LCMS Worship Institute: S1Ep3. Practical Organ Improvisation – Christopher Evatt

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Improvisation can be scary for the organist who hasn’t done it before, but it doesn’t have to be! This session will present techniques you can use to incorporate organ improvisation into your service playing, whether you’re a natural improvisor or not. We’ll look at hymn playing, hymn introductions and liturgical accompaniment.

Bio:

Christopher Evatt has over 20 years of church music experience and is currently serving as director of parish music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, Okla., where he oversees the traditional music program. He is principal organist and pianist, directs the choral and handbell ensembles and spearheaded the installation of a new 4-manual Walker organ in 2023. He regularly composes and improvises for services and has led Reformation Day chorale sings and music reading instructional sessions for the congregation. Dr. Evatt received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music and studied organ with John Ferguson, Judith Hancock and Malcolm Matthews.