Mark your calendars now and join us for the beginning of our 2019-2020 season of recitals, education opportunities, and social get-togethers. To see a schedule of Executive Committee meetings, please visit the Chapter Officers page.
Saturday, November 16, 10:00am
AGO forum/lecture by Fred Frahm
Composing for the Organ
St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 425 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque 87106
Have you ever wished you could kick out creative, inspiring hymn introductions and preludes? Could your preludes and postludes use some new possibilities? New Mexico 
composer and organist Frederick Frahm will present a forum on composing for the organ. The forum will have two parts. First, Fred will discuss composing specifically for the organ and how to think outside the box about registration. In the second section, he will discuss constructing an original composition. He will focus on creating compositions based on material from hymn tunes. In fact, the entire class will work together to compose and play an original composition. Everyone is welcome.
Friday, December 20, 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Christmas Social Event
Chapter family: please join the AGOABQ at the home of Edmund Connolly and Maxine Thevenot for a festive Advent soirée. Catered light hors d’oeuvres, refreshments served. A small sample of your seasonal baking to share, would be welcomed.
In the New Year:
Saturday, January 18, 3:00pm and Saturday, February 1, 3:00pm Hauptwerk System Demonstration at the home of John Homko
John will be doing a presentation on his Hauptwerk digital pipe organ system. Hauptwerk is a system in which an electronic organ console is attached to a computer that allows a person to play sampled instruments from around the world. The Hauptwerk system is exceptional because monumental instruments, such as those of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London or Notre Dame, are sampled (recorded) note by note, and pipe by pipe. When one plays the Hauptwerk, the computer is not simply creating an imitation of a “Bourdon” or a “Krummhorn,” but instead is amplifying and actual recorded sound of one individual pipe. John will provide a presentation about Hauptwerk systems generally, demonstrate his own system, and allow participants to take it for a spin. The program is repeated so that members may choose which date they prefer, and be in a small group for the demonstration and try-out. Please see Member Directory for the street address. A sign-up email was sent out on January 4 – the first 12 on each date will get priority.
Saturday, February 29, 2020, 1:00pm: Harpsichord Extravaganza
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1100 Indian School Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
A number of Chapter members own notable harpsichords. These instruments were built by builders from around the world and representing a variety of styles. Several harpsichord owners will make a presentation with their instruments. Each owner will discuss and demonstrate his/her instrument and allow participants the opportunity to play. The various owners will talk to everyone and play one at a time, to give everyone an opportunity to hear each instrument, and play it if they wish.
Saturday, March 28, 2020, 10:00am: Masterclass with Nathan Laube (First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe)
Saturday, June 6, 2020, 10:00am: Masterclass with Ken Cowan (Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque) followed by Chapter Luncheon (location tbd)
June 2020: Pedals, Pipes and Pizza (Las Vegas, NM)
