OPENING PROGRAM OF THE SEASON
“An Evening of Organ Music in Paris”
Tuesday, September 15. Dinner 6:00 PM. Program 7:00 PM
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church downtown — enter the church’s free parking garage under the church from 8th Street between Grace and Franklin, and take the elevator up to the Parish House commons.
Chapter members Joel Kumro, Bob Gallagher, Chris Martin, Bruce Stevens, Grant Hellmers, Bill Van Pelt, William Tan, and Jacob Giancaterino will present in music, words, and photos many things they learned during an extraordinary French Organ Music Academy in Paris, France, in July. Organized by Bruce Stevens, the academy featured two Parisian master organ teachers in 30 hours of masterclasses over five days. Christophe Mantoux, Professor of Organ at the Conservatoire régional de Paris and titular organist at Église Saint-Severin, taught Romantic and 20th-century French repertoire on two different organs including the 1865 Cavaillé-Coll organ at Église Saint Maurice. Aude Heurtematte, widely known as an authority on Baroque style, taught French Classic repertoire on the famous 5-manual 1768 Cliquot organ at Église Saint-Gervais, where she is titular organist. The academy drew 19 participants — 17 from across the U.S. and two from Australia — who unanimously proclaimed the teaching and the experience to be superlative. (Yes, we endured the intense heat blanketing the city at that time, but no, you won’t need a fan at this program!)
Dinner reservations: Please contact Paul Honaker at paul.honaker@comcast.net by Friday, September 11. DÎNER PARISIEN: Coq au Vin (Chicken, Mushrooms, Carrots, and Onions in a Rich Wine Sauce), Spinach Salad, Buttered Egg Noodles, French String Beans, Crusty Baguette, Mousse au Chocolat
October Program
Friday, October 16, 2026
ORRS Recital: Bryan Anderson
St. James’s Episcopal Church
Chapter meeting and dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Program: 7:30 p.m.
November Program
Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, 2026
Hymn Festival and Workshop by Eric Wall
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
Friday, November 13, Chapter dinner: 6:00 p.m. Program: 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, Coffee & Donuts: 9:30 a.m., Workshop, 10:00 a.m.
January Program
Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Presentation on the Renovation of the Casavant Organ by David Storey
First Baptist Church
Chapter meeting and dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Program: 7:00 p.m.
February Program
Friday, February 19, 2027
Presentation on Organ Construction and Basic Maintenance by Scott Hayes
All Saints Episcopal Church
Chapter meeting and dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Program: 7:00 p.m.
March Program
Friday, March 5, 2027
ORRS Recital: Eric Plutz
All Saints Episcopal Church
Chapter meeting and dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Program: 7:30 p.m.
April Program
Tuesday, April 27, 2027
“April in Oregon Hill:” A Members’ Recital
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Chapter meeting and dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Program: 7:00 p.m.
May Program
Monday, May 24, 2027
Scholarship Recipient Recital
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Chapter meeting and dinner: 6:00 p.m.
Program: 7:00 p.m.
All meals are $20 unless otherwise noted.