George K. Schiller, Church Musician/Choir Director
My love for the organ started some 60 years ago when I would occasionally go with my mother, who was also an organist, to church when she would practice. She would let me fool around on the organ while she got ready to practice. I had been taking piano lessons for a while at that time. In the early 1970’s I started taking some organ lessons. That led me to being asked to substitute in different churches on occasion. My mother retired in 1981, at which time I was playing for a church in Schenectady. I decided to stop playing as well, so we could travel on the weekends more and visit family in the Adirondacks. In 1994 I read an article in the Times Union regarding the shortage of organists and the fact current organists were finding it very difficult to find a substitute. I thought “Why Not, I could at least help out if needed.” I contacted Elinore Farnum about taking organ lessons and still continue taking from her. She has been a great inspiration to me. I have had the privilege of playing in different churches in Schenectady over the past twenty plus years either as organist, or substitute organist. During this time I also was able to complete a dream of mine and assembled my own 3-manual pipe organ in my home. I recently retired from Union College after 42 years and continue to work there part-time.
I feel extremely blessed to be the Organist/Choir Director at Faith United Methodist Church and to be given the opportunities they have given me. I am looking forward to a long association with the church.