THE BIRMINGHAM CHIFF
…off the old blockflute
The Birmingham Chapter of
the American Guild of Organists
SEPTEMBER 2025
A Word from the Dean
Greetings to all of you! As the summer winds down, we look to the start of a new program year. The Executive Committee of the Birmingham Chapter met earlier this summer to plan our programs and activities for this season, and I am pleased that we have another exciting lineup for the coming year.
This summer brought some sadness to our chapter, with the departure from this earthly life of our beloved longtime chapter member and friend, Paul Mosteller, on July 18. Paul was an extraordinary musician, teacher, mentor, and friend to countless many. He faithfully served various houses of worship over the years as organist and/or choirmaster, including Mountain Brook Baptist Church, Temple Emanu-El, St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Hoover), and St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church. He held a long and distinguished tenure as Professor of Voice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Paul was what one might call a “gentle giant” — a giant in terms of his knowledge, stature, and accomplishment as a musician, yet truly a gentle soul. He was an integral part of our community, and he will be greatly missed. The impact of his life will live on in our memories, and in the lives of his many students and others who were fortunate to learn from his example.
We begin our chapter program year on Monday, September 8, at St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church. We will honor a number of our longtime chapter members who have been fortunate to live into their tenth decade of life, with a special dinner at 6:00, recounting their accomplishments and contributions to the musical life of Birmingham. Noah Gilstrap, age 16, of the Montgomery AGO Chapter, will share his recent experiences at the Pipe Organ Encounters Advanced (POEA) in Worcester, Massachusetts, in a special presentation. We will then proceed to nave of St. Mary’s for a Guild Service at 7:15, dedicated to the memory of Paul Mosteller, which will also include the Installation of Officers. This will be a special evening for our chapter.
Our October program will be at St. Mark-the-Evangelist Catholic Church on Saturday, the 11th, at 11:00 a.m. Stuart Thompson will give a demonstration of the recently installed digital organ at St. Mark’s, using the Hauptwerk technology. This instrument uses the keyboards, coupler rail, pedalboard, swell shoes, and toe stud assembly from the former M.P. Möller organ at the Cathedral of St. Paul, stop jambs that were formerly part of the Wicks console at First Baptist Church, all housed in a new console shell built by Stuart Thompson. This instrument will be of particular interest to those in our membership who serve in places of worship that lack the space and finances for a pipe organ, but wish to consider alternatives to the more typical commercially-built digital instrument; to those who might wish to have a practice instrument at home; and to those contemplating rebuilding or renovation work on their existing organ, and are in need of a temporary instrument. In addition to Stuart’s talk and demonstration, we will hear from host organist Francisco Carbonell about the music ministry at St. Mark-the-Evangelist, with its special commitment to traditional choral music. Afterwards, we will go to a nearby restaurant for lunch, for those who wish to join us.
Our program on Saturday, November 8, 11:00 a.m., at Independent Presbyterian Church, will be a lecture by Balint Karosi, who will perform the next day on IPC’s November Organ Series. In addition to being an organist, Balint Karosi is also a composer and conductor. He is especially noted for his interpretation of the organ works of Bach, and for his historical-style improvisation. He is Cantor and Director of Music at St. Peter’s Church in Midtown Manhattan, where he has served since 2015. You can read more about him on his website: https://karosi.org/. Lunch at a nearby restaurant will follow, for those who wish to join.
On Friday, January 9, 6:00 p.m., we will have our annual Epiphany Party, hosted by Dan and Sherrie Lawhon in their home.
On Friday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m., the Birmingham AGO Chapter, jointly with the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, will present organist Stephen Hamilton in a performance of Marcel Dupré’s Le Chemin de la Croix, Op. 29, a work with which he is closely associated and has performed in more than sixty concert. He will perform on the 3-manual Steiner-Reck organ at Ascension, built in 1999. He is Minister of Music Emeritus of Music of the historic Church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal) in New York City, where he served for some two decades. Though retired from full-time church music, he managed to “fail retirement” with his appointment in July 2023 as Director of Music and Organist at Olivet Congregational Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He performs extensively both in the U.S. and in Europe. You can read more about him at http://stephenjonhamilton.com/. For those who may not know, I have a personal connection with Stephen Hamilton, as he was my first organ teacher back in the early to mid 1980s, when he was Professor of Organ at Virginia Intermont College. We have kept up very well over the years, and it will be our pleasure to welcome him to Birmingham!
We will also have the AGO Student Recital again, as we did last year, most likely on April 13 (date and venue to be confirmed). We also hope to resume our scholarship competitions in the spring. Finally, there is another program possibility for May that I will propose to the Executive Committee, so stay tuned!
The election for Members-at-Large for the Executive Committee, class of 2025-2028, concluded on May 22. Sam Burke and Jeff McLelland were elected to serve on the Executive Committee for the next three years. Their terms began on July 1.
In addition to Sam and Jeff, I would like to thank Bill Richardson and Joshua Coble for agreeing to be on the nomination slate for the two open positions on the Executive Committee, and for their willingness to serve. I would also like to thank the Nominating Committee – Mike Sparks, Sherelyn Breland, and Natalie Tally – for their diligent work in finding qualified candidates willing to serve and be nominated for election. Special thanks, as well, to Jamie McLemore, whose term concluded on June 30, for his service on Executive Committee for 2022-2025.
