Eric McKirdy, organist, first put his hands on an organ console at the age of 14, playing for church as needed. He then went on to major in organ performance at the University of Oregon with Dr. Barbara Baird, much to his family’s dismay. In the many years since college, Eric has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and has maintained a small studio of organ students over the years. While he enjoys solo organ repertoire, his favorite part of the organ is playing for choirs, which he has done weekly for the past 15 years at Albany First United Methodist Church, as well as for community and school choirs when an organ is needed.
When not seated on an organ bench, Eric has composed an extensive catalog of works for choir and organ, and has often found himself directing church or community choirs. Eric serves as president of the board of directors of the Organ Media Foundation in St Louis, MO, and also serves as president of the board of Mid-Valley Musical Theater in Albany, OR. He is also very active in his local chapter of the American Guild of Organists.