Bruce Cornely ------------- Born in Jacksonville, Florida (08-08-48 - gift registry/clothing sizes on request!) into a musical family: father - charter member of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (cello), played in Cornely trio consisting of Henry Cornely Sr (violin), Ruth Cornely (piano), Henry Cornely Jr (dad - cello) and Mary Cornely (dad's sister/soprano vocalist). This information is provided to give insight into my childhood -- coming from a family with a trio with four people in it!. Mom played flute. Miscellaneous sibling list by request. The first pipe organ I ever heard was a 3/33 1902-26 Pilcher installed in the front gallery of a Victorian Presbyterian church, Jacksonville, Florida. The next organ was the 4m Moller (48) at St. John's Cathedral (Jacksonville) where I met Henry Pilcher at the American Guild of Organists (AGO) Regional Convention sometime in the late fifties. The first pipe organ I played (age 9) was a 3/17 Wicks in a Methodist Church. My practice time was obtained by hiding in a rear stairwell after church on Sunday and being locked in for the afternoon, thus being able to blast away for hours without interruption. My self instruction continued until I was 12 when I was given a piano scholarship by the church. Unfortunately, the teacher insisted that I give up playing the organ until I had mastered the piano--no more piano lessons. Later, as a teenager I was given piano lessons by a much more sympathetic teacher (Ben Jones) who introduced me to Schubert's piano music. As a teenager I served as substitute organist around town and, after graduating high school, set off to the big city of Atlanta. There I studied with Ronald Rice and the Cathedral of St. Philip on the 4m AEolian-Skinner, and then with William Weaver on the Flentrop at St. Anne's. The combination of Weaver and Flentrop opened new worlds for me and my interest in organs with mechanical action was born; this was also my first experience with real acoustics. After three years in Atlanta my wanderlust struck again and I piled all my belongings into my car and struck out for Houston Texas. On arrival I found two church jobs open: one for $300/month in a small Methodist Church with an electronic in Houston, the other for $150/month in a large Methodist church in Baytown (40 miles west of Houston) with a 3/31 Austin ('53) -- NO CONTEST, I took the job in Baytown and enjoyed the organ for three years. During the first year in Houston I studied organ with Robert Bennett at St. Luke United Methodist Church. After waiting the obligatory year to become a citizen of Texas, I entered the University of Houston and studied with Robert Jones. During that time I was wedding organist, playing about six weddings each weekend on the 3/31 Reuter, and also moved from Baytown to campus. After moving from Baytown to campus I became a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral--Houston, and began organ and service playing study with William Barnard. My five years in the Cathedral Choir were probably the most productive, memorable and satisfying of my life. The Cathedral Choir did wonderful choral music each week and I really enjoyed listening to and playing the 3/72 G.Donald Harrison AEolian-Skinner. The "wander-bug" bit again and I found a position at Christ Church--Covington, Louisiana, a wonderful small Louisiana town across Lake Ponchartrain from New Orleans. During that time I became acquainted with the Organ Historical Society and was active in the New Orleans AGO, and also, of course, enjoyed soaking up the local color and history. During that time I taught piano privately, opening my own studio with 60 students. It was great fun. Time passed and I found myself back in Florida. While in Florida (this time!) I played weekly recitals for two years on the 4/90 AEolian-Skinner at Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Augustine. I attended my first Organ Historical Society (OHS) convention in 1991 (Baltimore), but the 1992 Maine convention was critical in influencing the rest of my life. I got off the airplane in August and the temperature was in the thirties! I was in love. Also, the most beautiful scenery I had ever seen, not to mention the wonderful organs. That move set the stage for my move to Vermont. Playing at Trinity Church Shelburne on an 1886 Jardine 2/10, and regular weekly recitals on the 1/3 Felgemaker in the Charlotte Meeting House at the Shelburne Museum. As a result of this experience my heart lives permanently in Vermont, I am a self-appointed honorary Yankee, and my favorite substance is SNOW. I am temporarily back in Florida, awaiting an opportunity to return to civilization where there is beautiful scenery, snow during the winter, and tracker organs everywhere. When I'm not thinking about organs, I enjoy my beagles, sailing, horseback riding, gardening and dreaming of snow. While in Vermont the dogs and I enjoyed cross country skiing in an insane rendition of the Iditarod. I have become intrigued with unequal temperaments, and the literature which is enhanced thereby. In addition to baroque literature I enjoy playing Rheinberger, Franck, Reger and some more modern composers. I think my favorite composer outside of organ music is Frederick Delius. I enjoy pipe organ design (tracker, of course) and have partially restored a 1908 Moller 2/17, including re-stenciling the facade pipes. Some day I want to have my very own tracker organ to restore in my home (in Vermont, of course; other parts of northern New England will be considered, however).