Canon Alan K. DePuy, Organist/Choirmaster, is a native of California who began his professional career as an organist at the age of eight. He is a graduate of Chapman University in Orange, California, where he studied piano, accompanying and organ performance. Currently, Alan is a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University.

Prior to coming to Phoenix, Alan served as organist at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, California; Holy Family Cathedral, Orange, California; and at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. He has performed in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Alan is also the artistic director of the Cathedral Center for the Arts, an independent nonprofit organization that sponsors concerts and art openings at Trinity Cathedral.

Organist/broadcaster/entertainer Ken Double likes to tell people, “I’ve worked very hard for over 30 years trying NOT to work for a living, having been paid to watch sporting events and play theatre organs. Like the song says, ‘Nice work if you can get it.’”

For 32 years, he had been heard on radio and seen on television as a sportscaster, and since 1978, has been at the console of the great theatre pipe organs, indeed working hard to entertain his audiences.

Today, having said good-bye to the broadcast booth, Ken is now the President and CEO of the American Theatre Organ Society, charged with using his skills and background in marketing, promotion and fund-raising to shine a new light on the presentation of the grand, uniquely American musical invention – the theatre pipe organ.

Retired from broadcasting, he is pursuing his love for the music and history of the theatre pipe organ, acting as President/CEO of the American Theatre Organ Society, and performing concerts all over the world. He began organ lessons at age 8. A school field trip during his sophomore year in high school took him to the Pickwick Theatre in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, IL and Ken was instantly hooked on the wonderful sounds of the mighty theatre organ.

Ten years of lessons, three summers playing the organ for the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in Wisconsin Dells, and a stint as the first organist at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis helped Ken pay for college, and it was off to the broadcast world as a sportscaster. However, he would never stray too far from his love of the theatre organ, and in December of 1978, he was on the bill for his first public concert. He performed a holiday show on the Page organ at the Embassy Theatre in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. But, it would be over three years before Ken would perform in concert again.

However, that three-year hiatus proved fruitful. Double began subbing on the staff of the pipe-organ-equipped Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis, all the while appearing nightly on the news to deliver the sports headlines of the day. In February of 1982, Double performed the first concert on the new installation at the Long Center in Lafayette, IN. This marked two firsts in his career. It was the first of now 27 annual concerts at Long Center. And, it was the first of four "premier" concerts he would play on new installations in Indiana. (The others being the Warren Center Barton organ, the Paramount Theatre Page organ in Anderson, IN and the Wurlitzer at Manual High School in Indianapolis.)

During his concert career, Double has performed all over the world, including stops in Seattle, WA; Wilmington, DE; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; the famous Casa Loma in Toronto, and four six-week tours throughout Australia and New Zealand. In addition to his hundreds of concerts, he has a dozen recordings to his credit, including three recent “firsts.” His CD titled The Music of Casa Loma is the first recording ever released on the famous Wurlitzer in the even more-famous Toronto landmark castle.

He has also released the first CD on the Denver Paramount Wurlitzer, and is completing a brand new DVD video recording of a live concert performance at the Barton organ at the Warren Performing Arts Center in Indianapolis.

At last summer’s ATOS convention in Indianapolis, Ken completed the “trifecta” of sorts, acting as ATOS President, convention Master of Ceremonies, and artist. His work in conjunction with the ATOS Board of Directors is aimed at bringing a new, more professional approach to the marketing and presentation of the theatre organ, and expanding the audience for this uniquely American art form.

During the years that Jelani Eddington has given concerts, he has easily established himself as one of the most prominent and sought-after artists on the concert circuit. Jelani has performed in most of the major concert venues throughout the United States, has toured extensively abroad, and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including his selection as the 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year.

Jelani Eddington was born in 1974 in Muncie, Indiana to Louise Eddington and the late Robert Eddington and grew up in a very musical family. Between the interests of his mother, a professional music teacher of many years, and those of his grandmother, Florence Arnold, a well-respected piano instructor, it was no surprise when Jelani demonstrated an inclination toward music at a very early age.

