08/25/2023
Joby Bell will be making his third recital appearance for The East Texas Pipe Organ Festival on Wednesday, November 8 on the 1952 Aeolian-Skinner, Opus 1175 at St. Luke's Methodist Church, Kilgore.
Register to attend the festival today at www.easttexaspipeorganfestival.com
JOBY BELL’s first encounter with Aeolian-Skinner was an informal visit as a high schooler to Op. 1196, Covenant Presbyterian, Charlotte. Many years and many Aeolian-Skinner and E.M. Skinner visits later, Joby began to serve regularly on Opp. 912 and 912-A, First Presbyterian, Houston. More recently, he served an interim post for two years on Op. 1101, First Presbyterian, Lenoir, N.C. He is also the proud owner of Op. 1457-B, previously in his teacher Clyde Holloway’s residence.
Joby Bell is known at home and abroad for “the breadth of his repertoire, technical virtuosity, and for the personal warmth which shines through in his performances.” He has earned a reputation as one of the finest and approachable performers, teachers, and service players of his generation. His acclaimed blog at deals with a comprehensive range of organ-related topics including teaching philosophies, recital preparation, church music, and professional concerns.
He has made several recordings on the Centaur label, including an all-English program on Op. 1174, and the complete solo organ works of Widor, recorded on Opp. 713, 912-A, 1308, 1309, and 1472. Most recently, he recorded the complete organ works of Boulder-based composer Jeffrey Nytch on the Dobson instrument in the Heritage Center at the University of Dubuque.
Since 2004, he has served on the faculty of the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, where he teaches organ and church music studies. His teaching specializes in practice techniques, memorization, service playing, choral accompanying, and maintaining grace under pressure – lessons always taught by example.
Joby attended high school at the [University of] North Carolina School of the Arts and subsequently earned degrees from Appalachian State University (BMus) and Rice University (MMus, DMA). His teachers include H. Max Smith and Clyde Holloway.
