Metropolitan New Jersey Chapter

Earthsongs
Choral music that celebrates nature’s beauty and calls for its protection, including the winner of the 26th annual High School Student Choral Composition Contest.
Saturday, June 3, 2023
7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 4, 2023
3 p.m.
Morristown United Methodist Church
50 South Park Place, Morristown

Saxophone & Friends Concert
Saturday, June 10, 2023
3PM
Music by Bach, Laitman, Couf, Rueff, & Bedard
Erik Donough, saxophones;
Krista Beth Donough voice;
Dr. Anne Matlack, organ, harpsichord, piano.
Freewill donation for nourish.NJ
Grace Church, Madison

Organ Recital by Evan Cogswell
Sunday, June 11, 2023 
3pm
Calvary Episcopal Church, Summit

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 Membership and Directory

***Changes have been made to the Chapter Information questions in your ONCARD profile. Please check and update your sub availability and what you teach.***

Click HERE for our current SUB-LIST for the chapter. 

As of now, we have 84 paid/invoiced members.

NATIONAL AND CHAPTER DUES INCREASE: The AGO National Council has approved a nominal increase in annual dues, effective July 1. This is the first increase in several years. Members who renew in July will see this change reflected on their renewal notices beginning in April. To learn more, click here. We’ll be reaching out to members in coming months to educate them further about the dues increase.

*Please be aware that there is no longer a 3 month grace period to renew your AGO membership. If it’s due, please renew ASAP!

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Regionals Information

Westchester 2023
AGO Regional Convention
July 3-6, 2023

ARTISTS INCLUDE: 

• PETER RICHARD CONTE (Wanamaker)

• CRAIG WILLIAMS (West Point)

• RENÉE ANNE LOUPRETTE (Bard College/Rutgers)

• JENNIFER PASCUAL (St. Patrick’s NYC)

• AMANDA MOLE (Rodland Scholarship 2014)  

SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE:

• OPENING WORSHIP – At Rye Presbyterian Church with New Choral Society, John T. King, conductor; Janet Yieh and Dina Foster-Osbourne, organists

• A TRIP TO WEST POINT’S CADET CHAPEL 

• THE CLOSING CONCERT – Also at Rye Presbyterian Church with  Modus Operandi Orchestra, Justin Bischof, conductor, and David Enlow, organist.

Click the link below for more information
https://westchester2023.org/

NOTES FROM NNJ-AGO DEAN STEWART HOLMES

PARKING:  I recommend parking in the public parking garage (drive past the main entrance and the hotel parking lot).  Its rate is $3 for an hour to $10 for all day.

HOLDING COURT on MONDAY – WEDNESDAY: I will try to hold court (LOL) in the lobby bar (cash bar) starting between 4:30 and 5:00 P.M., prior to going to dinner on our own.  There are a number of good restaurant choices about 3 blocks away from the hotel.

THURSDAY DEAN’S RECEPTION – 4:30 P.M.: I will host a reception for all NNJ and METRO attendees in a corner of the main bar, appetizers and drinks provided.   Dinner plans will be made after we know the number of people attending.  (See reservation information below).  I will coordinate transportation in cars for those who don’t have the transportation package. IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE DEAN’S RECEPTION: While we will, of course, welcome walk-ins, please message me at stewholmes2018@gmail.com NO LATER THAN Friday, June 30 so I know how much food to order!

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Certification

Changes have been made to the certification exams. To view the recording of the meeting for “A 21st Century Facelift for the Certification Exams”, please click HERE.
The certification exam information/handouts can be viewed HERE.
Additional information about the how to access the Hymn Booklet will be available on September 1st. Please go to the Certification website page that is located under the Education tab on the AGO website for the full details. Applications for the tests are now accepted online.

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Placement
The Placement Chairperson is Chris Hatcher. To submit a position listing, please contact him via e-mail at  chris.hatcher01@verizon.net.

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Job Postings

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MENDHAM, NJ: Organist/Choir Director

St Mark’s is a small but vital church with an older but active congregation. The church has a 3-manual Rodgers organ in the rear balcony with a baby grand piano on the sanctuary floor. This is a part time position with the benefit of the choir rehearsal held on Sunday mornings prior to the church service. No Wednesday or Thursday night rehearsals.

Summary of Position:

Provide for the music ministry of the church on a part-time basis to include worship music and small adult choir.

Essential duties include:

• Provide organ service music for one traditional Sunday morning service at 10:00am
• Provide organ service music for special holidays to include: Christmas Eve and possibly other church holidays.
• Select appropriate sanctuary choir anthems for Sundays
• Rehearse and accompany the choir. Rehearsals are currently Sunday mornings at 9:00
• Rehearse and accompany any special music soloists/musicians – Occasionally perform during the summer
• Arrange for qualified substitute organist/pianist when absent for Sunday worship
• Provide organ music for weddings and funerals, if available. (Additional compensation would be provided)
• Make recommendations to Worship & Music Committee regarding any organ service/repair
• Provide and rehearse special music for church holidays to include vocal or instrumental soloists with a possible small bell choir (Palm Sunday, Easter & Christmas Eve)
• Make recommendations and select new music to be used for sanctuary and bell choirs.

Salary: $12,000

Please send a resume to Bob Trokan (bobtrokan@gmail.com) or call me at 973-886-2027. You may also include a brief audio or video recording.

