Diane Joyce Bish (born May 25, 1941) is an American organist, composer, conductor, as well as executive producer and host of The Joy of Music television series. As a concert organist, she performs at concerts throughout North America and Europe.

Education and personal life

Diane Joyce Bish was born in Wichita, Kansas, the youngest daughter of Howard Leroy Bish and his wife Esther Jeanette, born Schuessler. Her great-grandparents, George Harold Schuessler and Magdalena Bender, migrated from Eschelbach, Germany, to Furley, Kansas, during the 1870s. Bish changed her middle name from "Joyce" to "Joy" after graduating from high school.

Bish graduated from Wichita East High School in Wichita, Kansas, in 1959. She had played on the 1925 Austin Organ installed in the school auditorium. In 1984, she returned there to play a benefit concert, which raised enough money for the organ to be restored. She became interested in the organ as a young child when listening to the Mormon Tabernacle organist Alexander Schreiner on Sunday morning programs on the radio, as well as recordings of E. Power Biggs.

Bish began studying organ as a student of Dorothy Addy, who challenged her to learn much of the classic organ repertoire during her high school years, which helped her later when she needed a variety of music for concerts and programs. Bish credited Leonhardt with teaching her "the art of music." Leonhardt taught both the harpsichord and the organ and emphasized articulation and spacing in his lessons. She joined the organization for the camaraderie of fellow musicians as well as the opportunities it offered, such as musical activities and competitions.

On October 31, 2002, in Bloomington, Indiana, a fire consumed the home that Bish shared with harpist Susann McDonald. Among the many personal possessions lost were a Yamaha grand piano and Rodgers digital organ, but both women escaped without injuries. Bish also lost most of her signature concert attire in the fire.

Her advice for young musicians is to determine what they want to do and then work hard at it. It is important to learn good technique with a serious teacher. It is also important to think about musical interpretation. She noted, "Don't be a robot – technique is one thing, but without the heart, the soul, the music doesn't touch people." She also co-founded the church's concert series as well as the Church Music Explosion international workshop for church musicians. She also explains the music by introducing nearly every number played. When playing a new organ, she first registers it, or memorizes where all of the stops are. She explained, "The first thing I do when I sit down at a new organ is just register it. I don't actually play that much because it's very important to know, first of all, where everything is. I don't preset a lot of things. It's just something I've had to do, and I find whether you have a little time or a lot, you tend to take the time you have."

The Diane Bish Signature Series of organs is available through the Allen Organ Company. In an interview where she was asked about these organs, Bish said, "My organs have more of the French in them, the reeds are more French. They’ll play anything in the strings. That’s one thing I really like in an organ — good strings. They’re very rich, very beautiful and warm, and the reeds are very fiery and exciting. The flutes are also very distinct, whether they’re a German flute or a harmonic flute or whatever, they’re very distinct. That’s very important in an organ. So I tried to pull all those aspects together in my organs." The Diane Bish Signature Series of organs also include special console finishes and six complete stop lists, including Classic Allen, Cavaillé-Coll, Schlicker, English Cathedral, Aeolian-Skinner and Arp Schnitger.

Bish is known for her elegant concert attire and sparkly organ shoes. Many of her gowns are custom-made or adapted from clothing bought off the rack.

The organ shoes that Bish wears are gold with rhinestones and are designed by her manager, Janet Jarriel. Originally, the rhinestones were multicolored, but in 2006, the shoe design was changed to use white rhinestones, which also surround the heel of the shoes.

One book has been written about Bish and her life. This book, First Lady of the Organ, Diane Bish: A Biography, by Warren L. Woodruff ,

Bish herself is also an author. In 1977, she published Church Music Explosion, which provided information and inspiration for church musicians, especially church organists. The book was updated with a new edition in 1982. The book provided guidance for the organist in selecting music, playing for worship services, working with others, and establishing a concert series. In addition, there was advice on how to demonstrate the organ to children, to build an audience for the future, along with suggested repertoire listings that could be used with both choirs and organs.

In 2013, Bish authored a book of faith entitled Warnings! End Time Scenarios, which was dedicated to the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This 110-page book featured scenarios of people who unexpectedly faced life-changing challenges and disasters; each chapter began with Bible verses that were appropriate to the situations described. In the introduction to the book, Bish noted that she had been reading various print and online sources that led her to think about how contemporary events mirrored end-time events predicted in the Bible. Accordingly, the purpose of the book was to issue a reminder that people should "hear the life-changing good news of the gospel" before it was too late.

