Beth Naegele
At the age of seven, I took my first keyboard lessons from my mother on a “pump organ” (i.e. harmonium) in the middle of nowhere in the middle of Africa – my parents were missionaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My mother was a good pianist, so she and my father had purchased a pump organ that could be folded up and carried like a suitcase. It was NOT one of those beautiful reed harmoniums that were part of so many Victorian homes. (However, my husband and I now own one of these Victorian harmoniums, and it sits in our living room looking beautiful, but sadly it’s rarely played – it takes too much energy to pump…).
By the time I was nine years old, our family returned to the United States long enough for me to take official piano lessons and fall in love with music making. When we returned to Africa, my parents purchased a piano specially treated for tropical weather (anti-insect, anti-mold, etc.) and that piano was an important part of my life until I graduated from high school. I had three different missionary piano teachers. One was an amazing improviser and taught me how to “add to” hymns beginning at the age of nine – I loved it! By the age of 13, another missionary pianist noticed I had some technical difficulties (too much tension in my hands) and, though he was not an experienced teacher, he helped me immensely. During my senior year of high school, one more missionary helped prepare me for college auditions, making sure I had learned some Bach and all the major and minor scales. I am eternally grateful to my parents and these teachers for the musical training they enabled and provided!
I have only one memory of hearing a pipe organ live before my college years, during a six-month “furlough” our family spent in the U.S. The churches that supported my parents were mostly rural and too poor to own pipe organs. In Africa, I only heard a couple of electronic organs (Hammonds, I’m sure!). When I chose to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, I planned to major in piano. However, my father noticed in Moody’s catalog that one could take organ lessons even without previous organ study. When I arrived at Moody, I couldn’t help but notice the spectacular 4-manual Moeller in the main auditorium, and I paid close attention when Lillian Robinson, head of the organ department, invited incoming piano majors to consider studying organ. My father had sown the seed that made me think of studying organ, and Mrs. Robinson made it sound truly possible, so I auditioned for organ, was accepted, and absolutely fell in love with the instrument. During my practice sessions as a child, my mother had scolded me for playing Hanon exercises on the piano AND reading a book at the same time – turns out that was excellent preparation for the multi-tasking needed to play organ!
Some of you may remember Lillian Robinson, who earned the FAGO certificate at a very young age and was always active in the American Guild of Organists. As soon as I began studying organ with her, I also joined Moody’s Student Guild, and I’ve been active in the AGO ever since. I love interacting with other organists at AGO events, ranging from local chapter activities to national conventions.
I’ve made good friends through the organization – I even borrowed maternity clothes years ago from a good friend in AGO – Andrea Handley. (Also played hooky with her in NYC years ago at the AGO national convention and spent an afternoon star-gazing at the stage door of the Letterman Show…) I’ve thoroughly enjoyed several leadership positions in the Chicago Chapter as well as service on the committee that planned the 2006 National Convention in Chicago. I wish I had time to attend every AGO event – I love not only hearing lectures, panel discussions, and performances, but also socializing with my colleagues. Our common love for making music, as well as our all-too-often common issues with the latest wrinkles in church music, make for great discussions and mutual encouragement. I’ve been an AGO member for over 40 years…and look forward to 40 more!
Beth Naegele, North Shore and Chicago member