Skinner Sesquicentennial Conference presented April 24–25 in Evanston, Illinois
THE DIAPASON, along with the Chicago, Fox Valley, and North Shore Chapters of the American Guild of Organists, the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of the Organ Historical Society, and the Music Institute of Chicago, presented a conference in honor of the sesquicentennial of the birth of Ernest M. Skinner, April 24–25, in Evanston, Illinois.
The conference opened with a concert by the choral ensemble Bella Voce in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, accompanied by Christine Kraemer on 1922 Skinner Organ Company Opus 327.
The following day’s events included recitals by Andrew Schaeffer and David Jonies on 1927 Skinner Organ Company Opus 616 in the First Congregational Church. James Russell Brown provided a demonstration program and lecture on the restoration of 1914 Ernest M. Skinner Company Opus 208 in the Nichols Concert Hall of the Music Institute of Chicago (formerly First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Evanston).
Rounding out the day were lectures by Stephen Schnurr and Joyce Robinson in the lovely chapel of First Congregational Church.
The convention day began at 1 p.m., the morning being filled
with arrivals and registrations. First venue: The Paramount Theater, with its
remarkable 20-rank WurliTzer, which speaks clearly and forcefully into the room
from big, open chambers on either side. The Pedal is incredibly strong and
quick. There is a tremendous variety of solo sounds, all of which we heard.
Among the most important and far reaching innovations was the electropneumatic pitman action windchest which traces its origins to an obscure nineteenth-century Continental organbuilder, August Gern
September 18-20, 2003, College of New Jersey, Ewing
Hosted annually by the American Boychoir and focusing on the choral art of children's voices, the 15th National Choral Conference attracts participants chiefly for two reasons: one, the American Boychoir, principal resident choir for this conference; and, two, the internationally recognized clinicians who in open rehearsals and workshops are featured each year.