Faith has been an important element for Bish throughout her career. She noted that she always tries to include music that provides spiritual inspiration in each of her concerts. In addition, despite her renowned talent, Bish always attributes her success to God. Her sister, Judy (Bish) Priest, was quoted as saying: "“Diane is very, very gifted,” she said, “but she always gives God the glory. She knows where her gifts come from.”

The Joy of Music Program

There are three purposes for The Joy of Music program, according to Bish: "To feature great churches and organs with performances of classical and sacred music; to reflect 'Excellence in all things and all things to God's glory;' and to educate, inspire, and enrich the lives of people through God's gifts of creation." It had taken ten years of work to make the new program a reality.

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church had constructed a new church, with a new Ruffatti organ, in 1974. The new church had television cameras that were used to broadcast the services. Between 1971 and 1981, Bish wrote proposals for a potential series but was unable to garner any interest. Then, in 1981, a supporter donated $20,000 and Bish was able to create two pilot episodes in 1982.

Bish serves as executive producer of the program and is involved in all aspects of its production. She spends a lot of time at The Joy of Music office taking care of paperwork and planning.

The majority of current European Joy of Music trips use a riverboat for travel between sites. This has made touring easier, because there is no need to pack and unpack when moving from city to city. At each stop, the group visits a church and Bish records for the program. After the records are finished, Bish then tapes the introductions and information shots that are included on the program.), filming had to be done in the middle of the night, and there were 130 steps plus a walk out onto the roof in order to reach the organ loft. The organ loft was mounted 80 feet high on a wall, and the camera person was afraid of heights. Furthermore, the restrooms were downstairs.) in Bavaria that was so cold that everyone had to wear coats, Bish had to warm her hands with a hair dryer between pieces, and the soloist's breath could be seen on the tape of the program. The program can be seen by over 300,000 people worldwide on a weekly basis. The program receives letters from many different countries, including Ghana, Thailand, Uganda, and Italy.

Since the program's beginning in the early 1980s, Bish has recorded over 500 episodes, each of which shows her playing one or more different pipe or digital organs. Many people tell her that they began playing the organ because of the Joy of Music program. One organist, Stephen Price, noted that he was "blown away" when he first saw Bish on the Joy of Music.

Awards and honors

Bish began winning organ competitions during college. In her junior and senior years at the University of Oklahoma, she placed first in the American Guild of Organists' Competition. She also won the National Organ Competition of the National Federation of Music Clubs, as well as the Original Composition Contest of the Mu Phi Epsilon National Competition. On November 4, 2016, Bish was named the organist emerita of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Also in November 2016, Bish was honored as one of the 2016 Women of Distinction by Celebrating Women International (CWI) in Nassau, Bahamas. This award is reserved for women who have made significant contributions worldwide in many fields, including the arts.

Discography

Bish has made over thirty recordings on many of the great organs of the world, including the celebrated Müller organ of the St.-Bavokerk (or Grote Kerk) in Haarlem, Netherlands, Canterbury Cathedral, and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. She is the first American woman to record at the organ of Freiburg Cathedral in Freiburg, Germany. Her recordings include music for organ and orchestra, brass and organ, cello and organ, most of the great masterpieces for solo organ, original compositions and hymn arrangements.

Selected recordings

  • Artistry of Diane Bish (1978)
  • Christmas Festival (1970)
  • Favorites from Freiburg Cathedral
  • Glorious Pipes (1990)
  • The Glory of the Organ (1980)
  • Great European Organs (1990), featuring organs of Austria, France, Germany, and the Netherlands
  • Hymns on Coral Ridge Organ
  • The Joy of Christmas (1980), accompanying the Diane Bish Chorale at organ
  • The Joy of Music presents Hymns and Classics (1990)
  • Pipes and More Pipes (1978), organ and bagpipes
  • Praise to the Lord (1985)
  • The Passion Symphony (1979)
  • Sixty-six hundred voices of praises

Works

Bish has published seven books and numerous solo pieces for organ, along with arrangements of various hymns including "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". Her compositions include:

  • Festival Te Deum, for organ and orchestra
  • Lead On, O King Eternal, for organ and choir
  • Joy of Music, organ settings of hymns
  • Passion Symphony, for organ and narrator
  • Symphony of Psalms, for organ, choir, orchestra and soloist
  • Morning Has Broken, for organ, choir, orchestra and narrator.
  • German Carol Fantasy, for organ solo
  • Dance of the Trumpets, for organ solo
  • Introduction, Theme and Variations on "All Creatures of Our God and King", for solo organ

Her books include:

  • Church Music Explosion