Shortly after beginning piano instruction at the age of four, Jelani began studying classical piano under the direction of his grandmother. At the age of eight, a trip to hear the 4-manual 42-rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ installed in the Indianapolis, Indiana restaurant, the Paramount Music Palace, introduced Jelani to the sounds of the theatre pipe organ. Soon thereafter, he began to pursue classical organ lessons and ultimately began studying theatre organ under the direction of John Ferguson, whose skills as a theatre organ instructor have been highly acclaimed internationally. In the spring of 1988 at the age of 13, Jelani won the American Theatre Organ Society’s Young Theatre Organist Competition, prevailing over competitors ages 13-21 from the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand. Jelani remains the youngest competitor ever to win this title. Jelani went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University in 1996, and later received a Juris Doctor degree from the Yale Law School in 1999, after which time he was admitted to practice law in New York State.

During the course of his concert career, Jelani has been featured at numerous national and regional conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society, and has toured extensively throughout the world, including numerous concert appearances in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Wales, Holland, France, and Germany. Jelani has also distinguished himself as a recording artist and has produced numerous theatre organ albums on some of the best-known and most dynamic instruments in the country. In August 2001, the American Theatre Organ Society honored Jelani’s extensive career as a concert and recording organist by naming him the 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year. Having received the award at the age of 27, Jelani retains the distinction of being the youngest-ever recipient of this prestigious honor.

Christian Elliott is one of today’s prominent concert organists. Equally at home performing literature of the church or theatre, he is also sought after as a scorer of silent films.

A native of Santa Ana, Christian graduated with honors from Vanguard University of Southern California (formerly Southern California College), Costa Mesa. While still a student, he held church organ positions in several prominent southern California churches. For nine years he was a guest artist for the summer noon organ recitals at the Crystal Cathedral where he also played weddings and coached with Frederick Swann. Other organ instructors included Charles Shaffer and, after moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988, celebrated organist and composer Richard Purvis.

In addition to his classical and church organ training, he was privileged to be mentored by several world-renowned theatre organists, being particularly identified for his association with legendary organist Gaylord Carter, the dean of silent film accompaniment. Christian worked extensively with Mr. Carter, who proudly claimed Christian as his protégé’. In 1995 at Carter’s gala 90th birthday celebration and farewell performance at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre, Christian and Gaylord shared the stage in a moving performance that garnered several standing ovations. Excerpts from this event were featured in the documentary Pulling Out All the Stops: The Pipe Organ in America seen on PBS television stations.

Christian tours frequently, and his performance credits are far-ranging from mighty Wurlitzers in the grandest movie palaces, to stunning silent film accompaniments, appearances at the American Theatre Organ Society and the American Institute of Organ Builders conventions, and programs on BBC Radio, at the famed Hollywood Bowl and before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Christian has six solo recordings to his credit. Theatre Organ Journals Bob Shafter said in reviewing Shuffle Off to Buffalo: “.the best of the best...this recording (will be) one of the few classics in the theatre organ world. It gets the highest possible recommendation.”

After a distinguished tenure of eleven years as Senior Organist and Associate Minister of Worship at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Christian transitioned to a corporate career in 1999. He continues as the Principal Guest Organist at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, where he performs monthly, and continues to perform solo organ engagements and silent film presentations all across the United States.

Chris Gorsuch began formal studies on the organ at age fourteen. He was soon playing for several different churches in his home town of Springfield, Ohio. At the age of twenty, Chris moved to San Diego, California to take a staff position with Organ Power Pizza restaurants equipped with theatre pipe organs. One of the instruments that Chris played was the famed five manual Reginald Foort Travelling Moller Theatre Pipe Organ, now installed at the Pasadena Civic Center.

While playing for the restaurant, Chris became a student of Lyn Larsen. Chris gained invaluable knowledge from Lyn in the areas of registration and phrasing. Many musicians have contributed their influence to Chris's musical style. Music of the Big Band era is a particular favorite, as well as classical, jazz and the music of the 20's and 30's.

