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The LA AGO Podcast

Music Podcasts

Remember that moment when you were first captivated by an organ? When the sounds and sensations drew you in and piqued your curiosity? When you saw an organ console up close for the first time and was overwhelmed by its complexity? When you just knew you wanted to learn how to play one? We all have memories like this and stories to tell about them. In each episode of The LA AGO Podcast, host Thompson Howell speaks with a different member of the Los Angeles Chapter, and occasional special guests, about their own love affair with the organ and how that passion informs their particular involvement with the organ world today. It's not just about what you've done; it's about why you do what you do. Whether you’re a church musician, a concert organist, a teacher, an organ builder or technician, a composer who writes for the organ or simply a fan of the organ and its music, you’ll enjoy hearing the stories of people who are passionate about the organ at every level.

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Location:

United States

Description:

Remember that moment when you were first captivated by an organ? When the sounds and sensations drew you in and piqued your curiosity? When you saw an organ console up close for the first time and was overwhelmed by its complexity? When you just knew you wanted to learn how to play one? We all have memories like this and stories to tell about them. In each episode of The LA AGO Podcast, host Thompson Howell speaks with a different member of the Los Angeles Chapter, and occasional special guests, about their own love affair with the organ and how that passion informs their particular involvement with the organ world today. It's not just about what you've done; it's about why you do what you do. Whether you’re a church musician, a concert organist, a teacher, an organ builder or technician, a composer who writes for the organ or simply a fan of the organ and its music, you’ll enjoy hearing the stories of people who are passionate about the organ at every level.

Language:

English

Episodes

Episode 20 (Dr. James Calhoun)

1/12/2023
The LA AGO Podcast is back - and our first event of 2023 is a Member Recital on Monday, January 16th featuring Dr. James Calhoun playing the largest church organ in the world at First Congregational Church, Los Angeles. Complete details about this Chapter event can be found at LAAGO.org. The recital begins at 8pm and is open to the public. A Los Angeles native, growing up in the Watts area of the city, James currently does "God's Work" through music at Community United Methodist Church in...

Duration:00:40:44

Episode 19 (Dr. Linda West Brown)

5/5/2022
The final event of the LA Chapter's 2021-2022 season is our annual Guild Service on Monday, May 16th at San Marino Community Church. Check the latest Pipeline e-Newsletter or LAAGO.org for details. New Officers and Executive Committee members will be formally installed as we all enjoy a collaborative program featuring Chorale Bel Canto & Friends under the direction of Music Director, Dr. Linda West Brown. In this episode, host Thompson Howell and Linda engage in a lively conversation about...

Duration:00:47:51

Episode 18 (James Casey)

3/12/2022
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in LA's Westwood neighborhood is the site of our next event on Monday, March 14th at 8pm - a Members' Recital featuring the church's Director of Music, Dr. Jeffrey Parola and Organist, James Casey. Complete details can be found at LAAGO.org. This episode features James Casey in a conversation with host Thompson Howell as he shares his journey from tiny Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin to the heart of America's second largest city, Los Angeles. Jim talks about...

Duration:00:54:40

Episode 17 (Christopher Keady)

2/12/2022
Our Presidents' Day Organ Festival is back on Monday, February 21st after taking last year off. Our destination for the day is Pasadena. Make your lunch reservations, read artist bios, and get all the details about this year's Festival at the website here. Our guest this time is Christopher Keady, Assistant Director of Music at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Chris will be our special out-of-Chapter guest on Presidents' Day and will play the final recital of the day at First Church of...

Duration:00:47:18

Episode 16 (Tyrone Whiting)

1/3/2022
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to the severe outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the Los Angeles area, the leadership of the LA AGO and our guest artist have mutually decided to postpone our January, 2022 events featuring Mr. Tyrone Whiting. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of our guest artist and attendees. Mr. Whiting has been rescheduled to present a masterclass on October 15 and a recital on October 17 of this year. A virtual event is being developed for January....

Duration:00:45:38

Episode 15 (Ken Cowan)

11/1/2021
Our next LA AGO event comes up on Sunday, November 14th at 6pm as we welcome organist Ken Cowan in a recital co-sponsored by St. James' In-the-City Episcopal Church at 3903 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Ken's performance will be preceded by a wonderful service of Evensong at 4:30pm. Both events require FREE tickets that can be reserved here. Regarded as one of North America's finest concert organists and praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique, and imaginative programming...

Duration:00:48:29

Episode 14 (Yoojung Chung & Nicholas Galinaitis)

10/3/2021
The LA AGO Podcast is back as the Chapter begins its 2021-2022 season. We kick things off on Monday, October 18th with a Members' Recital at Westwood United Methodist Church in the bustling Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles featuring organists Yoojung Chung, Organist at WUMC, Nicholas Galinaitis, Director of Music & Organist at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church in Newport Beach, CA, and LA AGO Podcast host Thompson Howell. This event will be in-person and will also be live-streamed...

Duration:00:55:03

Episode 13 (Dr. Frederick Swann: Celebrating 90 Years)

7/30/2021
RIP: July 30, 1931 - November 13, 2022 July 30, 2021 is the 90th birthday of American organ icon Dr. Frederick Swann who joined the American Guild of Organists at age 15 and was its president from 2002-2008. This year marks not only Fred's 90th birthday but his 80th year of being a church organist and his 20th year as Artist-in-Residence at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California. Not one to seek the limelight or draw attention to himself, Fred spent most of his career...

