MODAS Organ Recital – May 9
Please accept a cordial invitation to the 2026 edition of the McIvor Organ Distinguished Artist Series at Calvary Episcopal Church in Stonington, CT on Saturday, May 9 at 4:00 pm. Dr. Amanda Mole, Visiting Lecturer of Organ and the University Organist at Cornell University, will play works by Müthel, Schumann, Muffat, Buxtehude, and J. S. Bach.
Tickets $20 at the door.
This series is made possible by The Miller Fund and generously co-sponsored by the New London County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
John Dixon Organ Recital – May 15
Friday, May 15th at 7:00 pm, St. David’s Episcopal Church, 284 Stoddards Wharf Rd., Gales Ferry, CT
On Friday, May 15th, at 7 PM at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry, we are thrilled to have National AGO Treasurer/Councillor for Finance & Development, John Dixon, perform an organ recital of his own compositions on the church’s 1970 Schlicker pipe organ. The church is handicapped accessible. Many thanks to member Jane Nolan for hosting this event. Admission is free but we will gratefully accept donations at the door, and you are invited to be a concert sponsor. Donations for this recital will support bringing Mr. Dixon, coming from Norfolk, Virginia, as well as supporting future New London County AGO events such as the Roberta Bitgood Scholarship. To become a concert sponsor, please send your donation to treasurer Susan R. Jones or donate at the door. Donations received by May 11 will be listed in the program.
The Anglican Singers – Choral Evensong – May 17
Please join us for our last service for this season, and bring your friends.
Festive reception to follow and all are welcome!
May 17, 2026 (Sunday) - 5:00 pm - Choral Evensong St. James Episcopal Church
76 Federal Street, New London
Introit ~ Byrd: Sing joyfully
Responses ~ Paul Spicer
Psalms 19, 46
Canticles ~ Stanford, in B flat
Anthem ~ Elgar: Great is the Lord, Op. 67
The Anglican Singers
Simon Holt, Music Director; L. Graham Schultz, Organist
announcements
2026 Roberta Bitgood Organ Scholarship Recipient Announced!
We are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Roberta Bitgood Scholarship has been awarded to Benjamin Torcellini in the amount of $1,000.
Benjamin, a homeschooled high school student in his junior year, studies with Dr. Patricia (“Trisha”) Snyder, Organist at Storrs Congregational Church. He is currently studying with Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez while Dr. Snyder is on sabbatical.
Benjamin is from Eastford, CT and is a member of the Northeastern CT Chapter of AGO and looking forward to joining our chapter as a Dual Member. He was appointed Organist at the United Methodist Church of New London in December, 2025 and in January, 2026 also became Interim Organist at Chepachet Union Church in Chepachet, RI. Benjamin studies violin with Martha Herrle at the Community Music School, voice with Brian Cheney, and is a first bass with the Anglican Singers. In addition to being a member of AGO, he is a member of the Organ Historical Society, and the Reed Organ Society.
Many thanks to Scholarship Chairperson, Douglas Green, and judges, Simon Holt, Susan D. Paisley and Michael Noonan for all of their work on this annual competition.
Benjamin is very excited and grateful to receive the scholarship on behalf of our chapter.
Congratulations Benjamin!
Community Resources
Winners of the 2025 Woman Composer Sunday organ composition contest:
1st (Concert Work) Brenda Portman, "Diptych for Organ"
1st (Short Work) – Maureen Howell, "Reflection on Kingsfold"
2nd (Short Work) – Evelyn Larter, "Here's One"
3rd (Short Work) – Miriam Reveley, "Adagio in C Minor"
Young Composer – Celina Kobetitsch, "Fantasy on Noël Nouvelet"
Downloads of the compositions, information about the composers, and performances videos:
https://agohq.org/Ago/News/2025-Composition-Contest-Winners-Announced.aspx
A page devoted to the life & legacy of Dr. Roberta Bitgood:
https://bitgood.eclectronics.net
A searchable database of our chapter music library:
https://www.cathedralofsaintpatrick.org/Music/AGO-Library. .
Our newsletter
Newsletter : Things Great & Swell
The newsletter is e-mailed to chapter members on the first of the month or shortly before. Deadline for submissions is the fifteenth of the preceding month. For submissions and related questions only, e-mail the editor here.
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