Organ Article Thanksgiving Week
Trinity
Dear Ray,
Thank you for your letter of November 3, 2021. What a wonderful tribute to our mother that you will dedicate the renovated organ to her memory! Carl and I are happy to contribute to the dedication ceremony, both in terms of a small amount of money and also in a few memories of our mother’s life as an organist….
Carl has a picture of our mother as a young woman sitting at the organ at the church. He will make a copy of that to send with some of our memories. You will probably see the photo and remember when you studied with her, because that was her age when she was most active as a teacher and as a performer.
As to memories, Carl and I both have plenty of those. We will put together what we remember of her from our earliest days when she was an organ student at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York until the time of her final retirement from a small church in California shortly before she died at age 98.
She loved the Garrison Keillor skit about the church organist who retired only to be called back again and again when the replacement organists didn’t work out. Although it was a bit different for her, it seemed like after every “retirement” (Greeley, Key Largo, Estes Park, Escondido) there was another church with need for an organist.
Carl and I will assemble something and send it to you.
Best regards,
Glenn
For anyone who didn’t know Mrs. Garlick, she was a student of Harold Gleason at Eastman School of Music, one of America’s most esteemed organ teachers. She and her husband, Don, moved to Greeley where Don was Professor of Music History and Cello at UNC. Besides playing the organ, Mrs. Garlick was also an accomplished violist. She and Dr. Garlick were members of the Greeley String Quartet along with Dr. Henry Ginsburg and Blanche Ginsburg. This popular foursome often played for special services at Trinity and throughout the community.
I have great news today that, thanks to your many generous financial gifts, we have raised $39,520 towards our challenge goal of $40,000. We also have a further pledge of $1800, which puts us over the top. I want to thank each and every one of you now and in person for tangibly demonstrating your love of the organ, of music, and of Trinity parish. Even during these difficult times, you have made an enduring gift to the spiritual life of Trinity and the musical life of the Greeley. May God bless each and every one!
Ray Quick