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Welcome to the June 2024 update of our website

Anderson, SC is located in the very western part of the South Carolina upstate (piedmont) – 2 hours from Atlanta, 2 hours from Charlotte, NC, 2 hours from Ashville, NC, 30 minutes from Greenville, SC, 1 hour from Spartanburg, SC., 4.5 hours to Charleston and 5 hours to Myrtle Beach. It is the first city after crossing over the border from Georgia into South Carolina. (I-85)

Message from the Dean

Welcome to our webpage!

Our chapter’s three major goals this year are to:
a) provide interesting, entertaining, educational and challenging monthly programs/meetings for our members
b) Facilitate more collaboration and cooperation among the three upstate AGO chapters (Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg)
c) Recruit and involve young organists (high school and college age) in our local chapters

We invite comments, questions and inquiries about our chapter and its activities.

Sincerely,
Bill Scott
Organist Emeritus, Grace Episcopal Church, Anderson, SC
Dean, Greater Anderson AGO

AGO Calendar of Events

For those of you who missed the 9 November 23 recital by chapter member Dr. Will Thomas Cleveland at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greenwood, SC., here is the link to the stream of the concert:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKLodanpPP0

June –

1) AGO members from the Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg Chapters are invited to a Meet & Greet reception Saturday June 8 at 6:00 PM for Mr. Gruss and the Robert Powell Scholarship judges at the home of John Polo — 26 Appian Circle in Simpsonville.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided and a chance to swim beforehand; swim 4:00 PM; social 6:00 PM. RSVP to John Polo NO LATER than Monday, June 3 (john.polo@strategicdirectives.com).

2) We will have the opportunity to hear this year’s recipient of the Robert & Nancy Powell Organ Scholarship competition, Jacob Gruss, perform on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville.

Time: 4 pm (reception to follow).

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Our chapter donated $350 to the Robert and Nancy Powell Scholarship and Organ Competition For more information, visit the Greenville, SC AGO website – (greenvilleago.org) Once on the home page, click on the scholarship link in the menu bar at the top of the page.

Dr. Will Thomas Cleveland, chapter member & chapter newsletter editor, served as one of the seven jurists in the Powell scholarship and organ competition.

Upcoming Events from our fellow upstate chapters & other Arts associations

Summer time off with no activities

Membership

All individuals interested in the organ and choral music fields are invited to join the American Guild of Organists. Membership is open to everyone, regardless of denominational affiliation or musical ability.

For membership forms or information, contact chapter dean Bill Scott @ scottwn2003@yahoo.com or Treasurer, Dr. April Swanson @ apriljoy158@gmail.com

Placement

Ms. Anita Brown, chapter member, is available to substitute as organist. Her contact info is abrown5@tctc.edu

2)Nathan Barcelona is a “student” member of our chapter (Greater Anderson); he has just completed his freshman year at Eastman. He was the 1st Runner-up in the Young Organist Competition at our regional AGO convention last summer in Augusta. GA.

Nathan would like for all of you members to know that he’s available to substitute on Sundays this summer. To quote his email to me, ” I’m trying to work this summer to pay for my school!

Bio info —

Nathan Barcelona is a first-year undergraduate student at the Eastman School of Music, studying with Prof. David Higgs and singing in the Schola Cantorum at Christ Church with Prof. Stephen Kennedy. He previously served as the organ scholar for St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Nashua, NH, and works at Our Lady of Victory Church in Rochester, NY during the school year.

You can reach Nathan at nbarcelo@u.rochester.edu and (864) 539-6719

3) Mrs. Joyce Thompson: joyce.pipeorgan@gmail.com. 864-934-0762

Employers and job seekers are invited to post and search listings of available positions on the Guild’s National Website.

Certification

Contact Us

Bill Scott, Dean – scottwn2003@yahoo.com
Alex Armstrong, Sub-dean – adarm91793@aol.com
Judy Bonham, Secretary – bonhamj_44@yahoo.com
Dr. April Swanson, Treasurer – apriljoy158@gmail.com
Dr. Will Thomas Cleveland, Newsletter editor – willthomascleveland@gmail.com

Links

greenvilleago.org – Greenville, SC AGO chapter
SpartanburgAGO.org – Spartanburg, SC AGO chapter
AGO National website