ATOS News

News about ATOS and the world of Theatre Organ internationally.


Saturday, October 26th 2013

Yup, I was on the road again, and delighted that Dunkin Donuts coffee tastes good and kept me awake. (This coming from an avowed tea drinker!) I pulled into Atlanta Sunday night/Monday morning about a quarter-to-one.

And was promptly awakened early with the pounding of hammers and the voices of the work crew re-siding our condo’s. Now, I was gone four days. The foreman knew I was going to be gone four days. They were scheduled to start on my unit BEFORE I left town. And when did they start?? The day I got back. Murphy of Law’s fame is laughing hysterically someplace.

Friday, October 11th 2013

I’m off and running again Wednesday (Oct 17, '13), including a stop with the Manasota chapter down in the Sarasota, FL area. It will be good to see John Fischer, Norm Arnold, Chuck et. al. that have focused their chapter’s energies around the great Wurlitzer at Grace Baptist Church.

Tuesday, October 8th 2013

From now on, either Sunday night or Monday morning is BLOG TIME every week!!

It has been an interesting start to the Fall season.
Today (Sunday, October 6), I am flying home to Atlanta after spending 18 of the past 20 days on the road. I’ve been through Florida, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, Louisiana, and of course, Georgia.

Much of what I’ve been working on involves not only the ongoing fundraising efforts, but finding homes for instruments. As I like to say, “We can’t have our playtoys if we don’t have a playpen!”

Saturday, October 5th 2013

The Saenger Theatre, the most opulent and famous theatre in New Orleans, re-opened with a splash last week after a $52 million renovation. Fund raising is underway to restore the singular 4/26 Robert-Morton pipe organ. And the man most responsible for saving the theatre and the organ is not here to reap the rewards of his efforts to save his beloved Saenger Theatre and the organ.

Dr. Barry Henry passed away September 23, 2013 in his home in New Orleans following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 76. He died four days before the first shows at his beloved Saenger Theatre.

Friday, August 23rd 2013

ATOS Radio is now featuring Half Hourly Webcasts of Steve Ashleys' Hot Pipes, a new show will broadcast every week at the following times - Tuesday 2pm, Wednesday 9pm, Thursday 4am - all times Eastern US. Click to listen to ATOS Radio.

Wednesday, August 21st 2013

Dr. William Coale Will Write Definitive Bio of Legendary Organist

Wednesday, July 10th 2013

NYTOS Awards Dan Minervini Scholarship, Concert Date

At the just-concluded ATOS Annual Convention, attendees were treated to one of the best Young Theatre Organist Competition performances ever, as all three candidates performed brilliantly.

Detroit native Justin LaVoie was named the winner, and in addition to his ATOS awards, was provided a $1,000 award by the Garden State chapter.

Moments after that was announced, the Central Florida chapter awarded Danny McCollum a $500 scholarship to help him continue his studies with Dwight Thomas.

Tuesday, July 9th 2013

GARDEN STATE CHAPTER STEPS UP WITH MAJOR DONATION

At the ATOS annual convention in Atlanta, attendees were treated to the return of the Young Theatre Organists’ Competition (YTOC). After a three-year hiatus, the competition returned with Danny McCollum, Dan Minervini, and Justin LaVoie as the three finalists performing at the convention.

Sunday, May 19th 2013

As an active member of the New York Theatre Organ Society, Dan helps regularly on the work crew to restore the 4/26 Wurlitzer at Long Island University. He is currently serving as an elected member of the NYTOS board of directors. We have much to look forward to with Dan's future theatre organ accomplishments and involvement with ATOS, especially once he begins his two-year term as the Youth Representative to the Board this summer.

Nathan Avakian
Youth Representative

Monday, April 15th 2013

The ATOS promotional posters features in Theatre Organ magazine are now available for free download to Chapters. You can download them here: http://www.atos.org/chapters/resources/promotional-print-materials