ORGANIST OF THE MONTH: Adeline Huss

A young girl waited anxiously for her sisters to go to school. At last, theyÍre gone! Her mother goes to the piano and starts to play hymns; so she puts her toy piano up on the piano bench next to her mother and begins to play tooƒwhat wonderful memories of sheer love and delight.

Since my parents were born and raised in Germany and lived during a very stressful period of time, it was difficult for them to be able to support any ñextraî education financially. Luckily the laws concerning Social Security changed by the time I was 11; thus my father, who had been an invalid for the past four years, was now eligible for early retirement. Blest with parents who truly encouraged their children to further their education, piano lessons became a reality.

My studies continued at The Cleveland Institute of Music, which allowed the completion of both a B.M. and M.M. degrees in organ under the marvelous tutelage of Dr. Henry Fusner. While working on my masterÍs degree, I was elected into Pi Kappa Lambda. Following graduation, additional studies were achieved at Syracuse University with Dr. Arthur Poister.

Presently, I am the Chairperson of the Preparatory Theory Department at CIM and also teach secondary organ in the Conservatory. More recently, my nomination into WhoÍs Who Among AmericaÍs Teachers was published in the fifth edition of 1998. At the current time, my position as Organist-Music Director at Parma Lutheran Church includes my working with The Parma Lutheran Choir, The Hallelujah Bells and The Family Bells.

Coming from a very union-oriented family, I always felt a sense of responsibility to help pave the way for my successor in any position that was previously held. The following two commandments will attest to that end:

XI THOU SHALT HONOR THY CLERGY

XII HEAVEN HELP THE CLERGY WHO RESPECTS NOT HIS/HER MUSICIAN

Amen