The weather knew that the AGO was coming to town. When I arrived in Washington on Thursday, the weather was quite pleasant with low humidity. But on Saturday the humidity crept in and the temperatures rose. And it stayed that way until the end of the next week. Other Lincoln people attending the convention were: J. Gordon Christensen, Michael Emmerich, Stacie Lightner, Christopher Marks, and George Ritchie. Charles Cohen, our District Convenor, was also in attendance.

Although the convention began on Monday, July 5, there were a number of pre-convention activities, some beginning on the Friday before. On Saturday, July 3, I attended the recital by Christopher Houlihan (aka Houli) at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood Parish, in Bethesda. The organ is a new Berghaus organ which is installed in the middle of the front of the church and speaks directly into the nave. The old organ was installed in chambers on each side of the chancel. The Berghaus is a big improvement. Houli played his recital from memory and is a very good recitalist. He has some flourishes that are a la Virgil, but always in good taste. Houli opened with the Toccata by Leo Sowerby and played works by Bach, Widor, Ravel and Vierne. It was an excellent recital. Lincoln Chapter Members: He will be playing at the Region VI convention in Des Moines next summer. A reception followed with an opportunity to meet the artist and to catch up with some old friends who also attended.

On Sunday, I attended church at all Saints Episcopal Church, Chevy Chase Parish, where I served for several years. I sang in the choir and it was fun. In the afternoon, after registering at the hotel and for the convention, I went to hear Michael Emmerich play on the Rising Stars at Ascension & St. Agnes Episcopal Church. Michael did an excellent job, as usual. The organ there is also new, a Letourneau from Canada.

The convention opened on Monday with a convocation at the National Cathedral. The service was wonderful with pre-service music for organ and brass, and a commissioned piece for organ alone, which began at 8:30 am. Something new at the cathedral is that there are now flat screen TVs on the columns which allows you to see the action up close. I then journeyed on the bus to St. Ann’s Catholic Church to hear Paul Jacobs play an excellent recital. Paul opened with the Finale by César Franck and included music of Boulanger and Reger. (Note: In the opinion of many people, including this person, the level of playing at the convention was raised to a new high in Washington. Also the recitals consisted of a lot more repertoire outside the norm which was quite refreshing.) In the afternoon, the Washington Bach Consort presented a Bach Vespers at a large Lutheran church with a Schantz organ. It was also superb. On Monday evening, we heard a program of the Toccata Festiva by Samuel Barber and a mass by Paul Paray, who I always thought of as a conductor, not a composer. Both works were very good and performed very well. (Note: Monday was “Scott Dettra” day as he performed at the Cathedral in the morning, with the Bach Vespers, and in the evening.)

On Tuesday morning, there was a hymn festival led by Bruce Neswick at National City Christian Church (with the only five-manual organ in Washington, a Skinner/Moeller). The hymn festival was preceded by a prelude by Virginia Bronze, a handbell ensemble. Both programs were excellent. Tuesday afternoon there was a reception for Westminster Choir College alumni and then we got on the bus to drive to Annapolis. We heard a recital by David Higgs on the five-manual Hutchings/Moeller/Walker pipe and digital organ. It was a spectacular program, still holding the bar high for the convention. Higgs opened with the Variations de Concert by Joseph Bonnet and included music by Bolcom, J. S. Bach and three movements from the Sixth symphony of Charles Marie Widor. Plus a commissioned piece by Gwyneth Walker. And in the Naval Chapel I ended up sitting next to Andrew Kotylo who will be playing a recital on Lincoln Organ Showcase next year.

On Wednesday, I heard an excellent recital by Isabel Demers at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on a wonderful Lively-Fulcher organ. She played music by Rachel Laurin, Howells, Karg-Elert and Vierne. And in the evening, we experienced the banquet with entertainment provided by The Capitol Steps. A wonderful evening!

Thursday began with a recital by Jim Christie in the crypt of the National Shrine (Schudi two-manual organ). His program featured early music including one composer who was new to me. Despite living in Washington for six years and attending programs at the Shrine many times, I had never been in the Crypt church. The recital and the crypt were both very wonderful experiences. In the afternoon regional meetings were held with Jan Kraybill leading the Region VI meeting. There was also a reception for people who had earned a Guild degree. Thursday evening featured a program of commissioned music at the National Shrine and a big improvisation by David Briggs. The Shrine concert was open to the public and there were lots of people (including me) sitting on the floor. Another wonderful evening to conclude a wonderful convention.

As is usual for a convention there were opportunities to see and catch up with old friends and also to visit the exhibits. There were a number of students from our Pipe Organ Encounter Advanced at the convention and it was good to catch up with them. Most of the many commissioned works were quite good and were works that we hopefully will hear again. The level of playing at the convention was truly wonderful and the bar has been raised for future conventions. The Washington convention was expensive and there were problems with the buses. But overall it was a great convention!