Livestream: Tedde Gibson
Tedde Gibson is one of a few musicians able to play not only classical and theatre pipe organ, but also jazz and gospel on the Hammond and piano. He integrates all of these styles into his playing of the theatre and classical pipe organ which for him are the ultimate vehicles to showcase his talents.
A native of Tacoma, WA, Tedde began playing piano at age four, studying with Gail Brooks and the late Dorothy Bade. He later studied pipe organ with the late Dr. Edward Hansen, president of the American Guild of Organists and organ professor at the University of Puget Sound (UPS). He also studied piano with Dr. Stephen Moore and voice with the late Dr. Thomas Goleeke at UPS. He has studied classical improvisation with David Dahl, organist emeritus of Pacific Lutheran University and Christ Episcopal Church of Tacoma, WA, and Dr. J. Melvin Butler, formerly of the University of Washington(UW) and St. Marks Cathedral, Seattle, WA. While attending UW, he studied pipe organ with Dr. Carol Terry. Tedde has also coached with international theatre organist Jonas Nordwall of Portland, OR and the late Andy Crow of Olympia, WA. He was organist at First Assembly of God/Life Center in Tacoma and First AME Church in Seattle. Since moving to the Metropolitan DC area in November, 2003, he has studied classical organ with international organist Dr. Mickey Thomas Terry, editor of the 8+ volume anthology of organ works by African American composers. Tedde was an organ performance major at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD in the organ studio of Dr. John Walker.
He cut his theatre organ teeth as an organist at Pizza and Pipes in Tacoma, WA for 5 years until that restaurants’ untimely demise due to fire in 1999. He played many concerts and silent films on the premier instruments of the area including the 4-manual 48-rank Wurlitzer in Harbor Manor, Gig Harbor; the Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA; and the Mt. Baker Theatre in Bellingham, WA.
Tedde has recorded and accompanied several gospel and jazz artists including Twinkie Clark, Jennifer Holiday, Melba Moore, Edmonia Jarrett, Shawn McLemore, Twinkie Clark and Dorinda Clark-Sheard.
Tedde is organist/musician-in-residence at the First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover, MD (www.fbhp.org), organist at Capitol Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Church (www.capitolhillsdachurch.org), and Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Roman Catholic Church, both in DC. He teaches general music and performing arts at Highland Park Christian Academy in Landover, MD, and teaches piano and organ privately.
Tedde performs annually on the Hardman Studio Wurlitzer located in Great Falls, VA. He is a regular at the Seattle Paramount Theatre performing on their annual “Silent Movie Mondays” series on their original Publix 1 Wurlitzer pipe organ. In addition to performing for many chapters of the American Theatre Organ Society, Tedde has performed on both the Wurlitzer and Grand Court Organ at Wanamakers/Macys in Philadelphia, PA, the Hardman Estate, the Sanfilippo Estate, Dickenson High School, and numerous theatres, schools and performance venues across the country. Tedde has produced two recordings on the Hardman Studio Wurlitzer: At Last and Let There Be Praise Volume I. He is currently finishing Let There Be Praise Volume II as well as a classical and theatre organ-styled recording on the Hardman Studio Wurlitzer.
Tedde is in his third term as vice chairman of the board of The American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) (www.atos.org), a non-profit organization charged with preserving the theatre organ, its history and performance practices, and educating new audiences about this uniquely American instrument.