UNL School of Music offers church organist training program

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music will again offer its church organist training program in 2007-08.

The program is designed for church organists, potential church organists, and those who simply want to learn to play the organ. This is a noncredit program of private organ lessons, which can lead to a certificate of achievement. The fee for each semester (15 private, half-hour lessons) is $310. Summer session (eight private, one-half hour lessons) is $168. Lessons are usually scheduled weekly, but other arrangements may be negotiated with the instructor.

Instructors for the program are John Friesen of Lincoln, Diana Johnson of Stromsburg and Marilynn Theis of Elkhorn.

Friesen, who holds a doctor of musical arts degree in organ performance from UNL, is the organist at St. Paul United Methodist Church and director of the Deo Gratias Home School Choir. He will teach at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M St.

Johnson is organist at Calvary Lutheran Church in Stromsburg. She has a master of music degree in organ performance from UNL and will teach at Calvary Lutheran Church in Stromsburg.

Theis is organist at Mount Michael Abbey in Elkhorn. She has a master of music degree in organ performance from UNL and will teach at the abbey.

For enrollment information, contact the instructor in your area to schedule an audition and interview: Friesen at (402) 467-4316, Johnson at (402) 747-7441, Theis at (402) 933-9370. Prospective students should select a piece or hymn they feel comfortable playing on either the organ or piano. Returning students should call the instructor to schedule a lesson time. For more information, contact either Friesen or Michele Deaton in the UNL School of Music at (402) 472-6861.

CONTACTS: Michele Deaton, UNL School of Music, (402) 472-6861;

John Friesen, St. Paul United Methodist Church, (402) 467-4316