Richard J. La Voie  (lavoie@cwo.com)
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Born:           May 18, 1961, Sacramento, California
 
Education:      In progress
 
Occupation:     Writer, gadfly, clerk typist, whatever pays the bills
 
Organ:          Estey opus 2526 (1926), Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
 
My role:        The politics, fund raising and public relations of
                the organ project
 
Piano:          Lester Cabinet Grand (1906)
 
Computer:       Cyrix 5x86 Frankenputer (my own creation)
 
Favorite Quote: "You might think that.  I couldn't possibly comment."
 
Musical Interests:
 
Eclectic & peculiar.  Classical, Big Band, pop, country, Tom
Lehrer, Mike Oldfield, all of these stir the blood. Argentine tango
is a passion. In fact, I consider it a personal affront that there
are no milongas in my neighborhood.
 
I crave organ music that would sound great on our Estey.  It is
primarily orchestral, though quite bright and rich and it gets out
like nobody's business. Secretly, I long to play it; the thought of
making such a big noise is intensely appealing. But my role in its
restoration is political, not musical. I haven't so much as touched
my piano since 1994 so I can't very well justify organ lessons. Can
I?
 
Organ, Historic Preservation:
 
I chair the pipe organ and fund raising subcommittees of the
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium Citizens' Advisory Committee. I
wrote the ballot measure that guided the building's renovation and
protects its historic features such as the organ. I chaired the
auditorium's 3-day grand re-opening celebration November 9-11,
1996, and currently spend WAY too much time spinning schemes and
putting some stick about on behalf of the Estey. Today, the organ;
tomorrow, the world!