FOXBURG, Pa. — Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts proudly welcomes back to the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer one of America’s most sought after concert organists and recording artists — Walt Strony — with his soaring melodies and refreshing arrangements — on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. in Lincoln Hall.

This concert is in celebration of the 90th Birthday of Paul McKissick, who painstakingly restored Lincoln Hall’s McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer over eleven years.  It has been installed thre since ARCA’s first performance season in 2006.  A post concert Birthday reception in honor of Paul McKissick will be held at RiverStone Mansion for ARCA members donating at the $100.00 level and above.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.alleghenyriverstone.org or call 724-659-3153 to reserve. The cost is as follows: adults is $25.00; ARCA members $20.00; and students $5.00.

Acclaimed as one of America’s most original and interesting theatre organists, Mr. Strony has been inducted into the American Theatre Organ Society Hall of Fame and is the only organist to have been voted “Organist of the Year” twice by ATOS.

“Strony has become one of the rare breed of today’s younger theatre organists to have developed a style uniquely his own. While looking backwards respectfully to the masters of the theatre 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.”

Born in Chicago in 1955, he began music lessons at the age of seven. His theatre organ teacher was the famous Chicago organist Al Melgard, who for many years was the Staff Organist at the Chicago Stadium. His classical studies were with Herbert L. White and Karel Paukert. He made his public debut in 1974 at the age of 18 and has since established himself as one of few organists equally at home playing both theatre and classical organ.

Mr. Strony has performed hundreds of concerts from coast to coast in the United States, Japan, Australia, England and Canada. In addition, he has performed at many conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society and the American Guild of Organists. In July 2007, he performed the first solo organ recital to be presented in many years at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for the American Theatre Organ Society’s Convention.  In June 2016, he was featured for the second time in an evening concert on the famous Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia — the world’s largest fully functioning pipe organ.

Adding to his fine reputation as a concert organist, Mr. Strony is well known for his many recordings. His first CD, “Phoenix,” was rated 10/10 by CD Review — the highest rating given by this prestigious publication. He has recorded over 31 albums with his most recent CD (2013) being recorded on the Aveni Wurlitzer in Gates Mills, OH — an instrument that he designed.

As an author, he is well known for his book “The Secrets Of Theatre Organ Registration,” which is the standard reference book on this subject.  He is currently working on its expanded 2nd Edition, which will be released this year.

He lives in California’s Gold Rush Country, which is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, fine dining, and collecting contemporary art and Art Deco items.