News about ATOS and the world of Theatre Organ internationally.
From ATOS President/CE Ken Double
My goodness, what a week in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
Bob Dilworth and his Convention Committee are to be congratulated for staging one of the more memorable ATOS Annual Conventions in a long time.
I hope you have had a chance to read the musings of Josh Dill, the new ATOS Youth Representative to the Board. His daily reports were beautifully written and captured the essence of each day’s activities.
Dan Minervini was announced winner of the 2015 ATOS YOTC. He will receive over $2000 in cash prizes, as well as an opportunity to perform at the "Rising Star" concert at the Balboa Park Summer International Organ Festival in San Diego on July 20. He also received an invitation from Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Municipal Organist Steven Ball to perform on that instrument.
The Mighty Wurlitzer at Steubenville’s historic theatre, The Grand, is back in its home. Read this blog post Theatre Historical Society's website.
Despite snow on the ground in Durango, CO where my guitar-playing-teaching brother Terry lives (and snow a LOT of places), my experience is Spring has indeed sprung, and my packing the suitcase now involves all kinds of other clothes. But always the tux with the red handkerchief in the breast pocket.
It will get a good workout June 6 at Long Center in Lafayette, IN where I will play my 33rd annual variety show concert on the 3/21 Wurlitzer. I’ll be sharing the stage with some wonderfully talented young people (details at www.lctos.org).
Greetings to you all,
I am writing from lovely San Diego where I will meet with chapter officials of the Theatre Organ Society of San Diego later today, and then prepare for a Sunday concert on the Wurlitzer at Trinity Church.
The main reason for my message today is not so much what is going on with me now, but what I hope will be going on with you in July. In the next few days, you will be receiving your May-June issue of Theatre Organ, and you will find the information for our Philadelphia/Wilmington-based convention, dubbed “SOMETHING BIG!”
An excellent news article on NBC News. Follow this link to see the video: http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/theater-organ-making-small-com...
Hi to all, and I hope wherever you are, you are surviving the wintry weather.
I’m in Atlanta, and our immediate future forecast predicts lows in the teens, highs to barely reach 30. At least we are not shoveling out from under the many feet of snow that has devastated our friends in Chicago, Massachusetts, and all points in between and beyond.
The finest teacher of theatre organ style playing, with a list of students who rose to the highest level of concert playing, has died. John Ferguson passed away in Indianapolis Monday morning at the age of 79. He died peacefully in his sleep following some health issues.
Born in Shreveport, LA in 1935, his piano studies morphed into organ studies, and he made a name for himself playing Hammond with piano at lounges and restaurants, including the famous Stan Musial's restaurant in St. Louis.
Do you live (and bank) outside the United States? If so, this is important news.
United States banks have begun changing the manner in which foreign checks are handled, including substantial increases in costs for processing those checks. In some cases, the new fees exceed the amount of the check!
It was an experiment that proved successful.
After many years of the popular Summer Youth Adventure, once again ATOS was asked by the adult players among our members, “Hey, where’s our program like that?”
