Scheduling a Concert for 2020

Hello Friends:

It’s the time of year to schedule concerts for the 2020 Season.  I want to review some of the types of programs I’ve played in recent years. 

1.ORGAN COLORS  (First Christian Church, Salisbury NC and St. John the Baptist, Edina, MN)

I love to blend the sound colors from real wind-blown pipes, digital pipe voices and orchestral colors from MIDI as well as mix contemporary and traditional styles.  I enjoy speaking to help the listener become an active participant during the performance.  There’s always something exciting to listen to during the concert. 

2.WORKSHOP LEADER (Rodgers Organ Studios, St. Paul, MN)

When I lead a workshop I speak to multi-levels of attendees using the music they play.  My background in music education, and experience leading both individual and national level sessions help me to engage with both amateur and professional in a relaxed and cordial setting.  Musicians receive information they immediately can use on the organs they currently have, yet they go home seeing the possibilities of upgrading to a new instrument.

3.SEASONAL CONCERTS (Forrest Burdette UMC, Hurricane, WV and Mt Pleasant Community, Monroe, Oh)

In addition to eclectic dedication concerts, in the past year I’ve played both seasonal and themed concerts including: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Patriotic, Octoberfest, Baseball, Valentine’s Day, and Summer Ice Cream Concerts.

4. ACCOMPANIST (with Father Angelo Dellapicca, conducting-The College of Mt. Saint Joseph Chorale)

I have been featured with the Cincinnati Choral Society as both accompanist and soloist.  One of my passions is transcribing and accompanying oratorios, sacred choral works and both traditional/contemporary choral anthems.  Recent appearances have been with College of Mt. Saint Joseph Chorale, Cincinnati.  Bruce Nehring Consort, University of Texas at El Paso, Ridgecrest and Glorietta for the Southern Baptist Church, and the recent General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA in San Jose.

5.REPEAT APPEARANCES (Forrest Burdette UMC, Hurricane WV and Market Street Presbyterian, Lima, Ohio)

I’m honored when churches invite me back for return programs.  Some of repeat performances include: Abiding Savior Lutheran, Alliance, Ohio (5x), Elizabethtown (PA) Church of the Brethren (3x), Forrest Burdette UMC, Hurricane, WV (13x), Mt. Pleasant Community, Monroe, Ohio (5x), Trinity UMC, Chillicothe, Oh (3x), First Presbyterian, Parkersburg, WV (3x), Market Street Presbyterian-Lima (2x) and many others.

6. HOME CONCERTS (Thomas Ranch, Richards, Texas, Blackstone Organ, Bratenahl, Ohio)

Recent Home Concerts include the 5 Manual Rodgers Pipe Organ at the Thomas Ranch, Richards, TX and the 4 Manual Blackstone Aeolian-Skinner Pipe Organ at the Blackstone Residence, Bratenahl, Ohio. 

7. ENTERTAINMENT (Kathy’s Happy Organs, Cincinnati, Springdale Music Palace, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Reds Baseball)

I have appeared at Crestview Presbyterian Church as the “Phant-ham of the Slop-era” as well as appearing for social groups at College Hill Presbyterian Church, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Springdale Church of the Nazarene and Kathy’s Happy Organs (all in Cincinnati).    My years as Cincinnati Reds Organist, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Organist, and one of Springdale Music Mighty Wurlitzer Organists give me experience and repertoire to lead the audience into an evening of fun and laughter. 

8. CONSULTATION CONCERT (St. John’s)

When St. John’s UUC needed someone to demonstrate and explain the issues with their current tracker organ and the possibilities for the future to their congregation, they invited me to play a consultation concert showing what the organ could and couldn’t do.  The program showed historical styles of organ literature and building, specific stops and sounds from this organ, while answering questions, articulating possibilities and entertaining the audience of over 100 persons.

9.  DEDICATION CONCERT (North Olmstead Rodgers, Galanti in Springfield, Rodgers St. Paul, MN)

I strive to be a leader among my peers in demonstrating MCH (maximum colors per hour)!  The program “transports” the audience to most major schools of organ building and literature.  I create what I call “soundscapes” to help the listener in identifying and understanding the pipe and orchestral sounds they are hearing and enjoying.

10.  SACRED CONCERT (Covenant Theological Seminary)

I have played programs of sacred organ literature for faculty and students in worship and music tracks.  I want to be sure the listeners understand the continued role of the organ as THE instrument to accompany the full library of music for Christian worship no matter WHAT the current or “preferred” worship styles are. 

11.  CLASSIC CONCERT (Campbellsville University, Noack)

It was a treat to present a program on Campbellsville University’s Community Concert Series on the Ferrund-Votey Pipe Organ-no digital voices, no Midi.  I enjoyed playing for faculty, students and community.  The Noack Organ at First Presbyterian, Beckley was a first for me playing a mechanical action organ of this magnitude!

12. DENOMINATIONAL CONCERT (Canfield UMC)

I play programs with music appropriate to specific denominations.  In recent years, I’ve played programs in Presbyterian, Methodist, Southern Baptist, American Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Church of the Brethren, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ churches. 

13. SPECIFIC ORGAN DEMO CONCERT (Faith Lutheran, Fairlawn OH, Eminent Organ, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Loveland, Ohio, Content Organ at the Verdin Bell Factory)

Pictured at left, I am playing a concert demonstrating features of a Rodgers Infinity 484 Organ.  I present the layers of this complex instrument progressively showing the Visible Stops, the Voice Palette Stops, the Pipe Stops and the Orchestral Stops available through MIDI.  It’s easy for me to translate the hidden menues into traditional pipe organ language which helps the newcomer feel at home with technology.  As an independent concert artist, I have a knowledge of and am comfortable playing both digital and pipe organs from various manufacturers including Rodgers, Allen, Walker, Galanti, Viscount, Eminent, Content and most pipe instruments.  Recent bookings on noted instruments include the 6m Harrah Symphonic Organ at Forrest Burdette UMC in Hurricane, WV, the 4m Blackstone Residence Organ at Bratenahl, Ohio, the Noack Mechanical Tracker Organ at Beckley Presbyterian Church and upcoming–the 125 Rank Casavant at Lake Avenue Congregational in Pasadena, CA. 

The folks at Rocky River Presbyterian described me as entertaining, amusing and thrilling.  Others have described my presentations as inspirational, educational and spiritual. 

Contact me now for ideas in planning a program specific to your instrument, location and timeframe.  Special pricing may be offered for programs scheduled on Monday-Friday evenings.