Organist

Judy Bede
office@fairmontchurch.org

Judy began her service as Fairmont’s organist on September 6, 1988.

Judy grew up on a farm in Moorhead, Minnesota (twin city to Fargo, ND) with three brothers.  As a child she remembers attending a large Lutheran church, sitting in the front row every Sunday and being in awe of the big pipe organ.  Music has been a big part of her life ever since she was three years old when her parents bought an old upright piano for her older brother to take lessons.  She wasn’t allowed to take lessons until the magic age of seven, but she started playing on her own before then.  She remembers how excited she was when her third grade teacher allowed her to take the piano accompaniment book home for the weekend and she could practice the piano accompaniments for all the songs they were learning in music class.

She went on to receive her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and music education from Concordia College in Moorhead.  It was there that she first studied organ at the suggestion of one of her professors.  She remembers how challenging it was at first, but with persistence and practice she overcame those challenges and grew to love the organ.  Since then she has served as organist in many denominations, including Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, and Presbyterian.

As a musician, Judy wears many hats, including church organist, independent music teacher, accompanist for many soloists, music educator at schools and officer in many professional organizations.  Judy currently has over 40 piano students teaching Suzuki and traditional piano from Ages 4 – adult.  She is also on staff as an adjunct professor in the piano pedagogy department at Cedarville University.

Judy and her husband, Lou, have been married for 40 years and have three grown children – Jason, Shawna, and Gerrod – and five grandchildren. Judy’s hobbies include spending time with her grandchildren, sewing, gardening, and doing volunteer work as a Master Gardener.