Duration:00:47:29

Episode 12 (Christ Cathedral Organ Scholars)

7/1/2021
The LA AGO Podcast celebrates its one year anniversary this month! Can you believe it? Enjoy the fun cold open to this episode to mark this milestone...and thank you for listening to and supporting the podcast! Episode 12 also features another first: More than one guest! Andre Lombardi, Ethan Chow, and Hubert Tran are the current Organ Scholars at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. They join host Thompson Howell to mark the July 1st start of the American Guild of Organists' "Year...

Duration:00:39:29

Episode 11 (Cherry Rhodes)

6/5/2021
The incomparable Cherry Rhodes is Thompson's guest on this episode of The LA AGO Podcast. A world renowned concert organist and teacher, Ms. Rhodes is Adjunct Professor of Organ at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. With her infectious laugh and sense of humor, Cherry reveals how the organ was not her first love; fondly remembers growing up in a house full of pianists and being exposed at an early age to music of all kinds; recounts the influence of "Pa," her...

Duration:01:41:09

Episode 10 (Dr. Jeffrey Parola)

5/7/2021
The LA AGO's season of events comes to a close on Monday, May 24th at 7pm with our annual Guild Service in which we celebrate another year of fellowship and fine performances. This year's service will be broadcast virtually at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood (Episcopal) and hosted by the parish's Rector, The Rev. Canon Ian Elliott Davies, and Organist & Master of the Music, Dr. Jeffrey Parola. As with all of our events, the Guild Service will be streamed live via the LA AGO YouTube channel...

Duration:01:00:55

Episode 9 (In Memoriam: Dr. Namhee Han - Organ Music From The Heart)

3/29/2021
In Memoriam: Namhee Han - Organ Music From The Heart Episode 9 of The LA AGO Podcast is a special one in memory of the late Dr. Namhee Han who passed away on March 27, 2020. Run time is 1 hour, 54 minutes. Listen at LAAGO.org...or wherever you get your podcasts. LINKS: herehereherehere

Duration:01:54:09

Episode 8 (David Ball)

3/6/2021
We're rolling through 2021...and our next online virtual concert comes up at 7pm on Monday, March 22nd streamed live via the LA AGO YouTube channel and Facebook page. David Ball, Organist & Acting Director of Music at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA will be performing from St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino on its Aeolian Skinner/Rosales organ. David's effervescent personality and the joy he derives from his work clearly shine through in this episode. Host Thompson Howell also...

Duration:00:40:42

Episode 7 (John West)

2/7/2021
It's lucky Episode #7...our longest conversation with a guest to date - and boy, do we cover a lot of ground! February is Black History Month and our guest this time is the inimitable John West, Music/Choral Director & Organist at Hollywood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. Host Thompson Howell refers to John as a "multi-talented poly-hyphenate" due to the breadth and variety of John's career as an organist, composer, teacher, and studio session singer for Film and TV. John shares...

Duration:01:09:55

Episode 6 (Dr. Emma Whitten)

1/3/2021
The LA AGO Podcast is back with its first episode of 2021! Our first guest of the new year is Dr. Emma Whitten who will be playing for our next virtual event on Monday, January 18th at 7pm from Hollywood United Methodist Church with its grand 1929 Casavant organ. As with all our programs, this event will be streamed live via the LA AGO YouTube channel and Facebook page (links below). Emma shares with host Thompson Howell her reflections on the past year with its challenges and...

Duration:00:31:31

Episode 5 (Mark Herman)

12/3/2020
Well, 2020 has been quite the year and a difficult and stressful time for many. We thought it'd be a great idea to shake things up and have a little fun on this last episode of the year. Whadda ya say? You'll certainly understand how in the opening seconds of this episode. LA AGO member and renowned theatre organist Mark Herman is our guest this time on the LA AGO Podcast. Named the 2012 Organist of the Year by the American Theatre Organ Society (the youngest person ever to receive that...

Duration:00:42:23

Episode 4 (Mark Husey)

10/22/2020
Mark Husey, also a member of the Long Beach Chapter, wasn't expecting to be a guest on the LA AGO Podcast so soon, but his Labor Day post on Facebook entitled "Mark Husey's 668 Words on Labor Day" caught the attention of host Thompson Howell and changed that. Mark shares his reflections with Thompson about the Covid-19 pandemic, its impact on creative people of all types and the existential questions it has raised all while still keeping an eye out for those "silver lining" moments. You'll...

Duration:00:42:29

Episode 3 (Emily Holzer)

9/20/2020
Emily Holzer, a 2011 graduate of the University of Redlands with a degree in piano performance, is our guest this time on The LA AGO Podcast. A native of San Diego County, Emily chats with host Thompson Howell about her move to LA in search of a church job; her early exposure to the organ courtesy of her mom; her participation in a Pipe Organ Encounter as a teenager; how she started her first organ studies with Fred Swann and why she found the transition to organ to be difficult at first;...

Duration:00:31:50

Episode 2 (Dr. James Vail)

8/15/2020
In this episode, host Thompson Howell chats with Honorary Lifetime AGO Member and former LA Chapter Dean Dr. James Vail. A native of Los Angeles with a long and distinguished career as a teacher and church musician spanning many decades, Jim shares his memories of his first exposure to the organ as a boy at First Baptist Church in Los Angeles and how he'd "practice" in the family car. He'll also talk about his desire early on to be a Minister; his time in Philadelphia attending the Curtis...

Duration:00:39:44

Episode 1 (Nelson Dodge)

7/17/2020
It's the premiere episode of The LA AGO Podcast from the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Host Thompson Howell chats with Nelson Dodge, LA Chapter Dean who shares the story of his first encounter with an organ as a child. You'll also learn about why we're producing a podcast; how the Guild developed its new Mission Statement; national AGO's Strategic Plan; the Chapter's plans to grow the membership and provide more value; the importance of institutional memory and...

Duration:00:46:06