Pedals, Pipes and Pizza

The Chapter had a highly enjoyable and successful Pedals, Pipes and Pizza event this year, held in the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. We introduced the pipe organ to eighteen local music students, all of whom played the lovely chancel organ and the “Orgelkids” organ kit, and who were shown behind the scenes in the organ pipe chambers to see just how the organ works. The students were accompanied by parents and teachers, and, taken together with the Chapter volunteers, we had about 60 people attending the event!

The event was organized by Valerie Sterk and Margaret Kvamme, assisted by Melanie Cervi, Rani Fischer, Catha Hall, Evelyn Hong, Becca Kamas, Elizabeth Kamas, Ruth Kamas, Cong Li, Elizabeth Pintar, Hana Shin, Pat Whitby-Strevens, Colin Whitby-Strevens and Melody Wright. Don Sterk acted as event photographer. Very many thanks to all of them for making the event the success it undoubtedly was.

Valerie Sterk writes:

Thank you to all our volunteers so very much for generously helping with our Pedals, Pipes & Pizza today, and for leading, teaching, and inspiring the 18 young, talented piano students, as we introduced them to the pipe organ and its music. You were awesome teachers, guides, helpers and encouragers to our 18 piano students and their families. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

During and after PPP this morning, I heard many appreciative comments from parents, who often seemed to enjoy the PPP event as much as their children did!  The piano students were engaged, bright and inquisitive, and they seemed excited about and fascinated with both the large pipe organ and the Orgelkids organ — learning and seeing how the pipe organ works, hearing a variety of organ music, experiencing the organ's broad palette of tone colors, and playing their piano pieces on SVPC’s large pipe organ.  During our pizza lunch, I asked many piano students what their favorite part of PPP was. Most answered that they loved playing the large pipe organ in the sanctuary, while several said they really liked playing and hearing the smaller Orgelkids organ. Several parents mentioned that their children became enthused about the pipe organ during PPP, and were already asking their parent(s) when they could begin organ lessons!

Thank you again to our volunteers for sharing your love of the pipe organ and its music with our PPP piano students and their families today.  You helped give them an exciting, interactive, and hands-on introduction to the organ.

Below are some photos of the event and some recording snippets.