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antique Organ

Organists Available For Hire

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Suzanne Lowry

BM in education and performance

MAT

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Shayne Doty

SHAYNE DOTY began organ lessons at the age of four, continuing as a Kenan Organ Scholar in high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University as a Mary Duke BiddleScholar, studying with French specialist Fenner Douglass, followed by study with Xavier Darasse at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, receiving the
Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures.  He obtained a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, studying with Robert Anderson. He has performed throughout the US, including a concert at the national convention of the American Guild of Organists and others at St. Thomas Episcopal and St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic churches in New York, University of Buffalo, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Woodberry Forest School, Bethesda-by-the-Sea and Whitehall in Palm Beach, and in Canada at St.
Paul’s Anglican Church in Toronto, and McGill University.  In France he has given
concerts at Soissons Cathedral, the Basilique cathédrale de Saint-Denis, Notre Dame de Bordeaux, Saint-Severin in Paris, Saint-François-de-Sales in Lyon, the Musée des Augustins and Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, and other locations and performed on the Gstaad New Year Music Festival in Switzerland.  As an ensemble player he has performed with
Les Arts Florissants, Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices, the North Carolina Symphony, the Dallas Bach Society, the Washington Bach Consort, and The National Symphony.

Conductor's baton on sheet music

Ginger Wyrick

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Linda McKechnie

 lindamckechnie.com

Earned a Bachelor of Sacred Music in Organ performance from Nyack College, Nyack NY

Early in Linda’s career, she served Presbyterian churches in New York, Oklahoma, and Texas as organist/pianist and director of adult and children singing/ringing choirs

As a Steinway Artist, Linda has recorded 12 CDs with full orchestra (to include the London Festival orchestra) and published numerous piano and organ arrangements, handbell compositions and instructional books

As a keyboardist, Linda is comfortable with improvising and accompaniment in both Traditional and Contemporary worship settings

Linda plays concerts and leads music for conferences

Linda is available to play for weddings and Memorial Services.

In 2022-2023, Linda has been a regular substitute and short-term interim for several churches in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Linda lives in the SouthPark area of Charlotte with her husband, The Rev. Dr. David G. McKechnie.

Call for availability

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Catherine Hicks

Catherine has regularly performed in the capacity of substitute/interim organist and as an accompanist over the last two decades in the Charlotte region. D.M.A. in Organ, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, M.M. in Church Music, Westminster Choir College, B.A. in Music, Wake Forest University

Music Sheets

Matthew Manwarren

DMA

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Scott Foppiano

Artists Diploma, BMus, MMus
Organist and Director of Music: St. James Lutheran Church, Concord, NC
Professional Life Coordinator and Executive Board: AGO Charlotte, NC Chapter
Sub-Dean and Executive Board: AGO Spartanburg, SC Chapter
Organist of the Year (2007) - American Theatre Organ Society

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Angela Swicegood

Angela Swicegood has served as a regular organ substitute in the Charlotte area since 2000.  She is willing to play traditional or contemporary services for any denomination.

​Call for availability

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Kathy Alexander

Kathy Alexander graduated in 1972 with a BA in music from UNCC with a focus on piano and voice.  She enrolled at Winthrop University and received a Masters of Music in Organ Performance with Dr. David Lowry.  She began her early organ study with Richard Peek and Richard VanSCiver.  She has been organist or organist/choir director at several churches in Charlotte ,including Christ Lutheran, Hickory Grove Presbyterian,  Carmel Presbyterian, and Holy Trinity Lutheran, to name a few.  She is currently a member at St. Martin’s Episcopal in Charlotte.  She is willing to play non-liturgical churches and Episcopal within a 30 mile radius of Charlotte.  She lives in the Mint Hill area with her husband, a dog and cat, and is the owner of 2 Quarter Horses that she still rides.

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Nancy Watson

Nancy Hostetler Watson has a BS in elementary education and an MM in organ performance from Duquesne University, where she studied with Ann Labounsky, a former student of Jean Langlais. She held church music positions in several churches while living in Pittsburgh. Upon moving to Charlotte, she served as Music Director (handbell & children’s choirs & organist) at Clover Presbyterian Church, Organist and Handbell director at University City United Methodist, and
Music Director (handbells, children’s choir, adult choir, and organist) at Holy
Comforter Episcopal. She has also taught organ to graduate and undergraduate students, as well as non-degree students at 3 universities; Duquesne University, UNC Charlotte and Queens University.

CAGO, BS, MM, MSM

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Matthew Noonan

www.mwnoonan.com

Matthew Noonan studied organ at the Eastman School of Music, The Greatbach School of Music at Houghton University, and the Fredonia School of Music. Since his European debut in Paris at the age of 20, Mr. Noonan’s performances have delighted audiences and have been hailed as both imaginative and dynamic. Known for his interpretations of Baroque music, Matthew Noonan won several competitions and awards in organ performance. Besides American Guild of Organists competitions, Matthew won the Arthur Poister international award for his organ playing. Matthew Noonan is the organist for two churches, Messiah Lutheran church (LCMS) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Holy Trinity Lutheran church (NALC) of Gastonia, North Carolina. He is also the elementary school music teacher at The Math and Science Academy of Charlotte. Samples of Matthew's organ playing can be found on his website and can be contacted there.

Sheet Music

Mark Swicegood

A native of North Carolina, Mark Swicegood has spent 24 years in the greater New York City area pursuing careers in music and finance.  He began formal organ instruction at the age of fifteen with Michael Rowland of Winston-Salem and continued private lessons at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Allen Harris.  He holds a Master of Music degree from Yale University where he studied with Martin Jean, Thomas Murray, and Gerre Hancock.  Following a full-time career as a church organist and concert musician, he earned an MBA from the University of Connecticut and currently serves as the Controller for a private equity fund based in New York.

Music Notes

John Bailey

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Music Notes

Christopher Brayne

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Conductor's baton on sheet music

Jeremy Dixon

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Music Notes

Janice Barnett

BM Ed

Music Sheets

Renee Downey

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Music Notes

Valarie Alexandra Valois

Valarie is an organist and pianist, music director, artist collaborator and program director, teacher and mentor.

Musical Notes

David Hutchings

BM, MM

Music Notes

Bob Ivey

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Conductor's baton on sheet music

Nancy Lucas

BM, MM

Sheet Music

Marcia Newlin

SPC

© American Guild of Organists - Charlotte Chapter.

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