The American Guild of Organists (AGO) will sponsor a Recital and Gala Benefit Reception honoring international award-winning organist Cherry Rhodes and distinguished organist Ladd Thomas, professor of organ at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. The dynamic couple has been selected by the AGO National Council for its 2015 AGO Endowment Fund Distinguished Artist Award. The biographies of the honorees can be found online at Agohq.org.
The celebration will begin on Friday, April 17, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Glendale, Calif., where Ladd Thomas has served as organist for 55 years. The honorees will perform as organ soloists in Mendelssohn’s Sonata No. 1 in F Minor (Thomas) and Moussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, transcribed by Jean Guillou (Rhodes). They will combine their talents in a rare organ duet performance of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas, as arranged by Rayner Brown for their exclusive use. The gala benefit reception will follow at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale Hotel (advance tickets required).
Sponsorship opportunities are available at the $25,000, $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 levels. Full descriptions of sponsorship packages and benefits are available online at Agohq.org.
Gala benefit reception tickets are $150 (75% tax deductible, includes admission to the recital) and can be purchased online at Agohq.org or by calling 212/870-2311, ext. 4308. Gala ticket holders will be offered preferred recital seating and will have their names printed in the commemorative program book. The deadline to be included is April 1. General admission to the recital, only is $20.
The AGO is offering display advertising opportunities in the full-color commemorative program book. Ad placement includes inside and back covers ($1,500, each includes four gala tickets), full-page ($1,000, includes two gala tickets) and half-page ($500, includes one gala ticket) insertions. Advertising orders can be placed online at Agohq.org. The advertising deadline is April 1. E-mail [email protected] for further information. The publication will become a part of the American Organ Archives.
Those unable to attend the recital and gala benefit reception are invited to participate from a distance by making a contribution to the AGO Endowment Fund in honor of Cherry Rhodes and Ladd Thomas. Contribute online at Agohq.org or by sending a check to the AGO Endowment Fund, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260, New York, NY 10115. Contributions received by April 1 will be reported in the commemorative program book.
All proceeds from the Gala will honor Cherry Rhodes and Ladd Thomas in perpetuity through the AGO Endowment Fund. For further information, please call 212/870-2311, ext. 4308, or e-mail [email protected].
