Multiple recitals open to the public will be among the highlights of the June 10-15 “Pipe Organ Encounter” (POE) for young students hosted by the Holland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO).
The recitals will take place on Monday, June 11, Tuesday, June 12, Thursday, June 14, and Friday, June 15, and will feature faculty of the program and students. Admission to the recitals is free.
The camp is an educational outreach program of the AGO in which the participants, ages 13 to 20, will be studying the “king of instruments.” The participants will receive instruction from 14 faculty members who are nationally-recognized and come from all parts of the country. The campers, guests of Hope College, will also attend classes on organ literature, history, improvisation, registration and service playing.
The recital on Monday, June 11, a “Faculty Recital,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel. The performers will include Julia Colingsworth, Gregory Crowell, Steven Egler, Donna Gatz, Ann Labounsky and Marilyn Ossentjuk.
The recital on Tuesday, June 12, a “Three Scholars Recital,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel. The three scholars in the performance are Susan De Kam, Richard Newman and Aaron Tan.
The recital on Thursday, June 14, also a “Faculty Recital,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Third Reformed Church. The performers will include Paul Barte, James Kibbie, Karl Schrock and Linda Strouf.
The final recital will be a “Student Recital” on Friday, June 15, at 10 a.m. at Pillar Church.
There will be 28 students participating in Holland’s POE, coming from the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Oregon. Major funding for the event is provided by the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America.
There are eight POEs being held this summer throughout the nation, with this year marking the 25th anniversary of the program.
Faculty members include Paul Barte, Larry Biser, Julia Colingsworth, Gregory Crowell, Susan De Kam, Steven Egler, Donna Gatz, James Kibbie, Ann Labounsky, Huw Lewis, Richard Newman, Marilyn Ossentjuk, Karl Schrock and Linda Strouf. More information about the faculty and recital performers is available on the Pipe Organ Encounter web site at http://www.hollandareaago.org/pipe-organ-encounter.html.
The organs in 19 area churches and institutions will be used for lessons. The churches and institutions that have offered the use of their organs are Hope College’s Dimnent Chapel and Nykerk Hall of Music, Western Seminary Chapel, Bethany CRC, Harderwyk CRC, Pillar CRC, Fourteenth Street CRC, First Reformed, Third Reformed, Trinity Reformed, Zeeland First Reformed, Zeeland Second Reformed, First United Methodist, Grace Episcopal, St. Francis de Sales Catholic, Central Avenue CRC, Hope Church, Fourth Reformed and Maplewood Reformed. In addition to the churches listed above, the Pipe Organ Encounter will also be playing the organs at Fountain Street Church and the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, as well as hearing Grand Rapid Public Museum’s theater organ.
Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., on College Avenue at 12th Street. Pillar Church is located at 57 E. 10th Holland on 10th Avenue at College Ave. Third Reformed Church is located at the corner of 12th Street and Pine Avenue.