Margaret Martin
I cannot remember a time in my life without music. According to my mother, I would stand in front of the piano in my diaper, unable to see the keys, and would just listen to the different notes I could play with my fingers. My grandfather noticed my fascination with the piano and insisted that my parents begin my piano lessons at the age of 5. I was one of the “weird” kids that loved to practice. As soon as I came home from school each day, I would immediately go the piano, not because my parents asked me to, but because that was the first thing I wanted to do when I got home!
While piano was my first love, I quickly developed a second, equal love: baseball. I was your typical tomboy—-I spent every minute I could playing outside (with the exception of my piano practice), I spent hours throwing a ball up in the air and hitting it with my bat, nagged my father to play catch with me, had St. Louis Cardinals posters all in my room, never wanted to play dolls or barbies, and refused to wear dresses
In high school I decided that I was tired of piano and did not want to play anymore. I was still playing softball at the time and my father had taken me to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games each year since I was 6 years old. My parents would not allow me to quit music because they thought I would regret it later in life (they were right!). My Mom came up with the idea of organ lessons. I associated the organ with 90 year old, blue-haired ladies like you see in the movies. I told her no way. However, one day at Busch stadium when the organist began “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” my Mom leaned over and said, “you know, if you learn how to play organ, you can go to every baseball game for free.” I was intrigued.
I went back and forth for quite a while on what I wanted to do with my life. But I eventually decided on organ and am grateful I did. I currently serve at The Village Presbyterian Church in Northbrook. Since being there I have also served a two year term as Dean of the North Shore Chapter. It was through becoming more involved in our chapter that I became very good friends with many wonderful organists in the area. Whether it is exchanging music ideas, borrowing music from each other, or grabbing a quick drink after choir rehearsals, I always love spending time with the members of our chapter. I encourage everyone to be as involved as possible in the AGO!
Margaret Martin