Pipe Organ Workshop Opens July 7

The Baylor University School of Music and the Central Texas chapter of the American Guild of Organists will sponsor a Pipe Organ Encounter for adults July 7-11 on the Baylor campus in an effort to help solve the shortage of church organists. The annual event is attracting participants from as far away as New York, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, New Mexico and South America.
"Baylor University is an ideal location for something like this, because we have such a wide variety of organs within the School of Music," said Dr. Joyce Jones, professor of music and Organist-in-Residence. "The schedule is a busy one, with daily lectures, private lessons, practice time and concerts."
Jones, who recently was honored with the outstanding collegiate teacher award at the Texas Music Teachers Convention in San Antonio, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Jones Concert Hall. All concerts are free and open to the public.
On Tuesday, recent Baylor graduate Joanna Elliott will perform in the Markham Organ Studio. Elliott, who earned a master's degree in organ and harp from Baylor, is now pursuing her doctorate at the University of Houston. On Wednesday, another Baylor graduate, Joseph Daniel, will play in Roxy Grove Hall. Daniel, who was an organist at St. Alban's Episcopal Church while a student at Baylor, recently completed work on a master's degree in organ and carillon at the University of Michigan. He will begin doctoral studies there in the fall, while also teaching carillon.
On Thursday, John Blackburn, organist at Calvary Baptist Church, will present a hymn festival at 4 p.m. in the Markham Organ Studio. Workshop participants also will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday in Jones Concert Hall.
The faculty also will include Jason Farris, dean of the local AGO chapter, and Becky Ward, organist at First Presbyterian Church.