Stephen Price Masterclass on Creative Hymn Playing

Dr Stephen Price, Artist in Residence, Organ Studies; Paul B. Fritts Faculty Fellow at the School of Music at Washington State University, gave an inspiring masterclass to a joint meeting of the Peninsular and San Jose Chapters. About 30 people attended from the two chapters and from local church choirs, including 6 “students”: Elizabeth Kamas, Ann Thiermann, Wolfgang Roethig, Colin Chan, Clara Chan and Lauren Wittine.

Stephen took us through five hymns of varied style, giving suggestions for an introduction and how to play each verse for each hymn. We then all sang the hymn with Stephen playing his suggestions, before he moved onto the next hymn. The second half of the masterclass took the form of each student in turn playing a hymn of their choice, with Stephen giving thoughtful and helpful advice in an interactive session. We appreciated not only the advice he gave but the way that he graciously adapted his comments to the abilities and experience of each student, finding positive encouragement in all cases.

The event concluded with a delicious pot-luck lunch and informal chat with Stephen and our colleagues.