[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.91″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Top Image” _builder_version=”3.0.105″ show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” src=”http:\/\/carolinanewsandreporter.cic.sc.edu\/test\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/PianoP2WF_MJS-1.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”2px|0px|8px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Top Image caption” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_font_size=”12px” background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
Columbia musician, Matthew Ganong, lets the emotion flow out of the piano as he plays one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s fugal works.<\/p>\n
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Ganong serves as the organist and choirmaster at Church of the Epiphany in Northeastern Columbia, a commonly shared role in the Anglican community.<\/p>\n
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Tony Ganong does his best to attend all of his son’s performances, but particularly enjoys his weekly performances at Epiphany Cathedral.<\/p>\n
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The Anglican Church of the Epiphany is tucked away on a corner of N. Beltline Blvd. in Columbia, but that doesn\u2019t stop regulars from attending Ganong\u2019s recitals.<\/p>\n
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Ganong appreciates the people who take the time to attend his shows, and always makes himself available afterwards to talk about the music.<\/p>\n
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With a few simple strikes of a piano\u2019s keys, Matthew Ganong can send any room into a soothing trance.<\/p>\n
Every Thursday at noon, Ganong gives a free concert at Church of the Epiphany, an Anglican Catholic cathedral, where he also serves as the organist and choirmaster.\u00a0 The experience is equal parts relaxing massage and demonstrative musical theatre.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just really like to get into the music,\u201d said Ganong. \u201cIt\u2019s good to get into it and feel like a conductor, and the piano is the most orchestral instrument.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ganong is going into his third year giving free performances at Church of the Epiphany, and he rarely misses a week. The music varies from the Renaissance period to the 20th<\/sup> century and some of Ganong\u2019s own compositions.<\/p>\n Ganong began taking piano lessons at the age of seven and eventually began studying under John Williams at the USC School of Music, from his seventh grade year through high school.\u00a0 Tony Ganong, Matthew\u2019s father, remembers how his son\u2019s love of music bled through at all times, even when he was at Dreher High School.<\/p>\n \u201cAt his lunch break he\u2019d go into where they had a grand piano and he\u2019d sit there and play while kids would flock around him,\u201d said Tony Ganong. \u201cBut it wasn\u2019t like he was solely focused on music. He had a normal social life and played sports.\u201d<\/p>\n After he graduated from Dreher, Ganong attended the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland, where he majored in piano and minored in harpsichord. Following that he moved to Chicago to freelance as a musician.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d do anything and everything in Chicago,\u201d said Ganong. \u201cI was kind of like a musical harlot.\u201d<\/p>\n This led Ganong to return to his roots in S.C. Upon returning Ganong found himself mainly playing alone so he contacted Bishop Paul Hewett, Church of the Epiphany rector, about having the weekly performances. Bishop Hewett readily agreed and the recitals began. Ganong receives no extra compensation for his weekly serenades, but there is an offering plate for those who wish to give. Ganong continues to freelance in the Midlands and has served as a substitute organist for many local churches.<\/p>\n Ganong continually impresses not only the people who come to his recitals, but even his colleagues. Fr. Paul Sterne, the Assistant Priest at Church of the Epiphany, says Matthew is one of the easiest organists to work with.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s one of the most talented musicians in Columbia, and he always impresses me,\u201d Fr. Sterne said. \u201cOrganists can be difficult and there\u2019s this old joke about the difference between an organist and a terrorist, at least you can negotiate with the terrorist. But Matthew is isn\u2019t like that at all he\u2019s easy to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n Those who attend Ganong\u2019s weekly concerts are treated to a mixture of concert hall worthy music and a small appreciation of the pieces being played. Ganong enjoys pausing at points during his playing to give the audience an interpretation of the selection. This openness with his audience makes Ganong extremely approachable.<\/p>\n \u201cI do have regulars,\u201d Ganong said. \u201cBut it is a mixture with new people. I normally have a social hour afterward whether I feel like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n