Announcement for Vox Nativa Concert

The Taiwan Vox Nativa Children's Choir will perform in the Washington DC Temple Visitor Center (address is 9900 Stoneybrook Dr. Kensington, MD 20895) at 7pm on Sunday, July 31, 2016.  Seating starts on 6:30pm on a first-come-first-serve basis.  For more information about Vox Nativa, refer to their website or Facebook page.

Summary of 2016 DC Organ Workshop

The March 12, 2016, Washington, D. C. Area BYU Organ Workshop hosted by McLean, VA Stake, was designed as a two-track, 2-1/2 hour event from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

The 89 attendees came from 17 Stakes and identified themselves as follows:

First impression of the organ	31
Some experience but little or no training	44
Experienced, with extensive training	14
Total	89

The four 40-minute presentations by Dr. Don Cook, head of the BYU Organ Department, and by Jonathan Evans, a BYU Organ graduate who resides in McLean, VA Stake, were geared to meet the full range of levels of experience and interest.

Presentations were enhanced by appropriate hand-outs in an attractive folder and by use of a remote camera and screen for the chapel organ. Use of prepared projection material and screen in the Relief Society Room was effective without the need/expense of an additional organ. Specific subjects demonstrated and discussed are on the cover of the attached Workshop folder.

The opening session was conducted by Stake President Robert S. Hall, who made very inspirational remarks. The concluding session featured Dr. Cook's responding to pre-submitted questions and outlining options and opportunities for further progress in organ study. Concluding speaker was Workshop Coordinator Ashley Baker, who serves as Music Advisor on the McLean Stake High Council, who made an excellent summary of the purpose of music in assisting the spirituality of our meetings.

Useful publications were available for perusal on a display table, and pizza with colorful crudités was served at conclusion. Attendees lingered and enjoyed interaction time with both Dr. Cook and Bro. Evans, and with each other.

McLean, VA Stake personnel were most gracious in handling registration and all other arrangements for this event.

Marjorie Volkel

2nd Announcement for WTO/MCW Special Concert: Hymns of the Restoration

The Mormon Choir of Washington DC and the Washington DC Temple Orchestra will jointly perform a concert featuring Hymns of the Restoration, on Sunday, April 24th, at the Washington DC Temple Visitor Center.  This concert provides a narrative of the history of Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Church.  It is a wonderful way to introduce others to the message of the Restoration.  Please invite your families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to join you for this special evening of beautiful music.

Click here for .pdf of flier

Announcement for WTO/MCW Hymns Concert

April 24th, Sunday at the Visitors' Center at 7 p.m. The Mormon Choir and the DC Temple Orchestra will jointly perform a concert of hymns. This is a wonderful way to maintain the spirit and invite nonmembers to an evening of beautiful music that provides a narrative of the church's history.

"Queen of the King of Instruments"

Our friend and organist, Marj Volkel, is featured on the LDS Philanthropies web site. This very informative article showcases her musical life and her amazing trip to Utah. The organ workshops in the Mount Vernon Stake in 2013 and in the Washington DC Stake in 2014 are also described on this web page. Since the initial workshop in the Mount Vernon Stake, to date there have been 16 additional workshops, held on both coasts and in many places between, with a total attendance of just under 1800 from 166 stakes. Several more workshops are presently booked for 2016, including Atlanta, GA, Phoenix, AZ, Houston, TX, Riverside and Sacramento, CA, and Anchorage, AK, with more "in the pipeline."

To read the article, type "Marjorie Volkel" in the search box on the LDS Philanthropies web site.

New Date for Organ Workshop

BYU Professor Don Cook will conduct an organ workshop on Saturday, March 12, 2016, from 8:45am to 11:30am.  This will be a parallel track workshop: one for beginners and one for experienced organists.  The workshop will be held at the McLean Chapel (2034 Great Falls Road, Falls Church, VA 22205).  Join in on this great opportunity!

Please register online: https://byuorganists.wordpress.com/dc.  Those who registered for the January workshop will receive an email to confirm the attendance for the March workshop.  So, there is no need for them to register again, but there is no harm if they do.

 Click here for a PDF copy of flyer.

Rescheduling The Organ Workshop

With the threat of impending snow this weekend, the Organ Workshop has been rescheduled for March 12, 2016, at the McLean, VA Stake Center.

REPEAT: the organ workshop will NOT be held this Saturday as originally planned. More details to come.