Christian Lane 

Chris Lane has served as Assistant Organist at Third Church since September of 1999, and while Peter DuBois is on sabbatical from October 1 through February 15, he will assume all organ-playing responsibilities. Prior to joining the staff of Third Church, he was employed as the Organist and Youth Choir Director at Brook Hill United Methodist Church in Frederick, Maryland. The son of a United Methodist Pastor, he has grown up around the music of the church; singing in choirs, playing handbells, accompanying many ensembles, and playing the organ for services, or course!  

Chris is currently an undergraduate organ performance major at the Eastman School of Music, where he studies with one of America's leading concert organists, David Higgs. He also studies organ improvisation with Dr. William Porter, Professor of Organ at the New England Conservatory. At Eastman, he is also working toward earning the Sacred Music Diploma, a program headed by Peter DuBois.  

Chris recently won first prize in the 2001 Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition for Young Organists, sponsored by the American Guild of Organists (AGO). As a result, he will have the opportunity to perform at the National AGO Convention in Philadelphia during Summer 2002. Chris also earned first prize in the 2000 Albert Schweitzer National Organ Competition. He has performed recitals throughout the Northeast United States.  

Chris grew up in Walkersville, Maryland, a small (but growing!) town full of nice people and lots of cows. He graduated as valedictorian of his high school class, and kept himself busy by participating in over thirty different musical theatre productions, both at school and as a professional. He has musically directed such productions as Grease!, Carousel, South Pacific and Shenandoah. In the future, he hopes to move to New York City, where he can pursue his interests in Organ and Sacred Music, but also work to fulfill his dream of conducting on Broadway.