executive boards of the Sarasota-Manatee (Florida) and Wilmington (North Carolina) chapters of the same organization, including two terms as dean for each group.

Doug is a published composer and recitalist. In 2008 he was featured with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra performing Symphony No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saëns and Symphonie Concertante by Joseph Jongen. In both April 2013 and April 2014, he performed the Mildred Flood Mahoney Memorial Organ Series Concert at the University of Arizona. Recent solo performances include the evensong series at St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, and the 2015 summer series at Catalina United Methodist Church in Tucson. During UA’s 2016 spring semester, he served as an assistant conductor with the University Community Chorus.

The 1960s and 70s proved fertile years for realizing the promises of the Organ Reform Movement in the building of organs as envisioned by Albert Schweitzer earlier in the century. Organ enrollment in the colleges and universities was high, and master teachers brought about a renewed interest in performance practice made possible by the “tracker” craze.

Professor Kuhlman will touch on a few of the builders and teachers of organ who were vanguards in realizing these “reforms” during these “golden” years.

The highly regarded Alcée Chriss returns to Tucson.

Alcée Chriss III is widely regarded as one of the leading young organists of our time. Alcée is the First-prize, and Bach-prize, winner at the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition; moreover, Alcée holds many more
prestigious awards. Alcée currently serves as University Organist and Artist-in-Residence at Wesleyan University.

The venue for this featured artist's event is:
Catalina United Methodist Church
2700 E. Speedway Blvd.

Cost: $30 (general admission); $25 Seniors; $10 Students (with I.D.)

SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHAPTER | AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS
PRESENTS A SPECIAL EVENT WORKSHOP...
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PIPE ORGAN WITH ANNA LAPWOOD
Sunday, April 6, 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Catalina United Methodist Church
2700 E. Speedway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ

Internationally renowned British organist Anna Lapwood has introduced countless people to the organ via concerts and social media. This is a rare opportunity for Tucsonans to hear, meet, and see Ms. Lapwood. Everyone interested in the pipe organ is welcome to attend this informal, hands-on workshop, where Anna will demonstrate how a pipe organ works and will invite participants to try it themselves.

A reception, with fresh & hot Pizza, follows.

This workshop is FREE to all wishing to attend.