Music at Eden

Dr. Jessie Wenchieh Lo, Music Director, Organist & Pianist

A native of Taipei, Taiwan, Jessie received her first piano lessons from her mother, SuMei Shen, when she was 5 years old and played her first public performance at age 9. Aside from many national awards in her native country, Dr. Lo has won prizes in international competitions and her performances have been heard in many countries, including Taiwan, Japan, Austria, Germany, San Marino, Spain, Italy, Belarus, Poland, Brazil, England, and in the U.S. Jessie received the Bachelor and Master degrees in piano performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria, where she studied with Hans Petermandl and Michael Krist. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from Boston University in 2012, where she had been Teaching Assistant for private piano lessons, as well as Collaborative Piano Assistant. Jessie’s dissertation was Piano Music of Mathilde Kralik von Meyrswalden (1857-1944) and was also published by Certosa Verlag in Germany. Jessie was pianist/organist for Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Vienna from 2000 to 2007, during which she performed several organ/piano concerts in various old churches in Austria. She was organist/pianist at Church of Christ, Scientist in Marshfield, Massachusetts From 2008-2012. She was the Associate Music Director and Organist/Pianist at Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee Florida from 2013 to August 2015 when she began her work at Eden Church. In addition to her church service and concert engagements, Dr. Lo is a dedicated music teacher with knowledge and experience in methods taught in Asian, Europe, and America. She also speaks Mandarin, Taiwanese, English and German fluently and has knowledge of Italian and Portuguese. Jessie’s husband, whose name is also Jessie, is a classical guitarist. The couple has two children, Natalie and Neal, and a beloved cat, Silver. Jessie describes herself as passionate about her work as a church organist/pianist/musician. “Playing music to serve God,” she writes, “is a way for me to connect to my deepest beliefs, and it is a way to bring people closer to the ultimate serenity/peace in their hearts.”

Instrumental Music

Eden’s Swain & Kate’s pipe organ was designed in Germany and purchased and installed in the Sanctuary in 1965. The organ has a full pedal and three manual keyboards with thirty-three ranks and 44 stops, allowing for an enormous variety of instrumental sounds. The Great is unenclosed and the Swell and Choir are enclosed. The console was rebuilt, a MEDI system was added, the action was digitized, and the resonators and acoustical cloth were replaced in 2013-2014.

Piano accompaniment on the Baldwin and Steinway grand pianos are a frequent feature of Sunday, memorial, and wedding services. Instruments heard at holiday and other special services include brass, woodwinds, strings, handbells, Orff keyboards, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, synthesizer, and drums.

At various intervals throughout the year we also have musical guests, such as our favorite bluegrass band, Roanoke Revival.

You’re Invited to Join Our Music Ministry!

Are you interested in shaping the musical landscape at Eden? Are you willing to serve God through active participation and spiritually fulfilling experience?

Eden Choir Schedule: The Choir continues with a new rehearsal schedule at 9am and 11:30am every Sunday. All are welcome to stop by and sing! For more information, contact our Music Director & Organist Dr. Jessie Lo.

Eden Music Program: Eden’s music program provides a wide variety of musical styles and welcomes one and all to serve in the Ministry of Music. Interested in playing instrumental music? Interested in singing? Join the Eden choir! If you’d like to be a part of the music making process for certain services but have little prior knowledge of music? You are welcome to sign up with Dr. Jessie Lo to coordinate repertoire and schedule.