Mark Dennis  (vmd@aloft.att.com)
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Education:
 
        Bachelor of Arts, Organ Performance, The Pennsylvania State University,
        1980.
        Associates Degree in Data Processing, Northampton Community College,
        Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (PA), 1984.
        Master of Sciences in Information Services, Allentown College,
        Center Valley, PA, 1996
 
 
Occupation:
 
    Church:
 
        Organist and Handbell Choir Director, Church of the Manger,
        Bethlehem, PA, January 1981 to present.
 
        Accompanist, Trinity Episcopal Chorale, Easton PA, 1982 - 1989.
 
    Secular:
        Computer System Administrator, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Allentown, PA,
        November 1985 to present.
 
Associations:
 
        Member Lehigh Valley Chapter, American Guild of Organists,
                Past Member-at-Large, Executive Committee.
        Member-at-Large, Executive Committee, Colleagues in Music Ministry,
                Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.
 
Background:
 
        I began organ lessons at the age of 15 with the organist at my church,
        West Lawn United Methodist.  Pat Zerbe was Lutheran by background, so
        began my introduction to some better styles of music, including Bach
        (of course), Mendelssohn, Brahms, Langlais and so forth.  Her position
        at WLUM a year or so before I began lessons, so prior to that I believe
        the organ music consisted of roller skating rink dribble.
 
        The organ was a 6 rank Wicks when I began my studies.  It had a
        Diapason 8-4-2, Flute 8-4 and Dulciana 8-4-2 on the enclosed Great
        and Flute 8-4-2 2/3-2, String 8-4, and Trumpet 8-4, on the Swell.
        The Pedal was completely borrowed from the manual divisions.  Also,
        there were no pistons what so ever.  One of Pat's first comments to
        me was the the organ had limitations.  As my lessons progress, I
        grew to appreciate exactly what she meant.  In the past couple of
        years, the Wicks was removed and replaced with an instrument of
        30-40 ranks, that I haven't seen yet.
 
        When I started at Penn State, I thought I wanted to be an architect.
        But that lasted only until the Spring term, when I switched by major
        to music.  I had already taken organ lessons starting the previous
        December as an elective.  I had been pretty unhappy being unable to
        play.
 
        The instrument there is a two manual, 37 rank Holtkamp.  It was
        installed in 1967 through the influence of Leonard Raver.  I don't
        know what everyone else thinks about Holtkamps, but it was the
        first organ that I played that in any way resembled what I thought
        an organ should sound like.  So, it was a revelation to me.
 
        Anyway, my studies at PSU consisted of organ, piano as well as
        harpsichord.  I also "sang" in the choir, although I don't think
        I made and real contribution except that I made the group look
        bigger by one person.
 
Musical Interests:
 
        As far as organs are concerned, my tastes are fairly eclectic.  One
        might say that I like any first rate example of a particular style.
        For example, I got to play a 3 manual Moeller from the 1920's.
        It just roared.  It was a lot of fun!
 
        Basically, I like an instrument to be true to a particular style.
        The 20's Moeller was an unashamedly big, slushy ol' orchestral
        style instrument, so it had a certain integrity of its own kind.
        However, personally, I guess I'd prefer something more classically
        oriented.  Although, this tends to change.  Currently, I'm in a
        Guilmant phase, so my current interest lies with French orchestral
        organs.
 
        My general music tastes tend to lean more towards orchestral or
        purely instrumental music.  I'll tend to pick up a recording of
        a symphony or piano sonata before a vocal or choral piece.
 
Other interests:
 
        To summarize, theater, movies, classic animation including Disney
        and Warner Brothers.  (I recently purchased a Chuck Jones sericell.)