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Nunc Dimittis

February 1, 2003
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Charles Henderson, editor emeritus of The American Organist, died peacefully in his sleep at his daughter's home in Bronx, New York, on June 24. A native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Mr. Henderson graduated cum laude from Bucknell University. He later studied at the Juilliard School of Music, the Fontainbleau School in France, and at Syracuse University, where he earned his master's degree under Arthur Poister. His teachers also included Nadia Boulanger and Ernest White. From 1939 to 1952, except for four years in the Army during World War II, Henderson was organist and choir director at the First Presbyterian Church and a member of the faculty at Wilkes College, both in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He also conducted the 125-voice Wyoming Valley Oratorio Society and the 75-voice Singers' Guild of Scranton. While serving as minister of music at the Church of the Covenant in Erie, Pennsylvania, 1952-55, he conducted the Erie Philharmonic Chorus and the Bach Choir of Erie. In 1955, he was appointed organist and choirmaster of St. George's Church on Stuyvesant Square, New York City, where he served for 18 years. While at St. George's, he was also responsible for the planning and installation of the 1958 Möller organ, designed by Ernest White, and he served on the organ faculty of the Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music. A member of the AGO since 1939, Henderson served as both dean and treasurer of the New York City chapter. In 1973 he was appointed editor of the guild journal, then called Music/The AGO and RCCO Magazine. He retired in May 1982 and was named editor emeritus in 1992. He also served as organist at the First Presbyterian Church in Milford, New Jersey, from 1976-1983. Charles Henderson was preceded in death by his wife Jane, who died on February 21, 2000.

 

 

Victor G. Hildner died on August 15 in Oak Park, Illinois, at the age of 84. He began his career as an organist in his father's church in St. Clair, Michigan, and by age 12 was directing the parish choir. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan and served as director of music at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, Michigan, 1941-44. In 1944, he joined the faculty of Concordia Teachers College, now Concordia University, in River Forest, Illinois, where he taught until 1983. Hildner was also music director of the Oak Park Concert Chorale for 20 years, the Oak Park/River Forest Symphony Chorus for 26 years, and at Jefferson Park Lutheran Church for 29 years. In 1960 he founded and directed the Chicago Baroque Ensemble, a consort devoted to music written before 1750. His wife of 52 years, Agnes Hildner, died six years ago.

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