How the West Was Won – Dr. Valerie Harris, Dean, Central AZ Chapter AGO (CAZAGO)
Saturday, Apr. 18, 10 a.m.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
7650 N. Paseo Del Norte
Tucson, AZ
Step back in time to the late 19th and early 20th centuries and join us in exploring how music, tourism, and ambition transformed the West — and how this legacy still resonates today on a worldwide audience.
Discover how the organ helped redefine the American West. During the golden age of railroad travel, visitors from the East flocked to Salt Lake City, where the Salt Lake Tabernacle and its famed organ became the highlight of their journey. Historical Fact: "By 1901, a regular schedule of daily organ recitals was instituted with rail travelers visiting daily... BY THE THOUSANDS! As railroads promoted these recitals, they helped reshape the image of the West—from rugged and untamed to cultured, beautiful, and inviting. Inspired by this movement, communities across the region — including Tucson — embraced organ music as a symbol of refinement and civic pride, launching their own recital traditions.
Valerie Harris, DEAN, Central Arizona Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (CAZAGO) will present a particularly interesting workshop regarding the intermingling of the development of the Arts, specifically music, in the West in conjunction with the arrival of the railroads. Dean Harris is a concert organist, church musician, presenter and educator, who performs regularly as guest recitalist on the historic Aeolian-Skinner organ at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, and at the Musical Instrument Museum on the 1859 Robjohn organ. She holds a DMA in Organ Performance from Arizona State University, where she studied with Kimberly Marshall. She holds a Master’s in Organ Performance and a Graduate Certificate of Church Music from Shenandoah Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree from Brigham Young University.
From the roar of the rails to the voice of the organ; one journey, one instrument, one unforgettable story — don’t miss the story which changed the sound of the West forever.
JEFFREY CAMPBELL is the Associate Music Director and Principal Organist of Saint Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, a position he has held since the fall of 2001. He has performed widely as a solo organist and choral accompanist, most recently accompanying the Saint Philip's Youth (St. Nicholas) Choir and Schola adults on their July 2024 Choral Residency in Lincoln Cathedral, UK, where they sang Daily Choral Evensong and Sunday Choral Eucharist. He plays the organ for Sunday morning Choral Eucharist, as well as weekly Choral Evensong (the only Episcopal parish in Arizona to continue this tradition) as well as for the many additional liturgies of Christmas, Holy Week and Easter. Other recent solo engagements include a program at Saint Alban's Church, Tucson, as part of their organ series, where he shared the organ bench with their Emeritus organist, Steven Keyl.
Trumpeter Chuck Seipp culminated his 32-year career from The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” as Concert Band Group Leader. Sergeant Major Seipp performed at national, presidential, and historical world events, at concerts and special events in Washington, D.C., and for funerals and wreath-laying ceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery. He performed with the Concert Band, Orchestra, Ceremonial Band, Herald Trumpets, The Army Brass Quintet, and was a featured soloist. Chuck has toured and recorded throughout Europe with world–renowned organist Diane Bish, appearing regularly on her “Joy of Music” television series. As an active teacher, soloist, clinician, and performer, he has performed locally with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington Opera House Orchestra, Washington Ballet Orchestra, and Washington Bach Consort. He also leads and is active throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region with The Commonwealth Brass Quintet. From 2014 to 2024, Chuck managed the Seipp/Sheets Trumpet and Organ Duo orchestrating 150 concerts across 25 states.
Todd Fickley is the Organist of National Presbyterian Church and the Artistic Director Designate of Choralis. Equally comfortable at the podium, harpsichord, piano, and organ, Mr. Fickley’s career spans over 35 years performing across the United States, Europe, and Israel. He collaborates with a wide variety of ensembles, such as the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Washington Ballet, the National Philharmonic, and the Three Notch’d Road baroque ensemble. He also performs frequently as part of the innovative Seipp/Fickley Trumpet and Organ Duo. A native Washingtonian, he began his organ studies already as an accomplished pianist at the Washington National Cathedral under Bruce Neswick. At the age of 23, Mr. Fickley was made a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists (AGO). He also holds the AGO Choirmaster Diploma as well as the M.A. in Organ Performance with High Distinction from the University of Wales.
