Dealer Spotlight: Classic Organs of Northern California
Rodgers Instruments is proud to introduce you to our dealer for northern California: Troy Killorn. The photo on our story’s cover page shows the executive staff congratulating Troy (from left to right): John Moesbergen, CEO of Rodgers Instruments; Marco van de Weerd, CEO of Global Organ Group; Troy; and Rene van de Hoef, General Sales Manager, Global Organ Group.
Here is his story.
My love for music and the organ started at the age of six when my grandparents purchased a Kimball organ for their living room. As a young boy I enjoyed spending the summer with them playing from the “Big Note” book. Seeing my interest in music, they purchased a piano for our family when I was in the third grade and my life as a musician has grown ever since. I developed a love for the Rodgers organs at a young age. I would attend church services with my grandparents and was fascinated at the organist and all the lighted stops I could see from the congregation; they had a Rodgers organ. At the age of twelve I was asked if I knew how to play the organ? I answered NO, but I can learn, and there it all began. I started with organ lessons playing a 1970 Rodgers Organ (that is still played every Sunday) for church services.
I am the Director of Music and organist at Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Martinez, California. When I arrived at the church the organ was in disrepair and needed to be replaced. The Pastor agreed that we needed a new organ he asked which organ I would like. I said, “Rodgers is the organ we need in our parish.” Dr. Robert Tall and Associates helped us with the purchase and installation of a Rodgers custom 4 manual organ for the church. The Rodgers organ is amazing! When visitors come, they always stop and ask, “Where are the pipes?”
When Robert Tall announced his retirement after 52 years with Rodgers, I was shocked, I didn’t think he would ever retire. I was humbled when I was given the opportunity to follow in his footsteps and become the representative for Rodgers Organs and become part of the Global Organ Group family. I look forward to helping you fulfill the dream of a new organ, be it for your home, church, synagogue, or community concert hall.
Blaine Ricketts, Bob Knight, Bob Tall, and Troy Killorn of Classic Organs of Northern California install a new three-manual Rodgers Imagine 351 in St. Catherine of Siena, Burlingame, California, in 2021. This is a parish with a long history of prayer, friendships, and service to others. The Rodgers 351 enhances worship and the spiritual lives of many.
Congratulations to the historic First Congregational United Church of Christ in Murphys, California, for the installation of a new Rodgers Imagine 235. This beautiful organ will serve the congregation and community for many years!
A Rodgers Imagine 351 with mechanical drawknobs was provided by Classic Organs of Northern California at Zellerbach Hall in the University of California, Berkeley, for a performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra of an Alpine Symphony (Eine Alpensinfonie), Op. 64, which is a tone poem for large orchestra written by Richard Strauss in 1915. It is one of Strauss's largest non-operatic works; the score calls for about 125 players and a typical performance usually lasts around 50 minutes. Ines Schuttengruber (pictured) was the organist for the magnificent performance.
Quality and value are two top priorities for our firm. We are proud to represent Rodgers and Johannus organs in northern California. Please visit our website for more information:
Classic Organs of Northern California & Associates (classicorgansnorcal.com)
