Larry received his undergraduate degree from Lander University; he earned a Master of Education degree from Clemson and the Ed. Specialist degree from the University of South Carolina. Though he has had no formal training on the organ, Larry has played for several churches in the area. He enjoys the gym, reading, and gardening.

As an Associate Professor at Bob Jones University teaching piano, organ, and music technology, Donna retired in 2019 after serving for twenty-three years. Since that time she has continued to teach piano on an adjunct basis and teaches piano and organ through Piano Central Studios Music Artistry at BJU. She is one of the organists at Faith Baptist Church in Taylors.

An Arkansas native, Ed Dunbar served on the faculty at Bob Jones University in Greenville from 1978-2019. He served as chair of the Division of Music for 37 years (1981-2018). Now Professor of Music, Emeritus, he continues as an adjunct professor teaching organ and Counterpoint.

Dr. Karen Eshelman enjoys a varied career as a college educator and as a professional church musician. Since 2004 she has taught classes at Furman University in music theory, music appreciation, organ and harpsichord as needed. At St. James Episcopal Church in Greenville, S.C., where she has served since 1988, Dr. Eshelman directs the children’s, youth and adult choirs and plays the church’s new pipe organ, built by Halbert Gober in 2007.

Robert Glick is a retired Professor of Worship, Church Music, and Organ at Erskine College and Theological Seminary, where he taught for 29 years. He also served 30 years before retiring as Organist and Teaching Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood, SC. An active teacher and organ recitalist, Mr. Glick's compositions and arrangements for both organ and choir are widely published. He has written a book, With All Thy Mind: Worship That Honors the Way God Made Us, published in 2006. Member spotlight article.

Jonathan’s interest in the organ was sparked after finishing his Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a concentration in piano performance from Erskine College. While focusing on piano technician work now, Jonathan still maintains a strong interest in organ music. If you have need for piano tuning, repair, etc., consider Palmetto State Piano Service!

Brendon Johnson works as a historian in his hometown of Courtenay, British Columbia. He studied piano with Christine Purvis in Courtenay and organ with Ed Dunbar at Bob Jones University, where he also held teaching and administrative positions prior to his return to Canada. In addition to his AGO membership, he belongs to the Victoria Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

Larry serves as organist at White Oak Baptist Church and at the Mackey Mortuary. He has served as branch manager at several area banks and also served for twenty years as the Greenville AGO Treasurer. Read more about Larry in our member spotlight.

Catie is passionate about making the organ and its music accessible to the average, untrained, or even skeptical listener. Catie serves as Organist and Choir Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Clinton, SC.

Mary-Grace enjoys playing piano, taking voice lessons, and studying the organ. She is currently involved with teaching music at a local homeschool Co-Op and teaching private piano lessons. She enjoys playing the organ/piano at local churches and special events. She has released three solo piano albums and enjoys the opportunity to serve as the piano accompanist for the children’s program at her church as well as playing church offertories. She loves creating new music and uploading it to her YouTube channel. She is passionate for any opportunity to share her music with others for the glory of God.

Dr. Jim Parham serves as Associate Pastor for Worship and Music at Trinity Lutheran Church. Jim has served congregations with his musical talent for 30 years. He became an ordained Lutheran pastor in 1997 and has served four congregations in South Carolina. Jim enjoys soaking up time with family, experiencing the beautiful outdoors, and playing music.

Benjamin Phillips is Organist and Choirmaster at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Greenville, where he directs a variety of children, youth, and adult choirs. He graduated in 2020 with a degree in Business Administration from Bob Jones University, where he studied organ with Dr. Ed Dunbar and Mr. Ed Rea. Benjamin also has experience in organ maintenance, working previously for Foothills Pipe Organ in Greenville, and John Farmer Pipe Organs in Winston-Salem, NC. Read more about Benjamin in our member spotlight.

John is formerly from Fairfield County Connecticut, a computer science and business management graduate of the University of Connecticut. John is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Boston-based, Top Flight Technologies, Inc and has a long career as Global Business Executive and Sr. Information Technologist in the high technology industry specializing in new company launches, mergers and acquisitions.

Robert Powell, Organist Emeritus of Christ Church (Episcopal), Greenville, served the parish for 35 years. Bob previously served Trinity Methodist Church (16 years) and Epicopal Church of the Redeemer (1 year). A noted improviser and prolific composer, Bob has had over 1,200 pieces published by a variety of music houses. Read more about Bob and his wife, Nancy, in our member spotlight.

Nancy Powell, a Greenville resident for 52 years, served as organist at Fourth Presbyterian Church for 30 years. An Ohio native, Nancy studied at Baldwin-Wallace University (BM) and earned her MSM from Union Theological Seminary, where she met her husband Robert. She has served churches in Ohio, New Jersey, Mississippi, and New Hampshire. Read more about Nancy and her husband, Robert, in our member spotlight.

David Rhyne, S.C. Bach's artistic director, holds teaching positions at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and at Furman University. He is the organist for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. David is the founding director of Greenville Early Music, and has over 30 years of experience in sacred music. His research into the music of Bach has included grants to study at the Oregon Bach Festival and the Leipzig Bachfest.

Don Sandor was born and raised in Akron, OH. Upon losing his wife of 51½ years to cancer, he recently relocated to Greenville from Michigan so he could be close to one of his three daughters and to get out of the cold Michigan winters. One of Don’s greatest joys was rebuilding and installing his own home pipe organ.

Jessica is a passionate advocate for the power of symphonic music to activate and unite communities. She serves as the Executive Director of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, now celebrating its 75th year of service to South Carolina’s upstate through music. Satava served previously in artistic and operations roles at the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and in fundraising at Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Charles Boyd Tompkins is University Organist and Professor of Music at Furman University, where he teaches organ, harpsichord, music theory, and church music. An acclaimed performer and teacher, Tompkins has presented recitals and workshops at churches and universities throughout the United States and in Europe, including those for national and regional AGO conventions. An active church musician throughout his career, Tompkins currently serves as Artist in Residence at Christ Church (Episcopal) in Greenville.

Keith is an experienced user of the Hauptwerk virtual organ software and the inventor of the chimebox.

Sarah is organist at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville and organ/piano instructor at North Greenville University. She holds music degrees from the University of Iowa and Lebanon Valley College PA; she has a computer science degree from San Jose State University. She previously lived in Pittsburgh and the San Francisco Bay Area. When not playing the organ, she is busy with three small children.

Ken is an Illinois native that came to Greenville to attend Bob Jones University, studying organ with Dr. Ed Dunbar and with Dr. Ron Davis at Presbyterian College. In addition to being a Counselor for the Greenville County Schools for 24 years, Ken has been organist at the Inman United Methodist, Second Presbyterian, and Greer First Baptist. He is now organist at Rutherford (NC) First Baptist where the congregation has also fallen in love with his traveling canine companion Susie. Read more about Ken in our member spotlight.

Trey Williams is a native of Winston-Salem, NC, and grew up in Fort Mill, SC. He studied organ with Dr. David Lowry at Winthrop University and carillon with Dr. Linda Dzuris at Clemson University. He is currently a Lecturer of Chemistry at Clemson and is available as a supply organist. Dr. Williams is an amateur composer for organ and choir and maintains a home-built Hauptwerk organ.

Elizabeth has been the organist at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors since 2013. She received her bachelor’s degree in sacred music from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a Masters degree in Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College. Elizabeth enjoys homemaking for her husband Thomas and gardening and cooking.