Concert Organist Brian Hoffman will present TWO exciting multimedia presentations, featuring J.S. Bach,
the pipe organ, and a hands-on organ build!
At 6:00 PM, preceding this multimedia event, there will be hands-on construction of a small pipe organ! A perfect STEAM activity for kids and their grown-ups, this will take place in the library room of the cathedral. It will be limited to the first 25 youth to attend.
After the performance, to cap off this star-studded night, there will be viewing of the night sky
outdoors in the quadrangle weather-permitting.
The events are free and open to the public.
Part 1. “Bach & the Majestic Organ”
- live performances of Bach organ works
- a virtual video tour through the inside chambers of pipe organs
- imagery of incredible pipe organ facades from around the world
- all set to the music of Bach, accompanied live by Brian Hoffman.
Part 2. “Bach in Space”
- a narrated, virtual flight to the International Space Station
- stunning fly-over videos of Earth, set to the music of Bach, accompanied live by Brian Hoffman
- created by NASA Education Manager Dan Barstow and first premiered by Dan Barstow & Brian Hoffman in 2022. Photography of Earth taken by astronauts aboard the ISS.
7:30 pm, Friday, April 25, 2025
Location: Christ Church Cathedral, 35 Chestnut St, Springfield, MA 01103
For a flyer announcing these events, click here.
Brian Hoffman is a concert organist whose numerous performances include solo recitals at St. Patrick's Cathedral NYC, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, and on the world’s largest church organ at West Point Cadet Chapel. As a composer, he has written many works for choir, organ, and various ensembles. As a recording artist, he has recorded his original compositions, as well as the organ works of J.S. Bach, Cesar Franck and Felix Mendelssohn. His ongoing project, begun during the pandemic of 2020, is the recordings of the complete organ works of J.S. Bach on organs from around the world via the Hauptwerk program. 13 CDs have been completed to date and will be available for purchase at the March 23 performance, as well as on iTunes, Amazon and all of the major streaming services.
For more information, please visit: brianhoffmanorganist.com
Click here for a calendar of events in our region -- from Hartford, CT, to Marblehead!
In this interactive workshop, futurist, change facilitator, and eminent organist Randy Steere will explore emerging paths for the organ and organ music programming – revealing strategies that will attract and keep a growing audience. Whether you are an organ professional, a musician of any kind who feels like your audience is dwindling, an arts administrator, a member of the clergy or music ministry, or a lover of organ music, this vision for the future will be relevant for you. The principles of this workshop can be applied in concert halls, churches, and educational institutions to keep organ music alive and exciting. Audience reactions to the concert the night before will provide food for discussion and insight. (Attendance at the concert the night before is not a requirement to attend the workshop.)
Concert: 7:30 pm, Friday, March 21, 2025
Workshop: 10 am - noon, Saturday, March 22, 2025
Location: Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060
ABOUT RANDY STEERE
Acclaimed for his solo appearances throughout New England, Randy Steere has most recently served as Assistant Organist at Old South Church. A New England native, he received his B.M. degree from Barrington College (student of Alan Brown), an M.M. from Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music (student of Dr. Baker), an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, and a Master’s of Computer Science from RPI.
After graduating from Yale, Randy served as the full-time Minister of Music at the First Church of Christ, Congregational, Glastonbury (CT) where for 9 years he developed an expansive ministry, including two large adult choirs, two handbell choirs, a children’s choir, two concert series, young singles ministry, and weekly commercial TV and radio broadcasts. Under Randy’s initiative, the church hosted the East Branch of the Hartford Camerata School of Music, where he also taught organ and choral conducting. Additionally, he taught organ performance, handbells, and church music classes at Barrington College (now Gordon College).
Following his full-time career in music, Randy switched to computers and became an IT Director at a mid-sized law firm for 7 years before running his own consulting and software company for 20 years. In 2020, he fully retired to become more actively involved in the music world once again. While in Connecticut, Randy served on the Board of the Hartford Chapter AGO and was on the Board of Trustees for “Arioso,” a string ensemble of Hartford Symphony players where he was responsible for grant applications. He has taken several organ study trips abroad, worked for organ builders, and given numerous educational sessions for various AGO chapters.
He is currently Resident Organist with the Vista Philharmonic Orchestra, an all-professional orchestra at the Groton Hill Music Center, Dean of the Worcester AGO Chapter, Treasurer of the Merrimack Valley AGO Chapter, a Trustee of the Methuen Memorial Music Hall,and in charge of the organ concert series at the Groton Hill Music Center.
This one-hour program is designed to appeal to elementary students on up! From recognizable spirituals infused with rock and jazz to “Dead Man’s Chest” from Pirates of the Caribbean, the music will provide a meaningful and exciting experience for all, including the seasoned musician. Also on the program is a youthful Trumpet Tune by the world famous YouTube phenom, organist and composer Paul Fey. Standard works by Scotson Clark, Leonardo Ciampa, Josef Rheinberger and Alexander Guilmant as well as compositions by African American composers Adolphus Hailstork and Florence Price will round out the evening.
Concert: 7:30 pm, Friday, March 21, 2025
Workshop: 10 am - noon, Saturday, March 22, 2025
Location: Edwards Church, 297 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060
For all members of the former Berkshire and Springfield chapters of the AGO — our chapter will host a meet-and-greet on Zoom so no one has to travel. Help us build community and in addition enjoy Noah Horn's lively presentation on supporting choral singing, a fun activity related to the instrument we all love, and some time for small groups so we get to know one another better.
Sunday, October 20, 2024
4–5pm on Zoom
Details in Members-Only Email Invitation
A fire in his home destroyed the majority of the musical compositions by Marcel Lanquetuit, principal organist of the Rouen Cathedral and Knight of the Legion of Honor. But his grand and inspiring Toccata in D major survived and will be performed at this concert on the E. M. Skinner Opus 179 organ by Klaus Becker, organist and music director at St. Mary’s in Longmeadow — and former dean of our chapter. Director of music at Italy’s Como Cathedral, Enrico Bossi is best remembered for his organ compositions, among them the magical and mysterious Scherzo in g minor, which will also be featured at this concert. In addition, works by Bach, Vierne, Gigout, and Jongen will be performed. This will be a memorable afternoon, well worth attending!
Sunday, September 22, 3:00 pm
Skinner Memorial Chapel
United Congregational Church
300 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA 01040
Pay What You Will
Think of a piece of music you can perform at the drop of a hat. How long have you been playing it, and how much work have you put into it? Now imagine if you could perform NEW repertoire with the same level of confidence, security, and expression. EFFICIENT PRACTICE is the key to unlocking this potential.
Join us with The Well-Practiced Musician Christopher Prestia to learn how to optimize your practice habits so your new music can feel like old standards in less time than ever.
Saturday, September 14, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Bezanson Recital Hall
UMass Amherst Bromery Center for the Arts
Amherst, MA 01002
FREE!