Dylan Concerts create community at St. Thomas UMC
Dylan Thiele and the Wurlitzer organ at the Fargo Theatre in Fargo, North Dakota.
“I have been very blessed with the unique experience of providing organ music to people. The organ music is not only about the church but about introducing people to each other and music that they seem thrilled to hear,” said Dylan Thiele, who is a junior at Fargo North High School.
About five years ago, with some inspiration from Neon Bible by Arcade Fire, a Canadian rock band, Thiele took up playing the organ. When COVID hit, Dylan Thiele found himself doing high school online. He found that online courses really did not fit his style of learning. One thing that helped was getting away to St. Thomas, North Dakota, where his grandparents live and his dad farms.
“My grandparents have an upright piano. So, I would head back to Fargo on weekends just to practice organ,” said Dylan. “One day, I was in the café in St. Thomas, and one of the people working there said that there was an organ at the United Methodist Church in town. Then the next day, she gave me a key to practice playing the organ at the church.”
When Dylan was practicing organ at the church, Karen Bigwood, the worship lay leader at St. Thomas UMC, approached Dylan and asked him if he would like to perform for church and community members.
“It was inspiring to hear Dylan playing. I thought it would be a great way for people to get together,” said Bigwood. “We needed a chance to gather and have some fun. We have called them Dylan Concerts.”
The first concert was held in June of 2021. There have been four so far, with the next one scheduled at St. Thomas UMC on May 22, 2022. About 25-30 people attend each concert, where a free-will donation is taken. Fifty percent of the proceeds go to Dylan, and the 50% go to the mission efforts of St. Thomas UMC.
“So far, we have been able to give back $514 to community projects like the Little Free Food Pantry,” said Karen.
Dylan uses the funds he receives to pay for gas in his car and save money for the future. He spends a lot of his time learning and playing the organ.
A playlist from a Dylan Concert at St. Thomas UMC.
“I am taking lessons from Michael Olson, the Minister of Music at First Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota. He is an incredible musician and teacher. I also play the Wurlitzer Organ at the Fargo Theater.”
Dylan also plays the organ at First Lutheran Church in Fargo. He played the Wurlitzer Organ at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, Arizona, when he visited Arizona.
The pandemic slowed his playing gigs at the Fargo Theater, but his schedule is slowly picking up. Meanwhile, he is preparing for the May 22 concert at St. Thomas UMC.
Dylan Concerts are about 45-60 minutes long. He incorporates Hollywood show tunes with some traditional music.
Some of Dylan’s biggest fans are his grandparents and their friends. “They don’t miss a concert,” said Dylan.
Dylan Concerts have created a swirl of attention. He hopes to continue the concerts at St. Thomas UMC and maybe find a place to perform in nearby Grafton, North Dakota. He will also continue playing the organ at the Fargo Theater and First Lutheran Church in Fargo.
A youth playing the organ is a niche, says Dylan. Last summer, he attended the Summer Youth Academy of the American Theatre Organ Society.
“When I tell people I play the organ, people look at me with a confused look. I was so happy and blessed at the academy to meet Jelani Eddington. Who knows what will be next?”
