The 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (GBAGO). Dinner, a recital of a newly commission work for the occasion by Daniel Ficarri, Associate Director of Music & Organist, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, and salute to several long-term chapter members. Don't miss this event!
Enjoy photos, program, and the commissioned piece from this very special 75th Anniversary event.
The last 25 years of Chapter History Photo Gallery
Commissioned Piece Video – Suite No. 2: Homage to H. T. Burleigh (Daniel Ficarri) – Sheet Music – Suite No. 2:Homage – Ficarri
Dr. Joe premiering his Commissioned Piece Video – My Life Flows On – (Joe Utterback) – Dedicated to Rev. Meg Williams
Historical Perspective Interview Video – Rev. Meg Williams
Historical Perspective Interview Video – John Polo
Historical Perspective Interview Video – Carole Fanslow
A very special evening is planned to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (GBAGO) – est. 1948. First a scrumptious dinner, followed by a recital of a newly commissioned work for the occasion by Daniel Ficarri, Associate Director of Music & Organist, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City. Daniel will also perform several other pieces for his program. We end the evening with a salute to several chapter members with decades of service to colleagues, their congregations and the public.
We have conveniently chosen a restaurant close to our performance venue, the Cathedral of Saint Augustine. Plan to join us for this wonderful event!
Restaurant Dinner
4:00pm Appetizers – Charcuterie Board, Fried Calamari, Eggplant Parmesan
4:30pm – Mixed Salad , a choice of pasta (House-made Cavatelli with sausage; Rigatoni carbonara or Orecchiette with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes) Entree: Lemon chicken and Dessert Sampler. Wine/soft drinks included.
Trattoria ‘A Vucchella, 272 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport – full dinner, dessert, wine, gratuity. The cost is $40 per person.
To register and pay for the event, please follow these two steps:
1. Click on the registration link by the September 18th deadline to provide your details and reserve your spot. Registration link:
https://tinyurl.com/GBAGO75thAnniversary
2. Click on PayPal link to complete your payment https://greaterbridgeportago.org/online-payments/. Alternatively bring a check to the door for $40 per person payable to the Greater Bridgeport AGO. Still please reserve if you a bringing a check so we have a good headcount for the restaurant.
For any questions on the event, contact RoseAnne Homola RoseAnnH123@gmail.com .
The organ concert and member salute continues directly after dinner and dessert (7:00 PM) in the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Augustine sanctuary and played on the 1979 Moller/2014 A. Thompson-Allen III/42 rank gallery pipe organ. The recital is open to the public.
About Our Composer and Performer
Daniel Ficarri was named one of the top “20 under 30” organists by The Diapason magazine, Daniel Ficarri (b. 1996) is Associate Director of Music & Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC and a published composer of organ, choral, and chamber music.
A dynamic concert artist, Daniel has made appearances in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall under the batons of Marin Alsop, Itzhak Perlman, David Robertson, James Gaffigan, and Bernard Labadie; and he has performed in many of the country’s great concert halls and houses of worship, including Symphony Hall in Boston and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC. The New York Times has featured Ficarri in the “Week’s 8 Best Classical Music Moments,” and WQXR-FM presented him as part of the 2014 Bach Organ Marathon. Daniel studied the organ with Paul Jacobs at The Juilliard School, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Ficarri’s broad compositional output includes inaugural organ works for the Miller-Scott Organ at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and the restored Hazel Wright Organ at Christ Cathedral (formerly Crystal Cathedral); chamber works for a collaboration with violinist Stella Chen and for organ and cello duo Greg Zelek and Thomas Mesa; and sacred choral works ranging from his grand Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis in D, premiered by Kent Tritle and the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Brass of St. John the Divine, to his understated Ah, Holy Jesus for the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, NYC, written during his tenure there. Much of Ficarri’s music is published by E. C. Schirmer and MorningStar. Daniel studied composition privately with Rachel Laurin.
Our Commissioned Work & Program for the Evening
It is not everyday that we can commission a work from a gifted young organist. Daniel is a Connecticut native. He has been a friend of the chapter and many of its members for years. He graciously accepted to create a new organ suite for the chapter’s 75th Anniversary and we are very proud that he agreed to premiere it for us and share his talent in a short recital program on the wonderful Cathedral pipe organ.
Member Salute – Celebrating Decades of Service
We will take the opportunity of the 75th chapter anniversary to honor several of our members. Mum is the word. You need to join us to help with the celebration.