Chris also has a fascination with electronics. In 1979, he formed his own company with the purpose of designing and manufacturing electronic systems for pipe and electronic organs. The company has created many new and innovative products. Chris is also working closely with Dick Wilcox, creator of the Uniflex 2000 Organ Control System, writing software that provides editing features for song files.

Chris is also a competent pipe voicer and tonal finisher. He feels as much at home in a pipe organ chamber as he does on the bench playing the finished product. He is the tonal finisher of several major instruments in the United States.

Developing new arrangements, concertizing, recording, improving the sound of both electronic and pipe organs, and running a business make for a very interesting life. In all of this, Chris has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to strive for excellence in a demanding profession.

Lyn began classical piano lessons at age 3 and began playing the organ when he was 7. After hearing George Wright play at the Rialto Theater in South Pasadena, California, his interest turned to the theatre pipe organ. Two years later, he made his concert debut, in  1964 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. Since then, he's had the opportunity to perform on virtually every important instrument in the United States, Australia, and England. 

 Among the highlights of his career are his appearances at the Hollywood Bowl, and an Organ Gala concert in London’s Royal Albert Hall with Carlo Curley and the late Pierre Cochereau of Notre Dame Catherdral in Paris. He's also performed one of only two solo organ concerts ever given at Radio City Music Hall, in New York. Also, he's had the good fortune to be chosen to perform the re-dedication concerts on many restored theatre organs, including the organs in the Chicago Theatre and Shea's Buffalo Theatre. In 1994, the American Theatre Organ Society named him Organist of the Year and inducted him into their Hall of Fame – the youngest person ever inducted. 

 As well as performing, he is a consultant in the tonal design and layout of both new pipe organ  installations and in the restoration of historic instruments all over the United States. He oversaw the installation and finishing of the 5-manual, 80-rank theatre organ (the largest theatre organ in the world) in the Sanfilippo Music Salon near Chicago, and was in charge of the restoration and expansion of the 4-manual, 73-rank Wurlitzer in the San Sylmar museum in Sylmar, California. 

 He has made more than 40 record albums. He was the first theatre organist to have a compact disc released by a national recording company. One of those has the distinction of being the only theatre organ recording ever to make Billboard Magazine's Top Ten CD List.

Jerry Nagano (na-GA-no, not NA-ga-no) was born and raised in the Los Angeles area where he began his musical training at age ten. From the very beginning the movies played a major role in his musical life. It was because of attending a silent movie show accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer that Jerry took an interest in the organ. After instruction on electronic organ for a period, he had a chance to study with organist Gaylord Carter, the very person who played for that silent film years before.

During his college years, Jerry was also the organist at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium playing their fabulous Moller Pipe organ.

Upon moving to Northern California, Jerry became a member of the staff of the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto where classic Hollywood is screened nightly with intermissions performed on the Mighty Wurlitzer. For ten years he was the featured artist at the famed Ye Olde Pizza Joynt in the Bay Area, home of the “Wurlitzer in the Pizza Parlor” concept.

Aside from a very busy musical life, during the day Jerry is a Computer Systems Engineer for Stanford University.

Donna Parker, a native of Los Angeles, California, began her organ studies at the age of 7. Four years later she was introduced to the theatre organ and, at thirteen, began her classical organ instruction with Richard Purvis, Organist and Master of Choristers Emeritus and Honorary Canon of San Francisco’s famed Grace Cathedral.

Donna quickly established a name for herself on the concert circuit as a very capable performer for one so young. She made her first recording at 15, was appointed the first Official Organist for the Los Angels Dodgers baseball team, and toured Southern California in concert as a product specialist for Conn Organ Company. Through arrangements made by George Wright, Donna began studying harmony and arranging with Gordon Kibbee while also studying theatre organ stylings with Lyn Larsen. While in high school, she appeared at Universal Studios in Southern California, providing holiday season entertainment, and combined her love of sports and music by serving as Organist for the Los Angels Sports Arena, playing for professional ice hockey and tennis teams.

Donna attended California Polytechnic State University at Pomona, California, majoring in organ.

