Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that the Brooklyn Baptist Temple suffered a fire on Wednesday, July 7.  According to Keith Bigger, the fire destroyed a significant portion of the JW Steere & Son organ.  As many of you know, the restoration of this instrument has been Keith’s major contribution to the church and to our profession over recent years.  You also know that this is where our silent film series was held over the last year.  Organ and films went perfectly together.  Please remember Keith and the clergy and staff of the Baptist Temple as they seek to move forward from this tragedy.  (Keith tells me that the church was well insured, so that is some good news.)

Unfortunately, Keith also tells me that it is likely that the archives for the Brooklyn Chapter were either destroyed or thoroughly water-damaged, as these were in a file cabinet in the area of the fire.  In the coming months, you will probably receive appeals from me and from the Board to contribute any archive-appropriate materials you might have.  Your help in this will be most appreciated.

But first, let’s allow Keith and the church to asess the damage to their spiritual home and to the Steere organ.  I am sure you all join me in offering our prayers and support.

Gregory Eaton
Dean

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Dear Friends,

Sunday, May 30, marks 50 Years of the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Guild of Organists!  I hope you join me in toasting our Chapter for fifty years of support for organists and the institutions in which they work; of concerts, tours, and get-togethers.  I am grateful for all of those who founded the Chapter, who have led it over the years, and who continue to make it a special group of people and talents.  It is our privilege to serve in one of the greatest cities in the country (even if it is now a part of another city!).  We have made a difference in this Borough, and will continue to do our best to promote the organ, its music, and those who play it throughout the Borough.

So, as you celebrate Memorial Day weekend, raise a toast to the Brooklyn Chapter, AGO.  Fifty years young and ready for the next 50 years!

Happy Birthday, Brooklyn AGO -
Gregory Eaton
Dean

–Today, Sunday, May 30, is the fiftieth anniversary of the chartering of the Brooklyn Chapter. Perhaps it’s fitting that so many of us will spend this morning doing the work which the Guild was formed to support.

The Brooklyn Chapter has flourished for half a century in a truly remarkable place, a crossroads of the world, and has witnessed to the beauty of organ music consistently and well. May we have many more anniversaries to celebrate together.

Please make sure to sign up soon for the Chapter Banquet on June 13!

–Jonathan Hall, past dean

The Brooklyn Chapter celebrates the achievement of our Past Dean and longtime member, Jonathan Hall, in the publication of his book, Calvin Hampton: A Musician Without Borders. The book, a full-length biography of Calvin Hampton (1938-1984), is available from Wayne Leupold Editions. The website is www.wayneleupold.com.

A Musician Without Borders traces Calvin Hampton’s life from his birth in Pennsylvania and early life in Ohio, through his education, and through the rest of his short life; including twenty years of remarkable music ministry at Calvary Episcopal Church in Gramercy Park, Manhattan. While at Calvary, Hampton instituted the famous “Fridays at Midnight” organ recital series and produced sacred music that is in the Episcopal hymnal, and in other hymnals, to this day. Hampton’s legacy of organ music, as well as choral, instrumental, and orchestral music, comprises a fascinating and challenging legacy.

The book took shape as Hall’s doctoral essay at Indiana University, where he graduated in 2001. He is currently Music Director of Union Temple of Brooklyn and St. John’s Episcopal Church, Cornwall, NY. He served as Dean from 2006 to 2009.