School of Music

Organ Studio

Fall 2023
Jonathan Stewart

Jonathan Stewart is a senior music history major at the University of Florida. He currently serves as an accompanist at Redemption Orthodox Presbyterian Church and performs with a variety of ensembles at the University of Florida as a pianist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, vocalist, and percussionist. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess and listening to obscure jazz albums.

Fall 2023
Maggie Tran

Maggie Tran is a junior piano major with a minor in Spanish. She was raised in Saint Petersburg, FL and attended Pinellas County Center for the Arts. She currently serves at Wesley United Methodist Church as their pianist and organist. Outside of the practice room, Maggie can be found gardening or getting swole with the Gator Weightlifting Club.

Fall 2023
Gavan McVey

Gavan is a senior organ performance major at the University of Florida and a recipient of the Friends of Music Scholarship. He worked as organist for three and a half years at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palatka, FL, and currently serves as the organist at First United Methodist Church of Gainesville. Gavan stays active in the Gainesville chapter of the American Guild of Organists, giving concerts at various churches near the University of Florida. When Gavan is off the bench, he is on the bike, serving as vice president of the UF Cycling Club. 

Fall 2023
Justin Barber

Justin Barber, born and raised outside Orlando Florida, has been deeply involved with classical music his whole life, from being a violist in the symphony to playing the organ for church services. He is currently a junior at the University of Florida pursing degrees in music performance (with a focus on the organ) and business management. Outside of his academic endeavors, Justin is a member of the University of Florida Symphony Orchestra on campus, works for the University Auditorium, and is heavily involved with Jewish life as he just got back from Israel interning for a tech company summer 2023.

Fall 2023
Gabriel Johnston

Gabriel Johnston is a Ph.D. student studying geophysics under Professor Allesandro Forte. He minored in music at UF, taking courses in organ, viola, piano, and composition. He continues to push his improvisation and organ skills continuing his studies with Dr. Ellis. Currently, he serves as the organist and choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church in Indian Rocks Beach, FL, and collaborates as a ballet pianist for the UF dance department.

Fall 2023
John-Peter S. Ford

 John-Peter S. Ford is a PhD student in Music History and Literature at the University of Florida. His research interests include American Comic Opera by Robert Ayres Barnet, music of the Habsburg Empire during the Long Eighteenth Century, sacred music, and music’s evocation of landscape. He is currently working on the sacred music of the Habsburg Empire and a reevaluation of the works of Antonio Salieri.

John-Peter has presented research on Robert Ayres Barnet and George Chadwick’s Tabasco at national and regional conferences. He currently sings with the University of Florida Choirs as he is working on a cognate in choral and instrumental conducting. While at UF he has been active as President of the Student Society for Musicology. He currently serves as a Senator and School of Music Representative for the Graduate Student Union, sits on the Student Council of Representatives for the School of Music, as well as being a teaching assistant.

John-Peter received his Bachelor’s in Music Education with a concentration in voice from Mississippi State University where he studied voice with Ryan Landis, conducting with Gary Packwood, and theory and composition with James William Sobaskie. He received a Master’s in Musicology at the University of Mississippi under the tutelage of Thomas Peattie, where he received multiple grants and scholarships for his thesis research on Robert A. Barnet and George Chadwick’s Tabasco.

John-Peter is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Phi Kappa Lambda. He currently is the Organist at Grace Presbyterian Church in Gainesville. In his spare time he enjoys playing and listening to show tunes, running races, playing tennis, and playing in a local kickball league.

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