Spotlight Media

What – and when – was the prompt for you to become an organist? I had always loved music and played the flute and piano. Then our school music teacher gave a demonstration of the organ which was so exciting I asked for lessons. Recently I came across my report and saw the school’s response: "Organ playing is a seedy business for a girl - eerie buildings, cold and mice..." (!) But that didn’t put you off! Had you previously observed that the organ was regarded as a ‘boy’s i

How did you start playing the organ? I enjoyed learning the piano as a child and discovered the joy of singing hymns in church. The church organist said: ‘From the sound of your singing, you must be able to play the organ!’ So I started playing at Sunday services and the congregation’s encouragement prompted me to learn properly. Was it easy to find organ lessons? Sadly, no. Most organists in Japanese parish churches are untrained volunteers. Private lessons from resident

Lyn, how did your interest in women’s music begin? I needed a topic for my DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) and my husband suggested women composers. Brilliant! No one would have any knowledge of the topic, so I could avoid the competition of a well-researched area. Once finished I submitted an article to a major musicology journal and was told that my topic was “amusing but not research. Try Beethoven”. What about women’s compositions for the church? Why does that matter? “He’s