Ministers' Association Offers Free Organ Lessons

June 1, 2009

Some church people bemoan the lack of trained organists in their community, but an enterprising ministerial association in Maine is doing something about it.

Facing a shortage of musicians able to provide organ music in the churches of Searsport, Maine, the Greater Bay Area Ministerium put together a new program that allows students to qualify for three hour-long lessons given by Dr. Carlton Russell, retired professor of music and college organist at Wheaton College. The lessons take place at the 1906 Lane pipe organ at the 1st Congregational Church in Searsport and on a new Insignia 548 organ loaned by Rodgers Instruments.

"As you know, there is a dearth of young organists in America, with obvious implications for the future of the organ as, among other things, an instruments of worship," explained Dr. Russell in a letter introducing the program. The first two students, Grant Richards and Zora MacClintock, began their lessons on Memorial Day after an introductory session with Dr. Russell and the Rev. Dr. Arlin T. Larson, pastor of First Congregational Church. Funds for the program have been provided by the churches of the Greater Bay Area Ministerium and by donations.

The organ education idea was the brainchild of the late Cj Sambach. At the invitation of the Ministerium, Mr. Sambach presented his organ "Informances" to area students and played a public recital at the Searsport church in the fall of 2007. A second recital in the fall of 2008, by Dr. Russell and flutist Diana Brookes Brown, raised additional funds. The program also builds on the work of the late Dr. Ralph Stephenson of Belfast who likewise sought to increase organ awareness among local students through his summer Organ Academy.

Duane Kuhn, executive vice president of Rodgers, noted that ministerial associations throughout the United States would benefit by considering the same approach. "Churches have much to gain by coming together in this way to provide training for their own future organists," he said. "Working cooperatively, the members of the Greater Bay Area Ministerium are ensuring that their congregations will not have to see the organ sit unused in a corner. Instead, they'll have the support of magnificent music to help them raise their songs of praise."

Rodgers is the world's largest builder of stereo imaged church organs and pipe/digital organs. Rodgers is a member of the Roland Group, headed by Roland Corporation, a world leader in electronic musical instrument technologies and electronic musical instrument sales and manufacturing.