Christmas Choir Festival Bethany United Church of Christ, Cuyahoga Falls Friday, December 7, 2012 7:30 p.m.

Your church choir is invited to participate in our Christmas Choir Festival sponsored by the Akron Chapter, American Guild of Organists. Each choir will share one or two anthems(depending on the . . . → Read More: Christmas Choir Festival Invitation]]> Download a PDF version of this invitation

Christmas Choir Festival
Bethany United Church of Christ, Cuyahoga Falls
Friday, December 7, 2012 7:30 p.m.

Your church choir is invited to participate in our Christmas Choir Festival sponsored by the Akron Chapter, American Guild of Organists. Each choir will share one or two anthems(depending on the response) and all choirs will sing two combined pieces at the end. All choirs are asked to arrive at 6:45 p.m. that evening to warm-up and rehearse the combined numbers.

• If you are interested or have any questions please call Dawn Filler at the church office:330-923-5277 or by email at cschoir@hotmail.com. We will limit this festival to the first seven choirs.

• Deadline to submit anthem titles for the bulletin is November 1 to avoid duplicating anthems

• The combined pieces will be “What Star is This?” By Craig Curry, published by Lorenz,ID 10/4244L and “Hallelujah” from the Messiah by Handel.

• The Falls River Brass Quintet will perform and are available to accompany any choir that has an anthem with brass. Contact Dawn Filler at the church office: 330-923-5277 or email: cschoir@hotmail.com.

• Admission is free. There will be a free will offering to support the Akron Chapter, American Guild of Organists scholarship fund. This years’ scholarship recipients will provide the Prelude and Offertory during this festival.

• A reception will follow the program hosted by the Akron Chapter, American Guild of Organists

Thank you,

Dawn Filler
Organist, Bethany United Church of Christ

James has served the Ohio region as a recitalist, accompanist, and theatre music director. Recent engagements include . . . → Read More: James Clouser]]> James D. Clouser is the Director of Music and Arts Series/Organist at West Park United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio.

James has served the Ohio region as a recitalist, accompanist, and theatre music director. Recent engagements include an appearance with Choral Spectrum and a performance of J.S. Bach’s Concerto for two Harpsichords in C Major with Cassandra, his wife, and the TrueNorth Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming engagements include: a rededication recital for the recently restored 1885 Barckhoff pipe organ at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sandusky, and the premier of Music Ministry Suite by composer Rev. Ralph C. Verdi at St. Charles in Carthagena, Ohio.

James studied organ performance formally at Hiram College with Sandra Tittle and, later, at the Cleveland Institute of Music with concert organist Todd Wilson. He also studied pipe organ building and maintenance while Apprentice/Office Assistant at the Leek Pipe Organ Company in Oberlin. He continues his relationship with Leek as an independent organist for company events, substitute-technician, and contributor to the firm’s quarterly newsletter.

A member of the American Guild of Organists, James placed 1st in the 2002 AGO Cleveland Organ Competition and 1st in the 2003 AGO/Quimby Region V Competition for Young Organists. In 2009, he served as a clinician for the United Church of Christ Musicians’ National Network on “Rediscovering Beauty in Traditional Sacred Music.” Additionally, he has participated in the annual chant and polyphony Colloquium sponsored by the Church Music Association of America.