Charlotte Chapter
American Guild of Organists
Organists Available For Hire
Suzanne Lowry
BM in education and performance
MAT
Shayne Doty
SHAYNE DOTY began organ lessons at the age of four, continuing as a Kenan Organ Scholar in high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University as a Mary Duke BiddleScholar, studying with French specialist Fenner Douglass, followed by study with Xavier Darasse at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, receiving the
Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures. He obtained a Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, studying with Robert Anderson. He has performed throughout the US, including a concert at the national convention of the American Guild of Organists and others at St. Thomas Episcopal and St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic churches in New York, University of Buffalo, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Woodberry Forest School, Bethesda-by-the-Sea and Whitehall in Palm Beach, and in Canada at St.
Paul’s Anglican Church in Toronto, and McGill University. In France he has given
concerts at Soissons Cathedral, the Basilique cathédrale de Saint-Denis, Notre Dame de Bordeaux, Saint-Severin in Paris, Saint-François-de-Sales in Lyon, the Musée des Augustins and Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, and other locations and performed on the Gstaad New Year Music Festival in Switzerland. As an ensemble player he has performed with
Les Arts Florissants, Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices, the North Carolina Symphony, the Dallas Bach Society, the Washington Bach Consort, and The National Symphony.
Ginger Wyrick
Linda McKechnie
Earned a Bachelor of Sacred Music in Organ performance from Nyack College, Nyack NY
Early in Linda’s career, she served Presbyterian churches in New York, Oklahoma, and Texas as organist/pianist and director of adult and children singing/ringing choirs
As a Steinway Artist, Linda has recorded 12 CDs with full orchestra (to include the London Festival orchestra) and published numerous piano and organ arrangements, handbell compositions and instructional books
As a keyboardist, Linda is comfortable with improvising and accompaniment in both Traditional and Contemporary worship settings
Linda plays concerts and leads music for conferences
Linda is available to play for weddings and Memorial Services.
In 2022-2023, Linda has been a regular substitute and short-term interim for several churches in Charlotte and surrounding areas.
Linda lives in the SouthPark area of Charlotte with her husband, The Rev. Dr. David G. McKechnie.
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Dr. Kevin Estes
Dr. Kevin Estes is an accomplished organist, pianist, conductor and composer who has served as Music Director in several churches in New York City and the tri-State area. Since that time, he has become a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician. His private medical clinic in South Charlotte, Renaissance Performance Medicine, specializes in musculoskeletal/nerve dysfunction, welcoming all – with an emphasis in helping performing artists. In addition to medical training in South Florida and Fellowship training at Atrium in Charlotte, Dr. Estes earned a Master of Music degree in Organ performance from The Juilliard School, with additional studies in Orchestral conducting and composition.
Matthew Manwarren
DMA
Scott Foppiano
Artists Diploma, BMus, MMus
Organist and Director of Music: St. James Lutheran Church, Concord, NC
Professional Life Coordinator and Executive Board: AGO Charlotte, NC Chapter
Sub-Dean and Executive Board: AGO Spartanburg, SC Chapter
Organist of the Year (2007) - American Theatre Organ Society
Angela Swicegood
Angela Swicegood has served as a regular organ substitute in the Charlotte area since 2000. She is willing to play traditional or contemporary services for any denomination.
Kathy Alexander
Kathy Alexander graduated in 1972 with a BA in music from UNCC with a focus on piano and voice. She enrolled at Winthrop University and received a Masters of Music in Organ Performance with Dr. David Lowry. She began her early organ study with Richard Peek and Richard VanSCiver. She has been organist or organist/choir director at several churches in Charlotte ,including Christ Lutheran, Hickory Grove Presbyterian, Carmel Presbyterian, and Holy Trinity Lutheran, to name a few. She is currently a member at St. Martin’s Episcopal in Charlotte. She is willing to play non-liturgical churches and Episcopal within a 30 mile radius of Charlotte. She lives in the Mint Hill area with her husband, a dog and cat, and is the owner of 2 Quarter Horses that she still rides.
Nancy Watson
Nancy Hostetler Watson has a BS in elementary education and an MM in organ performance from Duquesne University, where she studied with Ann Labounsky, a former student of Jean Langlais. She held church music positions in several churches while living in Pittsburgh. Upon moving to Charlotte, she served as Music Director (handbell & children’s choirs & organist) at Clover Presbyterian Church, Organist and Handbell director at University City United Methodist, and
Music Director (handbells, children’s choir, adult choir, and organist) at Holy
Comforter Episcopal. She has also taught organ to graduate and undergraduate students, as well as non-degree students at 3 universities; Duquesne University, UNC Charlotte and Queens University.
CAGO, BS, MM, MSM
Matthew Noonan
www.mwnoonan.com
Matthew Noonan studied organ at the Eastman School of Music, The Greatbach School of Music at Houghton University, and the Fredonia School of Music. Since his European debut in Paris at the age of 20, Mr. Noonan’s performances have delighted audiences and have been hailed as both imaginative and dynamic. Known for his interpretations of Baroque music, Matthew Noonan won several competitions and awards in organ performance. Besides American Guild of Organists competitions, Matthew won the Arthur Poister international award for his organ playing. Matthew Noonan is the organist for two churches, Messiah Lutheran church (LCMS) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Holy Trinity Lutheran church (NALC) of Gastonia, North Carolina. He is also the elementary school music teacher at The Math and Science Academy of Charlotte. Samples of Matthew's organ playing can be found on his website and can be contacted there.
Mark Swicegood
A native of North Carolina, Mark Swicegood has spent 24 years in the greater New York City area pursuing careers in music and finance. He began formal organ instruction at the age of fifteen with Michael Rowland of Winston-Salem and continued private lessons at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Allen Harris. He holds a Master of Music degree from Yale University where he studied with Martin Jean, Thomas Murray, and Gerre Hancock. Following a full-time career as a church organist and concert musician, he earned an MBA from the University of Connecticut and currently serves as the Controller for a private equity fund based in New York.
John Bailey
Christopher Brayne
Jeremy Dixon
Janice Barnett
BM Ed
Renee Downey
Valarie Alexandra Valois
Valarie is an organist and pianist, music director, artist collaborator and program director, teacher and mentor.
David Hutchings
BM, MM
Bob Ivey
Nancy Lucas
BM, MM
Marcia Newlin
SPC