Brett Valiant

Born in 1981 in Wichita, Brett indicated interest in the organ by age 3. While playing by ear and taking piano lessons, he persuaded his parents to allow organ lessons. By 11, he was playing for a church and continuing classical organ study. At 15, he had played classical concerts and continued to play for church. A friend convinced him, somewhat against his will, to attend a Wichita Wurlitzer concert, and he loved it. He played the Miller Wurlitzer at the artist's reception that night, and the rest is history.

Brett has developed his own style at the theatre organ. He has turned down prestigious classical organ positions in order to stay in Wichita and pursue his theatre organ interest. Recently elected president of the Wichita area chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society.

Chris Gorsuch

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 including digital ly sampled sounds and computer software. 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.

Dave Wickerham

Dave Wickerham was born in Encino, California in 1962. He began playing the electronic organ at the age of four and had his first pipe organ experience at age10. His musical education started at age 7.

When he moved to Arizona in 1976, he became Associate Organist at the famous Organ Stop Pizza Restaurants in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson. While in Arizona, he continued his musical studies with Roseamond Crowley, one of the few remaining descendants of the Louis Vierne line of organists. He attended the University of Arizona in Tucson on a full scholarship, pursuing classical organ studies for six years with Dr. Roy Johnson.

In 1984 Dave moved to the Chicago area to become Staff Organist at Pipes and Pizza in Lansing, Illinois. In addition to his performance there, he concertized frequently, as well as ministering musically and serving at various churches.

August of 1990 found the Wickerham family - Dave his wife and two young children - moving to Wisconsin, where he was one of the featured Staff Organists at the Piper Music Palace in Greenfield, a position he held for 10 years. In the spring of 2000, Dave ushered in the new millennium with a limited special engagement, as a featured organist at "Roxy's Pipe Organ Pizzeria", part of a $26,000,000 expansion phase at the FIESTA Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ken Double

When a senior at Butler University, he became the first house organist for Market Square Arena, where he entertained both basketball and hockey fans. This experience helped him become not only an exciting theater organist, but also a well sought-after sportscaster.

His relaxed manner, easy to listen to style and sence of humor all contribute to making him one of our very popular organists..

He has toured across the country and around the world since 1982 with one signature theme to his performances: entertainment.

Whether sharing the stage with singers, pianists, big bands or unveiling a new joke to his audience, Ken Double always presents his talents and love for the organ to his audiences in a singularly entertaining style!.

Listen to Ken play the Dickinson High School 3/66 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ. A sample from a Frank Sinatra Medley - My Way

Jonas Nordwall

JONAS NORDWALL, a native of Portland, possesses unique talents as a concert organist. Equally adept at both classical and popular music, he rarely needs printed scores, improvises freely without losing the identity of the music, is truly a master organist.

He is organist for Portland First United Methodist Church, and the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded over 15 theatre organ albums. For 10 years he was senior staff organist for Portland's Organ Grinder Restaurant. He has performed for numerous national ATOS conventions and in 1987 was chosen ATOS Organist Of The Year. Regarded as one of the nation's top theatre organists, Jonas' creative arrangements and clever stylings always entertain and impress.

Lyn Larsen

Lyn Larsen 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 my concert debut, in 1964 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.

Since then, he has had the opportunity to perform on virtually every important instrument in the United States, Australia, and England.

Lyn has made more than 50 recordings, and 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.

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