Dio Yearout is a graduate student in piano at University of Tennessee Knoxville,  where he studies with Dr. Chih-Long Hu.  He also studies organ and is a Graduate Teaching Assistant.  Aside from performing, he spends much of his time teaching and composing. Most recently, he completed his first piano cycle, including twelve movements that fuse both classical and modern elements. 

Since 2009, Karl Jacob has been Music Director and Organist at Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Knoxville. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2007 and studied organ with John Brock. From 1989-2003, Karl lived in Norwalk, Connecticut, working as a church musician and studying with Dr. Stephen Hamilton in New York City. 

Matthew Fisher is the Director of Music at United Church, Chapel on the Hill of Oak Ridge as well as the Associate House Organist at the historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. He recently graduated with degrees in sacred music and technical communication from the University of Tennessee, and is now pursing an MBA at Lincoln Memorial University. Outside of school and church, Matthew accompanies several Knoxville area school and community choirs, and he is an active member in the Knoxville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society.

Edie Johnson serves as Music Associate and Organist at Church Street United Methodist Church and as instructor of organ at University of Tennessee where she teaches private organ lessons along with courses in organ literature and sacred music. 

UT offers several programs under which students may study organ as a principal instrument. These include the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance, Sacred Music, or Music Education, the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance, and the Artist Certificate in Organ. Students majoring in other fields can earn a minor in Music with organ as the principal instrument, or may study organ as a secondary or elective course. Organ lessons provide students with an opportunity to develop their abilities in the areas of technique, repertoire, and practical church service playing skills. All students perform regularly in the weekly organ class, and majors and minors play a prepared jury performance at the end of each semester. Organ majors also perform solo recitals as a part of their course of study. UT organ students also have opportunities to participate in master classes, lead Student Organ Encounter Days for young keyboardists, and participate in Knoxville Chapter American Guild of Organists’ Recitals. 

If you are interested in knowing about upcoming organ events, please contact Edie Johnson, ejohns76@utk.edu for more details.