Susan Klotzbach
I joined the North Shore AGO chapter a year or so ago, when I began serving as organist at Kenilworth Union Church. Unfortunately, my work in Bloomington has prevented me from attending AGO events in Chicago. But, it is almost January, and that means it is time for new resolutions! So, I have put the AGO events on my calendar for spring and will hope that I can meet some of you at an upcoming event!
I have held organist or music director positions in churches ever since I was in high school, working in Clinton, Illinois at the United Methodist Church. Over the years, I have had the privilege to serve churches in most of the mainline Protestant denominations. Currently, I am the organist at Kenilworth Union Church, and I also am an adjunct organ instructor at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. My husband is employed at Illinois Wesleyan University, so we spend most of the week in Bloomington and the weekends in Chicago. For us it is absolutely perfect! I was inspired to begin organ lessons while in high school from Doris Hill, the organist at my church. She made worship interesting by the way she played the hymns and with her choice of music. From there I continued organ study at the University of Iowa with Del Disselhorst, then on to graduate school at the Eastman School of Music with Russell Saunders. I consider myself very fortunate to have had such good teachers!
Since leaving school, my full-time positions have primarily been teaching organ at the collegiate level: Houghton College in Houghton, NY; Carthage College in Kenosha WI; and Stetson University in Deland FL; all the while, continuing to hold part-time positions as a church musician. I enjoyed working with many excellent students!
I feel it is a privilege to be able to help lead worship at KUC, working with the other wonderful musicians and clergy. I also enjoy playing the Dobson two-manual pipe organ!
I look forward to meeting the members of this AGO chapter, and to sharing in the support and collegiality that belonging to an AGO chapter brings!
Susan Klotzbach