MSI Accompanist, Karl Harsney....

           Karl Harsney graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a bachelor of music degree (organ performance) and partially completed a master’s degree in organ before taking his first full-time church music position in Hanover, PA.  Organ teachers included Roberta Gary, Wayne Fisher, and David Mulbury.  Further music studies were done at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.

            His thirty years experience in church music has included directing vocal choirs and handbell groups of all ages, as well as working with myriads of instrumentalists. At larger churches he established concert series, participated in ecumenical musical programs, and took his church music ministry to nursing homes and other organizations outside the church.  Karl presently serves as Organist and Director of Music at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Akron.

            Karl served two terms as Dean of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA, area) and presently serves as Treasurer of the Akron Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.  For four years he has served as treasurer and executive board member for the 80+-year-old Akron “Friends of Music.”

           Karl lives with his wife, Terry, also a musician and organist, in Fairlawn.  His hobbies include digital photography, growing roses and dahlias, as well as maintaining a vegetable garden.