Subsequently, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she performed at Organ Stop Pizza. This began an association that would last for many years with restaurants centered around entertainment on large theatre pipe organs, including The Roaring 20s in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis, Indiana, The Organ Grinder in Portland, Oregon, Uncle Milt’s in Vancouver, Washington, and Organ Stop Pizza in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona.

Donna has actively promoted the theatre pipe organ art form over the years including television appearances on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, PM Magazine, and numerous entertainment news spots. She has conducted master classes nationally and abroad, and has worked with public school districts to incorporate this all-American art form into their music history curriculum. Donna was elected to serve on the national board of directors of the American Theatre Organ Society for six years, where she headed the scholarship committee that assisted students studying theatre organ. After a hiatus, she is once again serving on the board as Public Relations chair, Mentor Program chair, and member/instructor of the committee which produced the first Summer Youth Camp. In 1996 she was honored by being named Organist of the Year by the ATOS.

Besides an active solo concert schedule, Donna is a member of Trio con Brio with colleagues Jonas Nordwall and Martin Ellis--the very first organ trio, performing in special venues across the U.S. that can accommodate three instruments for each performance. Their new CD recording, In the Key of Three is receiving international acclaim. Donna currently serves as the Associate Organist at First United Methodist Church in Portland and also manages a limited teaching and coaching schedule as well.

Donna has numerous highly acclaimed recordings to her credit. Her concert performances take her to well-known venues across the United States and abroad. International appearances include performing in Vienna, Austria for a national broadcast on the ORF, the national convention of the Theatre Organ Society, South Australia Division, in Adelaide, and touring Japan in concert where she had the distinction of performing the first organ concert at Tokyo’s famed Casals Concert Hall. Taking theatre organ music to a whole new audience for the past two years, Donna performed at the Tropicana Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where she provided daily holiday concerts in The Quarter. Donna returned to Australia and New Zealand in the fall of 2007 for a month-long concert tour.

As of 2008, Ron Rhode is beginning his 34th year as one of the most popular theatre organists. He has received "Top Rating 10/10"from CD Review Magazine on two of his recordings and was awarded Theatre Organist of The Year 1989 by the American Theatre Organ Society. He has played virtually every major theatre organ installation in the world, and remains one of the leading concert artists.

Ron is native of Illinois, where he began his musical career on the piano. He quickly advanced to classical pipe organ, and in 1968 held his first job on theatre pipe organ playing for roller skating. In 1973, Ron moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to start a long association with the Organ Stop Pizza restaurants. In 1975 Ron moved to the Mesa location where he held the Featured Organist post and played for pizza patrons until November, 1986. In July, 1988, Ron again joined the staff as Associate Organist until his retirement in 2000. He has been the featured organist for the Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix,AZ), Silent Sundays series, a silent movie series, since its inception in May, 1999.

Ron holds a Masters of Elementary Education and is Media Specialist at Roosevelt Elementary in Mesa, Arizona. In addition to teaching, Ron is organist and rehearsal accompanist at The Church of the Beatitudes in Phoenix, AZ.

Although Ron is held to the classroom through the week, he still finds time to maintain an active concert and recording career. He continues to perform professionally across the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. He is a favorite of the American Theatre Organ Society Conventions and Regionals. He has more than twenty recordings to his credit.

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Lew began playing the organ at age ten and started formal piano studies five years later. At Texas Christian University, he won several competitions in organ playing, gave numerous recitals, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and Performers Certificate, studying with Emmit G. Smith. At Southern Methodist University, Lew earned a Master of Music degree as an organ pupil of Dr. Robert T. Anderson. He also won the regional competition of the American Guild of Organists.

He is currently organist at Organ Stop Pizza restaurant in Mesa. Concert work has taken him around the USA several times. He has played five concert tours in England, where he was engaged twice as a clinician at the annual Cinema Organ Society Workshop in London. A frequent recitalist at conventions of both the American Guild of Organists and the American Theatre Organ Society, he was named "Organist of the Year" by the ATOS in 1988.