UPCOMING 2025-2026 CHAPTER EVENTS
Monday, September 8 – Chapter Dinner and Meeting
Venue: St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church
Schedule: Dinner at 6:00 p.m., with presentation by Noah Gilstrap on his experience at the POEA in Worcester, Massachusetts; Guild Service at 7:15 p.m.
Monday, October 11 – Chapter Program
Venue: St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church
Schedule: Program at 11:00 a.m., featuring Stuart Thompson and Francisco Carbonell
Program: Demonstration of Hauptwerk organ installation by Stuart Thompson; commentary on the practice of liturgical music at St. Mark the Evangelist Church by Francisco Carbonell
Saturday, November 8 – Chapter Program
Venue: Independent Presbyterian Church
Schedule: Program at 11:00 a.m., lunch to follow at a nearby restaurant
Program: Lecture by Balint Karosi
Friday, January 9 – Epiphany Party
Venue: Home of Dan and Sherrie Lawhon
Schedule: 6:00 p.m.
February – Program to be announced
Friday, March 13 – Stephen Hamilton, organ
Venue: Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Schedule: 7:00 p.m.
Program: Le Chemin de la Croix, Op. 29, by Marcel Dupré
April – Student Recital, date (likely April 13) and venue TBD
May – possible program or activity; stay tuned!
I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming meetings and programs!
Charles Kennedy, Dean
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, September 14 – Choral Evensong, Independent Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m.
Friday, September 19 – Midday Music: Cindy St. Clair, piano; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 25 – Choral Evensong, Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28 – Bruce E. Ludwick, Jr., organ; Cathedral of St. Paul, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 28 – Organ Concert: A. Michael Stecker, organ; St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 4:30 p.m.; followed by Choral Evensong, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 16 – Cathedral Concert Series: Polyphony – Stephen Leighton, conductor; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $35 Reserved Seating, $25 General Admission, $10 Student Tickets
Friday, October 17 – Downtown Concert Series: The Byrd Ensemble; Cathedral of St. Paul, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 23 – Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem, Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, October 26 – A Concert of Remembrance for All Saints’ Day, featuring Bradley Ellingboe’s Requiem; the St. Mary’s Choir, soloists, and chamber orchestra; John Lowe, conductor; St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 31 – Midday Music: Frederick Teardo and Charles Kennedy, organ; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 12:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2 – November Organ Series: Renée Anne Louprette, organ; Independent Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 8 – Nick Botkins, organ; Cathedral of St. Paul, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9 – November Organ Series: Balint Karosi, organ; Independent Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 13 – Choral Evensong for Remembrance, Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 16 – November Organ Series: Doug Cleveland, organ; Independent Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m.
Friday, November 21 – Midday Music: UAB Concert Choir; Brian Kittredge, conductor; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 12:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 23 – November Organ Series: James Kealey, organ; Independent Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 30 – November Organ Series: Jeff McLelland + Friends; Independent Presbyterian Church, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 14 – Downtown Concert Series: A Cathedral Christmas; Cathedral of St. Paul, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 14 – Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols; the St. Mary’s Choir; St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 18 – A Ceremony of Carols, by Benjamin Britten, featuring the Women of the Cathedral Choir; Diedre Henson Agustin, harp; Frederick Teardo, conductor; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m. (preceding A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols)
Thursday, December 18 – A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, Cathedral Church of the Advent, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 4 – Epiphany Pageant; the St. Mary’s Choir; St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 5:00 p.m.
2026:
Tuesday, January 6 – Isabelle Demers, organ; Cathedral of St. Paul, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 15 – A Service of Epiphany Light, Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, January 30 – Midday Music: Southern Harmony; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 12 – Cathedral Concert Series: VOCES 8; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $35 Reserved Seating, $25 General Admission, $10 Student Tickets
Thursday, March 5 – Choral Evensong for Lent, with Walden Moore, guest conductor; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13 – Choral Stations of the Cross; the Cathedral Choir; Cathedral of St. Paul, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13 – Marcel Dupré: Le Chemin de la Croix; Stephen Hamilton, organ; Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 – Organ Concert: Trevor Kahlbaugh, organ; St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 4:30 p.m.; followed by Choral Evensong, 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 – Holy Week Meditation: Via Crucis: A Devotion for Passiontide, by Philip Moore; Frederick Teardo, organ; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 – Organ Concert: John T. Lowe, organ; St. Mary’s on the Highlands Episcopal Church, 3:00 p.m.
Friday, April 17 – Midday Music: Valerie Sly, horn; David Tayloe, tenor; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 12:00 p.m.
Friday, April 17 – Downtown Concert Series: The Aeolians; Cathedral of St. Paul, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 – The Cathedral Choir in Concert; Frederick Teardo, conductor; Charles Kennedy, organ; Cathedral Church of the Advent, 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 10 – James McGalliard and Daniel Renna, organ; Cathedral of St. Paul, 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 14 – Choral Eucharist for Ascension Day, Cathedral Church of the Advent, 5:30 p.m.