July 11, 2001

Musician mechanically inclined

Steve Warner fully understands mechanics behind his organ music

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       Living a life of synergy, organist Steve Warner finds it a natural extension that his musical studies at the University of Michigan are supplemented by mechanical engineering courses.
      Pursuing a double degree on what he calls the six-and-a-half-year plan, Warner plans to combine his avocations into a career including organ performance and building. Already an accomplished organist with a regular gigs downstate, he also has a summer apprenticeship with an organ builder in Oregon under his belt, making pipes with the other 'organ nerds.'
      As he heads for a five-week tour of France this summer, including two weeks studying at the Institute of Organ Studies, his dreams continue to come true.
      "There is no instrument that can hit you with such a sound as an organ," he said. "But at the same time, the organ can be very lyrical and singing."
      The mechanics of an organ, which can feature thousands of pipes controlled by multiple keyboards and dozens of pedals and levers, are equally fascinating to Warner.
      "Open up a pipe organ and you see the most magnificent machine ever created," said Warner, whose years of volunteering at the Music House Museum helped build his dual interests. "Having a perception of how the instrument is built and works helps you control the instrument and have an expression of that when playing."
      Sunday evening, Warner gave his local 'fan club' of family and friends a taste of his music in an organ recital featuring music of the French Romantic period. The hour-long recital at the First Congregational Church drew more than 80 people, who jumped into a standing ovation at the end of the performance. The performance, his fourth local recital, was a repeat of his senior recital, which he gave in Ann Arbor this spring.
      That recital marked the finale of his music studies for his degree. With little overlap between his majors other than English classes, Warner has mixed his courses some each semester but focused on finishing his music requirements first.
      "I completed my music courses first because it is easier to make money as a musician while in school," Warner said. "I have a year and a half of engineering courses to go now. The organ department has been supremely supportive of my double major, not all studios are supportive of that."
      A Traverse City native, Warner graduated from Traverse City Senior High in 1996. While in school, he played French horn in the band and orchestra and was drum major of the marching band his senior year. His interest in the organ remained steady but in the background during his school years in Traverse City, but he continued to develop as a musician, performer and singer in that time.
      "Steve stood out and was very, very intelligent," said John Campbell, former band director for Traverse City Senior High during Warner's time there. "He was one of those kinds of people who always seemed to have a grasp of what is going on. He was kind of a unique individual in that not only was he a very talented musician, but mature beyond his years as a student."
      Maturity for Warner began young, when at five he knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up. Raised in a musical family, where his grandfather was a dean in the School of Music at the University of Michigan and his grandmother played string bass in the Traverse Symphony Orchestra for years.
      The fateful day came when he and his parents were in Grand Rapids, visiting a restaurant called the Roaring 20s. This restaurant had a movie palace organ and after hearing it play, Warner turned to his parents and said that is what he wanted to do when he grew up.
      "They said, 'Then you better start taking piano lessons,'­" Warner recalled. "I already really liked the music but to see someone playing popular music on it was it for me."
      Warner began piano lessons a few years later and studied the organ for three years locally. His interest diminished some in high school with all his other musical and class commitments. In fact, he loved playing the piano so much, he originally entered University of Michigan to study the piano and engineering, driven to be a concert pianist. A strategic sabbatical by his piano teacher there led hem back to the organ.
      "I knew within two weeks of being in the organ studio, I knew I belonged there," Warner noted.