RUNNING FOR DEAN:
A native of Paxton, Jonathan began his music studies at age seven. In 2002, he began intensive organ instruction with Frank Corbin at Assumption College. Jonathan then transferred to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 2004, where he studied organ with David Boe and harpsichord with Lisa Crawford, Brett Maguire, and Webb Wiggins. After graduating in 2007 with a BM in Organ Performance and a minor in Music History, he traveled to Montreal where he earned his Master’s degree in organ at McGill University, studying with John Grew, organ improvisation with William Porter, and harpsichord with Hank Knox. In March 2018, Jonathan earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the University of Washington. While in Seattle, he studied organ with Carole Terry, and had the opportunity to study harpsichord with Jillon Dupree and organ improvisation with Douglas Cleveland. Currently, he is a Lecturer in Music at Assumption University. He also serves as the Director of Liturgical Music at Christ the King Parish in Worcester. Dr. Bezdegian is a proud member of the Worcester Chapter AGO and has recently served on the chapter’s Program Committee.
RUNNING FOR SUB-DEAN:
Recognized in 2016 by the Diapason Magazine as a “20 Under 30” leader in Organ, Harpsichord, and Sacred Music in the United States, Wesley is a dynamic organist and early musician with a passion for translating the music of the past into the context of today’s audience. An innovator in the field of sacred music, Wesley blended his passion for music and liturgy at the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music, and went on to receive an Artist Diploma in Organ Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory. He is currently completing a Gasthörerschaft at the Musikhochschule in Lübeck, Germany, before resuming his full duties as Minister of Music and the Arts at the First Baptist Church of Worcester. As both a solo artist and a collaborator, his performances have been heard across the United States, Canada, and Europe. He was recently awarded 2nd Prize at the Sursa American Organ Competition and maintains an active performance schedule. Wesley is passionate about helping young musicians achieve their greatest aspirations, and serves regularly as a competition juror, and teaches students through private lessons and public masterclasses.
RUNNING FOR SECRETARY:
David has been an active member of the Worcester Chapter AGO since 2005. He served as Chapter Secretary during the 2008, 2009, and 2019 program years; he currently seeks reelection for the 2020 program year. Professionally, David has served in music ministries of faith communities throughout Central Massachusetts for over twenty years. In addition to his full-time work as an independent piano tuner/technician, David holds concurrent appointments as Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church of Gardner (since 2009) and Assistant Cathedral Organist at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Worcester (since 2015).
RUNNING FOR TREASURER:
Juan began his early musical training in his native city of Puerto Montt in Chile, and completed a diploma in piano performance from Universidad Austral’s Conservatory as a student of the renowned Ximena Cabello. He emigrated to the US in 2001, obtaining a B.Mus. degree in organ performance and composition from Western Connecticut State University and M.M. degree in organ performance and early music at Indiana University. Juan has performed solo recitals across the US, Canada, Chile, and Argentina, and was a first-place winner of the New England RCYO competition in 2003, and was most recently a semi-finalist in the 2018 American Guild of Organists National Competition in Organ Improvisation. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Music Theory department at Indiana University, and for 6 years he led the multi-generational music program at St. Mary’s church in Holliston, MA. He is currently Director of Music at Roslindale Congregational Church in Boston, organist for The College Church SDA in Lancaster, MA, and Director of Music and Organist at St Leonard’s Church in Boston’s North End.
RUNNING FOR REGISTRAR:
Leonardo is the founding director of Arts MetroWest (since 2012) and Honorary Music Director (Maestro di Cappella Onorario) of the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo in Gubbio, Italy (since 2015). Till recently he was artistic director of organ concerts at MIT (2009-2016). As an organ recitalist, Ciampa has made a dozen European tours encompassing Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. He is particularly admired in Italy, where he has played in numerous international festivals. Ciampa’s compositions include Suite Siciliana, Op. 145 (for two violins, piano and orchestra), commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston to open their 25th anniversary season at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre; The Annunciation, Op. 203 (cantata for chorus, soloists, and strings); the Kresge Organ Symphony, commissioned by MIT and premiered in Kresge Auditorium; a piano quintet (premiered by the Lavazza Chamber Ensemble); and Missa Pamphyliana, premiered at the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo in Gubbio by the Cantores Beati Ubaldi (Renzo Menichetti, conductor).
RUNNING FOR MEMBER-AT-LARGE:
Joyce currently serves as Organist/Music Director at First Congregational Church (UCC) in Millbury, and previously served as Organist/Choir Director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hudston from 1998-2014. She received her B.A. degree with a minor in music at the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Divinity degree at Lancaster Theological Seminary (PA). She studied organ with John Skelton at UNH and with Kris Layton at Church of the Good Shepherd in Clinton. She is an active piano teacher with about 30 students throughout Worcester and Middlesex counties (now receiving instruction via Zoom). Joyce is Artistic Director of Serenity Coffeehouse an outreach ministry featuring music teachers and their young students performing classical/sacred music at Salem Covenant Church, Worcester before an intergenerational, diverse audience.
Kiel became music director at First Church of Monson, MA in September of 2018. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. He previously was church organist and music director for three churches throughout Southern Worcester County. Kiel started studying piano at seven and organ at thirteen. While at Anna Maria, he studied organ with Ian Watson. After college, he was an organ student of William Ness. In 2019 he stepped in to complete a term as Member-At-Large and soon after assumed responsibility for overseeing the Will Sherwood Scholarship Program.