Spartanburg Chapter of the American Guild of Organists

www.spartanburgago.org

spartanburgago@gmail.com

2022 - 2024 

Executive Committee

Dean: Brennan D. Szafron

Sub-Dean: Scott Foppiano

Secretary: John J. Polo

Treasurer: William C. (Bill) Cooper

Young Organist Representative: Hannah Powell

Chaplain: Steven J. Nadeau

Immediate Past Dean: Steven J. Nadeau

Committee Chairs

History: TBA

Publicity: Brennan D. Szafron

Program: Scott Foppiano

Professional Concerns: Richard B. Cribb, Jr.

Membership: William C. (Bill) Cooper

Publications: William C. (Bill) Cooper

Communications: Erica Pauly

Hospitality: Steven J. Nadeau

Scholarships: Frankie W. Deal

Appointive Positions

Facebook and TAO: William C. (Bill) Cooper

Webmaster: Erica Pauly

Parliamentarian: TBA

Pedals, Pipes, Pizza: Brennan Szafron

A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Dr. Brennan has served as the adjunct instructor of organ at Converse University since 2009. His primary position is as the organist and choirmaster of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Tryon, NC, having there served there since November 1st of 2021. and children’s choirs. For 18 years he was the organist and choirmaster of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Spartanburg where under his direction, several Converse students and faculty members participated in the music ministry. He holds degrees in organ performance and church music at the University of Alberta (B. Mus. with distinction), Yale University (MM), and the University of Michigan (DMA).

Over the years, he has performed frequently as a solo recitalist and ensemble performer both locally and nationally. Some of his notable performance venues have included Washington National Cathedral, St. Thomas Church New York City, and the Cathedral of St. Phillip in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Szafron’s non-musical passion is the great outdoors. He is an avid hiker and swimmer and has visited all 47 state parks in South Carolina and 90 percent of the state parks in North Carolina. He visits his parents in Calgary, Alberta whenever possible.

Scott is a native of Memphis, TN where musical studies in both piano and organ began at an early age. A Keenan Organ Scholar at the NC School of the Arts with a double major in Voice, subsequent studies followed at Winthrop University, Mars Hill University and the University of Michigan. Holding a BMus, MMus, ServPl and CAGO private studies continued with Dr. Gerre Hancock at St. Thomas Fifth Avenue in NYC in Organ Improvisation, with William Whitehead and G. Thomas Hazleton. Critically acclaimed as a recitalist, theatre organist and silent film accompanist he is active in the AGO, ATOS and OHS. In 2001 his choir toured Italy and sang at the Vatican after which they were presented to His Holiness Pope St. John Paul II. To date he has made 8 solo organ CDs and is also an Accompanist /Organist at Temple Beth El in Charlotte. He currently serves as the Organist and Director of Music at St. James Lutheran Church in Concord, NC.

John is formerly from Fairfield County Connecticut, a computer science and business management graduate of the University of Connecticut. John is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Boston-based, Top Flight Technologies, Inc and has a long career as Global Business Executive and Sr. Information Technologist in the high technology industry specializing in new company launches, mergers and acquisitions.

Like many engineers, John made the connection between math and music and has studied piano and organ with several teachers in the Greater New York City area along with being a life-long choir member. He has contributed his business leadership and technology skills to the success of the national American Guild of Organist organization as former Director of Communications and Technology leading the implementation of its ONCARD membership management system for 300+ USA chapters; and driving implementation of web and social media technology for local chapters, regional and national AGO organization events.

In addition to being the Secretary for Spartanburg AGO, John is also the Webmaster and Treasurer for the M. Louise Miller - Paul E Knox Scholarship Fund for the Greater Bridgeport AGO Chapter (CT), Treasurer for the Greenville AGO Chapter (SC) and a choir member at Buncombe United Methodist Church in Greenville.

Bill is a native of Laurens, SC and graduated from Presbyterian College, received a Master’s in History from Wake Forest University and a Master’s in Library Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.  After working in the library at UNC-Charlotte and the Greenville County Library, he served as Director of the Laurens County Library for over 33 years.  Bill studied piano from the 4th through the 12th grades and took one year of organ in college.  After returning to Laurens to become the county librarian, he took two years of organ from Stephan Schaeffer at PC and since retirement has studied organ with Brennan Szafron.

In addition to being the Treasurer and former Dean of the Spartanburg AGO, he is a member of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Music Club and currently is treasurer.  He regularly serves as a substitute organist for churches in Clinton, Laurens and Spartanburg.

Steve was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, to Command Sgt/Major and Mrs. Guy & Augusta "Gussie" Nadeau. Thereafter, he was raised at Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, California. He did his formal years of education and graduated with a double major in Humanities and History from California State University, Sacramento, California. He then furthered his course of studies at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, California, where he successfully completed and achieved his Master's in Divinity and Theology as well as his PhD. He began his formal career in funeral service in 1981. In 1997, he opened his first independently owned funeral home, Nadeau Family Funeral Home in Vacaville, California. He then sold intending on retiring to the upstate of South Carolina. However, Steve was not ready to retire. In 2014, the decision was made with his two business partners to purchase and open mortuary in Northern Spartanburg County in the community of Chesnee. Between his years of experience and Tommy Harris', they collectively bring close to 60 years serving families with dignity and respect.

In his off time, Steve enjoys playing piano for the Chapman Cultural Center, many of the assisted, skilled and independent care centers as well as a church organist for St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and Liberty United Methodist Church in Spartanburg. He recently became pianist of Worship Care, a specialized ministry for those suffering with Alzheimer's and their care givers. He has an interest in Classic Cadillac Collecting and to currently has three 1970 Cadillac's. He is a member of the South Carolina Funeral Director's Association, Northern Solano Lodge, #2534, Order of Son's of Italy in American and Italian Social Organization of Spartanburg.