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ: Director of Music

Job Summary: The primary focus of this position will be leading the Music Ministry of the congregation.  This will include being a key member of the Worship leadership team, providing musical leadership broadly, and creatively expanding upon the church’s musical heritage with an eye to keeping it both faithful and relevant.  The church has a Casavant-Freres pipe organ, digitally enhanced with Ahlborn-Galanti electronic voices and a Steinway grand piano in the Sanctuary as well as 3 octaves of Whitechapel handbells. The position is part-time with total hours averaging 20 hours or less per week, only a portion of which will the Director of Music need to be on-site.  The position reports to the Senior Pastor.  

Essential Functions:

• Working collaboratively with the Senior Pastor and other staff, plan and lead a Music Ministry that is integral to the life of the congregation, enhances our Worship life and enriches other programs and ministries of the church.
• Serve as organist/pianist at our 10:00 am Worship Celebration on Sunday mornings and at other seasonal or special Worships; have the right of first refusal for playing for all weddings and funerals/memorials.
• Lead the Chancel Choir, seeking creative ways to enable busy volunteers to participate and nurturing the singer’s growth as musicians.
• Direct the handbell and chime choir(s), providing appropriate instruction and guidance that enables both those with musical training and those without musical training to participate and to grow as musicians. 
• Coordinate, schedule and rehearse soloists or small ensembles, for special occasions during the year as well as for special music during the summer.
• Participate in Staff meetings and Worship Team meetings as requested.

Secondary Functions:

• Arrange for a substitute organist/pianist (and choir director, if needed) whenever the Director of Music will be absent.
• Actively identify and encourage the musical talents of the congregation.
• Lead the music program for children and youth with an eye toward expanding participants’ knowledge and love of music, as well as the joy of participating in Worship leadership.
• Work in collaboration with other staff and Worship leaders to prepare and run the audio/visual and digital equipment used in Worship. 
• Collaborate with the Senior Pastor to ensure that all copyright laws and licensing requirements are followed.
• Work with other staff, to develop and advertise musical programs that are accessible to those outside of the congregation as part of our broader effort to engage our community and to be The Community Church, inviting and welcoming all.
• Oversee the use and maintenance of the organs, pianos and other musical properties of the church, making arrangements for maintenance, repair and tuning after obtaining authorization for such from the Pastor and/or the Board of Trustees.

Main Core Competencies:

• Talented Church Musician – employs training and experience to provide a faithful and meaningful Music Ministry.
• Broad Musical Footing – understands, values and incorporates a wide range of musical expression, (choral, solo, and instrumental), utilizing traditional, global and contemporary idioms, seeking always to ensure that the music fits with the church’s vision and theology. 
• Mission Ownership – demonstrates understanding and full support of the mission, vision, values and beliefs of CCML and the UCC; can teach those values to others; leads others in owning the same; lived commitment to inclusivity in all ways (age, race, gender, economic, social, ethnic, etc.).
• Interpersonal Skills – demonstrates the ability to work with different kinds of people, negotiating the relationships professionally and lovingly while holding people accountable; productively engages and resolves interpersonal conflict; respects appropriate boundaries; demonstrates active listening and openly accepts criticism. 
• Emotional Maturity and Experience – possesses the emotional maturity that comes from self-reflection and work and thus is able to be supportive of others.  
• Self-motivated and Accountable – demonstrates initiative and creativity in one’s ministry balanced with accountability; understands what the position requires and does it without prodding but also seeks guidance and feedback from supervisor and church leadership.
• Professional – demonstrates appropriate professional behavior, especially in the areas of public performance, professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Motivator – able to engender interest and commitment in others.  Gifted in generating enthusiasm and in developing volunteers and program participants.
• Team Player – commitment to working collegially with different types of people, members and staff, for the good of the church’s ministry.

   Other Desired Qualifications:

• Educational degree(s) in relevant field(s) of music.
• Experience as a Director of Music in a church setting.
• Must pass a background check.

Remuneration:  

• This part-time position starts in the $23,000-$25,000 range. Starting offer dependent on experience and talent.

Apply with references and resume to The Community Church of Mountain Lakes, 48 Briarcliff Road, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 or email to srpastoratCCML@gmail.com.

HOLY TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, ROCKAWAY, NJ

Job Desription: Music Director
Organist/Choir Director: 
1. Ability to follow worship services
2. Ability to coordinate with the church’s Worship Team
3. Sundays 10:00-12:30 and various special services throughout the year

Part-time position 

Call or email for more information or to send resume:

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
508 Greenpond Road
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Contact:
Pastor Jack DiMatteo, Pastor
973-635-0110
htlchurch@gmail.com
jackspartan79@gmail.com 

Chapter Leadership
Metropolitan NJ Chapter American Guild of Organists
Executive Board 

Acting Dean: Tiffany Vintschger	tvintschger@gmail.com
Sub-Dean: Evan Cogswell	evancogswell.cc3@gmail.com
Secretary: Eric Fahner	fahner@alumni.fdu.edu
Treasurer: Scott Jones	jsjones0601@verizon.net
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster: Tiffany Vintschger	tvintschger@gmail.com
Publicity Coordinator: Bev McGregor	bevmcgregor@optonline.net
Membership Chair: Scott Jones	jsjones0601@verizon.net
Class of 2020-2024
Preston Dibble	prestondibble@hotmail.com
Roberta TenBroeck	roberta.tenbroeck@gmail.com
Class of 2022-2026
Kristin Dabaghian	kjohnson88@aol.com
Chris Hatcher	chris.hatcher01@verizon.net