Church music on the pipe organ at First United Methodist Church has received new life under the skilled hands of Point Loma resident Stephen Price. As associate director of sanctuary music, Price, fills the light-bathed sanctuary with heart-swelling strains of sacred music on San Diego County’s largest pipe organ.
Included in his organ music repertoire are the works of more modern composers, such as Jan Bender, Eric Thiman and Camil Van Hulse. “My primary passion in playing the organ is to show how the instrument is still relevant and vital in current times,” he said. “Organ music did not start and end with the great Johann Sebastian Bach – who no doubt is a pivotal figure to the development of the instrument – but there is great music that was composed before his time and still being composed today,” said Price, who became the church’s organist in 2014. Price’s career in organ music began at an early age. At a Baptist church in Buffalo, N.Y., where he grew up, he loved to sit and watch Marguerite Robinson play the organ and direct the choir. He listened for nuances in her hymn playing and congregational accompaniment. Robinson offered the 8-year-old Price free piano instruction if he would be willing to assist her with choir rehearsals and accompanying parts of the Sunday service once a month. “It was essentially my first introduction to the world of classical and sacred music,” said Price. His music career expanded in high school when he attended the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. In the meantime, Price became the organ scholar at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Buffalo. After high school, Price studied at the music Conservatory in Toulouse France. Currently, he is completing a doctoral program in organ performance and sacred music at Indiana University-Jacobs School of Music. Price came to First United Methodist Church in 2014 with a vision for building upon the strong musical heritage and foundation that already exists at the church. He places a high value on music education for all people, eager to share what he knows as well as inviting guest musicians to perform at church services. They stay for the receptions afterward to meet and talk with congregation members.
“Examples of collaboration and community outreach such as this, I find to be really be gratifying and helps others to see how they can share in the life of the church,” Price said.
When he isn’t playing the organ or giving piano lessons or working on his doctorate, Price enjoys cooking and taking Princess, his Great Dane, to Liberty Station. He also likes to go to the OB Noodle House, Point Loma Seafood, Pizza Nova or pick up fresh items at the new Liberty Station Public Market. On Sept. 7, Price will teach a seminar on how events in American history had an impact on Christian worship through song, hymnody, and worship practices. On Oct. 30, at 4:30 p.m., Price will give a 30-minute Pipes-Spooktacular concert for families in the sanctuary at First United Methodist, followed by a spaghetti dinner. At 7 p.m., Price will give a full concert with a reception to follow.
Call 619-297-4366 for more information about Price’s seminar and concerts.
