While I was pondering why anyone in their right mind would want to read a blog about a church organist/music teacher, something extraordinary happened. I was asked by the Tivoli staff to join the rotation of organists to play the “Mighty Wurlitzer” theater organ and I accepted! My colleagues have been asking me for years to consider it, but for some reason I felt compelled to give in to my curiosity on this particular occasion. Actually, I found out shortly after I accepted the job that another organist had just resigned. I guess it was just the right time.
To be honest, I was absolutely terrified about it! There’s nothing further from playing the organ on a Sunday morning than playing the organ on a Saturday night. ;) It was 110% outside of my comfort zone. I’m not used to being the center of attention - for that matter, I’m not used to being seen at all. I don’t like drawing attention to myself when I am playing the organ, primarily because I’ve been trained not to. Worship isn’t about me. Teaching isn’t about me. To an extent, performing for a degree isn’t about me either. But, this experience was totally about me, and I felt incredibly anxious about that. What if I wasn’t “cool” enough to pull this off?
As I played the Mighty Wurlitzer on the Tivoli stage for the first time, I could literally feel people looking at me. It was simultaneously uncomfortable and invigorating! Despite my having played several recitals during my career as organist, it was a distinct feeling I had never experienced before. It didn’t feel like typical performance anxiety. Rather, it was a total rush of terror and enthusiasm, resulting in my not having breathed once during the 35 minutes I was on the organ bench. ;)
James (my husband) recorded this video during my last selection, “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” which every organist is required to play at the end of their set while they are being lowered into the orchestra pit. What a ride it was! As an added bonus, since the movie playing that night was “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” I mixed a little bit of the movie theme into my Choo Choo rendition, and everyone went crazy! It was SO fun!
The best part of the video - Oliver is in the background saying things like, “Where is she going?” and “Why is she going down?” He was more concerned that I was disappearing than he was focused on what I was doing, which I think is adorable. Seeing my family, friends, students, fellow church members, and organist colleagues in the audience meant so, so much to me. I can’t wait to be on that bench again - I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m back on the schedule. Soon, hopefully!
Thanks for the opportunity to geek out! There will be more to come, for sure!
Sarah
