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PHOTO: Phil House, center, with First Universalist Church of Auburn Choir Director Pam Weeks, left, and the Rev. Jodi Hayashida. The bouquet on the piano was given to House in recognition of his 35th anniversary as the church’s organist. (Submitted photo)
AUBURN – The first Universalist Church of Auburn celebrated organist Phil House’s 35 years at the church on Jan. 8 with a special performance by House, who is known for his stride technique and stirring spiritual style.
House became the church’s organist since 1988, and has made Auburn UU his home because of the congregation’s mutual respect and compassion for each, and “our mission of embracing each other’s search for spiritual development,” he said.
House’s musical ministry remains true to aphorism “When words fail, music speaks,” church officials said. He always prepares exactly the right piece of music to suit any situation.
House was invited to give an organ concert at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria, in 1998, but he is more often found playing at Poland Spring Inn or local nursing homes.
“When I see smiles, tears and foot-tapping from someone who previously showed no emotion at all,” House said. “That is spiritual to me. I have reached down into that person’s soul for that moment.”
House began playing piano by ear at age 5. Without formal study music, he played at the Bryant Pond Baptist Church at age 12 and became organist of the Deering Memorial United Methodist Church in South Paris at age 16, as well as the Norway United Methodist Church. Hel attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey for a year, but found it too formal. He was hired to play at Auburn UU in 1970 by Vesta Orr, long-time organist, when she was giving up the position.
Then, in 1972, House moved to Nashville, where he played piano professionally for 13 years as organist at St. John’s United Methodist Church and at St. Thomas Hospital Chapel. At John’s, the minister would often tell the congregation. “I could easily dismiss all of you now because we have just heard the sermon from the organ.”
Returning to Maine in 1986, House tarted searching for a church to play for. He met Auburn UU organist Jonathan Whitmore while playing at Graziano’s Restaurant in Lisbon. Whitmore referred him to Judy Webber, choir director at that time. Vesta Orr told Webber, “I don’t care how much he charges, hire him.”
House’s music can be heard nearly every Sunday during 10 a.m. worship service at the First Universalist Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant St.
