Hello, this is Hailey Jiyoun Jun. I was always interested in organ because I learned and played organ in Korea. However, as I come to the United States, the bond between me and organ seemed to end. Thankfully, though, I was able to continue learning the organ through my church pastor’s wife (Hyeyoun Jung: organist at Village Presbyterian Church) as she invited me to the 60th Anniversary Banquet and the Recital and the Dinner events that were hosted by North Shore Chapter of American Guild of Organists. At there, I first met Sharon Peterson. As she listened to my organ related background, she introduced me a program that offers three free organ lessons which will be happen in year of 2019.
As she mentioned before, she reached out to me for the program. I did not expect but she also notified me that my membership in the North Shore Chapter of American Guild of Organists will begin from Summer 2019. I was really happy with the fact that I can restart playing organ. I have been matched with Rich Spantikow who is an Organist at St. David’s Episcopal Church. Though out the summer, I had four lesson with him. In the first lesson, he spent time to study my skills and level, and explain about organ instrument (components and how it works) and its genre. It was really interesting to observe the inside of the organ. He led the organ lesson with the book ‘The Organists’ Manual: Technical Studies & Selected Compositions for the Organ.’ He was very patient. He injured his fingers in the middle of the lesson period and was unable to use two thumbs for a while. Nevertheless, he showed organ demonstrations rather than skipping organ lessons. I was really thankful for his dedication.
Now I’m a junior college student and I’m really busy studying so it is hard to keep practice and learn organ. However, I want to come back and continue playing organ during school break. I am grateful that North Shore Chapter of American Guild of Organists, offers many people the opportunity to encounter the organ in many forms. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to those who helped me continue to play the organ.