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...

Many years ago I was asked to play a piano solo at the church my family attended, Rogers Park Presbyterian in Chicago.  This was during the summer when the choir was on hiatus, and I had taken several years of piano lessons by that time, so I gladly obliged.   A...

We all know that volunteerism has been on the rise for several decades in North America.  Collecting “community service” hours is now even common in secondary and higher education and in courts of justice.  I myself, however, like to believe that participation in...

As musicians--organists--church musicians--we are rather solitary creatures.  We have spent much of our lives practicing alone.  We are often the only musician on a church staff. The Guild offers the opportunity to find friends who share dreams, disappointments, and...

As a boy of seven, I began taking piano lessons.  (Mother made me.)  But so did most of the other kids at that time.  Nowadays, kids spend their extracurricular time playing soccer, football, rugby, ice skating, hockey, baton twirling, etc.  But piano? Not so much. ...

On a bone-chilling January 1, 1963 we arrived in Evanston to make our home, but that frigid reception was soon replaced by the warmth of friendships that quickly developed among the welcoming area organists, who for the most part were members of the recently formed...