Welcome to the World of Tedde Gibson

Tedde Gibson is one of those rare musicians who seems equally at home wherever there are keys, pedals, pipes, or a Hammond organ involved. Equally accomplished in classical and theatre pipe organ performance, jazz, gospel, Hammond organ, and piano, Tedde brings these musical worlds together with an unmistakable blend of versatility, artistry, technical skill, and joy.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Tedde began studying piano at the age of four with Gail Brooks and the late Dorothy Bade. His musical education soon expanded to the organ, studying with the late Dr. Edward Hansen, former President of the American Guild of Organists and Professor of Organ at the University of Puget Sound. While at UPS, Tedde also studied piano with Dr. Stephen Moore and voice with the late Dr. Thomas Goleeke.

His studies continued with Dr. J. Melvin Butler of the University of Washington and with David Dahl, Organist Emeritus of Pacific Lutheran University, in classical improvisation. While attending the University of Washington, he studied organ with Dr. Carol Terry. His theatre organ training included coaching from internationally recognized artists Jonas Nordwall of Portland, Oregon, and the late Andy Crow of Olympia, Washington.

Before moving to the East Coast, Tedde served as organist at First Assembly of God/Life Center in Tacoma and First AME Church in Seattle.

After relocating east, he continued his studies with Dr. Mickey Thomas Terry of Howard University, editor of an eleven-volume anthology devoted to music by African American composers. Tedde also attended the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied in the organ studio of Dr. John Walker and received additional coaching from Donald Sutherland.

Tedde is the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS), an organization devoted to preserving and promoting the theatre organ, its history, performance traditions, and its place as a uniquely American musical treasure. He holds the distinction of being the first African American to serve in this leadership role.

Over the years, Tedde has had the opportunity to record, accompany, and collaborate with an impressive group of gospel, jazz, Broadway, and entertainment artists, including Jennifer Holliday, Ernest Pugh, Twinkie Clark, Edmonia Jarrett, Gaye Arbuckle, Melba Moore, Shawn McLemore, and Mario Cantone, among many others.

For eighteen years, Tedde served as Organist and Musician-in-Residence at First Baptist Church of Highland Park in Landover, Maryland. Somehow finding a few extra hours in the week, he also taught general vocal music for fourteen years at Highland Park Christian Academy. He has additionally served as an organist at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Roman Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.

Today, Tedde wears several musical hats—and wears them well. He serves as Chief of Fine Arts at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries in Baltimore, Maryland; Organist at Capitol Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church in Washington, D.C.; and House Organist for the Weinberg Center for the Performing Arts in Frederick, Maryland.

He is also an Artist and Tonal Professional with R. A. Daffer Organs of Jessup, Maryland, representing the Allen Organ Company of Macungie, Pennsylvania, in Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Cecil Counties. In addition to performing and consulting, Tedde maintains a private studio where he teaches piano and organ, helping the next generation of musicians discover what can happen when you put your hands—and sometimes both feet—to work.

As a performer, educator, and consultant, Tedde appears regularly throughout the United States. His work includes concerts, workshops, silent-film accompaniment, organ design and installation consultation, and educational programs introducing audiences to the fascinating worlds of both theatre and classical pipe organs.

He has been featured at conventions of the Organ Historical Society, American Guild of Organists, and American Theatre Organ Society.

Whether he is performing Bach, accompanying a silent film, playing a gospel favorite, bringing a theatre organ to life, or helping design a new instrument, Tedde Gibson approaches music with the same goal: to connect with people, tell a story, and have a little fun along the way.