California theater organist, Walt Strony, will perform a Christmas themed silent film accompaniment and other theater organ Christmas favorites at Fayette’s First Christian Church at 4 p.m. this Sunday, December 1. 

The organ at First Christian Church is a digital organ of four manuals and is the largest Allen organ in the state of Missouri. Admission is free and the program is open to the public. 

Mr. Strony is a well known theater organist, having begun his career at age 18 during his college years. He began playing the theater organ in Pizza Parlors, a fad which gave new life to a largely forgotten instrument. For many years thereafter, he was Artist-in-Residence at First Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Walt Strony is one of America's Premiere concert organists. He has performed hundreds of concerts from coast to coast in the United States, toured extensively in Australia, England, Japan, and Canada, and he is a regular performer at conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society. In 2012, he played his 39th ATOS convention, more than any other organist. He has also performed for the American Guild of Organists on both local and national levels. He was given the honored title, “Organist of the Year” by the American Theatre Organ Society, the first and only organist ever to twice receive this award.

Maestro Strony has made many recordings which have received rave reviews. As an author, he is well known in organ circles for his book entitled “The Secrets of Theater Organ Registration,” which has become the standard reference book on this subject. He is also a composer of organ and choral music. 

This well-rounded musician brings a wealth of experience to any organ console which has brought him the reputation of being one of America’s most original and interesting sounding concert organists. It has been noted that “While looking respectfully backwards to the masters of the theater organ tradition, he manages to look forward with a refreshing approach in all his musical arrangements. It is a style that is inventive, harmonically interesting and, above all, right for today.”

Walt Strony lives among the Sierra Nevada foothills. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, fine dining, and collecting contemporary art and Art Deco items. He is now staff organist at Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, California.