Pipe Organs of England - Pipedreams - American Public Media

TOUR TRAVELER ITINERARY BIOS PAGE 95Jim Dunagin (with Emily Dunagin) I am a 67 year old practicingophthalmologist living in McAlester, a small city in ruralOklahoma. I have had a love of music and interest in organs allof my life. My formal keyboard training was limited to severalyears of piano in primary school, but I have played hymns andsimpler keyboard pieces throughout my life. I acquired a RiegerV tracker pipe organ for my home over twenty years ago (itstwin resides in the New England Conservatory of Music). I playit and perform routine maintenance as required. My wife Emily,an artist, accompanied me on the Pipedreams trip to Franceseveral years ago. We look forward to being a part of the groupand perhaps have an opportunity to play a hymn or two alongthe way.Don Dunscomb I was born and raised in California but now residein Bend, Oregon, with Terri, my wife of 36 years. We raisedtwo sons. For a number of years I served as a church musicdirector but I now work as a technology trainer and consultant.I developed a fascination with the organ when I was an undergraduateand later, while working toward my MA in Educationat Stanford University, I studied organ (with Herb Nanny) on thewonderful organ at Memorial Church on the Stanford campus.Unfortunately, I was unable to pursue organ studies aftergraduation. Though I’m a technology enthusiast, I also enjoythe outdoors -- especially when I’m on my Harley-Davidsonmotorcycle cruising through the Cascades, or out on the highdesert of central Oregon.Alan Edgar is a retired mechanical engineer who has spentmost of his working life investigating failed components. He isa resident of Belfast, Northern Ireland, though he spent sometime in Birmingham, England, where he gained his MastersDegree in Metallurgy. He is divorced with three children andthree grandchildren. Music has been part of his life from schooldays and organs have always interested him. His playing abilityis next to zero having just managed to reach Grade 2 piano buthe can follow a score. He listens to Pipedreams regularly viathe Internet and was a member of the American Theatre OrganSociety for a short time. The use of computers to drive instrumentsincluding organs are of current interest. He is a memberof the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and railway trainsfigure a great deal in previous holidays across Canada, NewZealand, Switzerland and to the Arctic Circle.Ed Eichler was born in Pigeon, MI, and raised on a farm. Edhas a BA in speech from North Central College, Naperville, IL,and taught junior high in St Charles, IL, before joining PigeonTelephone Co in Pigeon, MI. He followed his father leading thecompany and with the help of his brother has developed it intoa multi-faceted communications company. He joined the Boardof Bay Port State Bank in 1988 and now serves as chairman/CEOof the bank. He and spouse Wanda have three children andthree grand-children. Gardening and travel fills most of the restof his time.Wanda Eichler I was born and raised in Wisconsin and tookviolin and organ during junior high and high school years. Igraduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL, with adegree in English and college choir experience. We moved toEd’s home town in Michigan and have raised our kids there. Iserved as an occasional organist and choir director for a UnitedMethodist Church for almost twenty years. I design for quiltingand knitting, have published patterns and books for both, andrun retail shops and a website. I write a daily blog and workwith a retail knitting website. My interests include good food,gardening, books, knitting and quilting, walking, and golf.Claire Faasse has been a church organist since age 16. Herpassion is playing organ in worship and facilitating the congregation’shymn singing. She has diplomas in organ performancefrom Trinity College and is currently organist at New HopePresbyterian Church in Fort Myers, Florida.Jacob (Jake) Faasse is a retired teacher of wood-working andtechnology who enjoys accompanying Claire on organ tours toaudit and take pictures. His hobbies include remote-controlledsailboats and fishing as well as supporting Claire in her musicendeavors. He and Claire live in Cape Coral, Florida and havetwo daughters and a grandson.Jan Fehér has music degrees from Michigan State Universityand the University of Michigan. Her organ teachers include:Corliss Arnold, Leslie Spelman, Robert Noehren, Donald Sutherland,and Marilyn Mason. She is presently resident organist atFirst Presbyterian Church, San Diego, where she plays a LarryPhelps Cassavant organ from 1973. Her interest in historicorgans has developed from tours since 2005 with the Universityof Michigan to Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Hungary,Austria, and the Czech Republic.Béla Fehér has degrees from Michigan State (BS), University ofMichigan (MA), and Wayne State University (PhD). He’s retiredfrom a research career in human factors for the Navy. He isinterested in MacIntosh computers and documentary photography.His photography of historic organs has led to opportunitiespresent the photos at organ conferences, organ concerts,photo books, and display them on the U of Mich Organ Departmentwebsite.Mary Lou Geer is a Pipedreams alumna, having participated inthree other tours. A church musician for many years, certifiedas an Associate in Ministry in the ELCA, she also has a Master ofDivinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.Mary Lou and her husband, John, a retired Army officer,have been married 43 years. Since returning to San Antonio,Mary Lou has served a number of congregations as a musicianand also as an interim pastor. Although now retired, she stillvolunteers at the keyboard at her local congregation. Mary Louenjoys music, travel, art, and history, and loves putting them alltogether on the Pipedreams tour. She also speaks Spanish andFrench.