Municipal Organists of
the City of Portland
Beginning in 1912, Portland’s Municipal Organists were auditioned and selected by a city-appointed Music Commission. In 1976, Douglas Rafter was selected by an Ad Hoc committee assembled by the City Manager’s office. After Mr. Rafter resigned in 1981, the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ was formed and assumed responsibility of selecting municipal organists. Once an organist has been chosen, his or her name is put before the Portland City Council for official approval. Dr. Malcolm Cass, a founding and former member of the FOKO board, once served as interim Municipal Organist during 1981-1982.
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kennerley-500x500-1.png)
James Kennerley
2018-present
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cornils-at-keyboard-400x400-1.png)
Ray Cornils
1990–2017
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Earl-Miller-1988-89-R4-E068-400x400-2.png)
Earl L. Miller
1988-1989
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x400-1.png)
Gerald McGee
1983-1988
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rafter-Photo-Full-400x400-1.png)
Douglas L. Rafter
1976-1981
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/John-E-Fay-400x400-1.png)
John E. Fay
1952-1976
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Alfred-Brinkler-400x400-1.png)
Alfred Brinkler
1934-1952
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Will-Macfarlane-400x400-1.png)
Will C. McFarlane
1932-1934
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/C.png)
Charles Raymond Cronham,
1924-1932
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Edwin-H.png)
Edwin H. Lemare
1921-1923
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Irvin-John-Morgan-MO-1919-1921-R3-E054-400x400-1.png)
Irvin John Morgan
1919-1920
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Will-Macfarlane-400x4001-1.png)
Will C. McFarlane
1912-1918
Notable Performers on the Kotzschmar Organ
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kennerley-500x5001-1.png)
Berney, Monica Czausz
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cornils-at-keyboard-400x4001-1.png)
Chen, Chelsea
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Earl-Miller-1988-89-R4-E068-400x4001-1.png)
Conte, Peter
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x4001-1.png)
Elliott, Richard
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x4002-1.png)
Emerson, Katelyn
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kennerley-500x5002-1.png)
Hell, Felix
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cornils-at-keyboard-400x400-3.png)
Tom, Heywood
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Earl-Miller-1988-89-R4-E068-400x400-3.png)
Hohman, Frederick
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x400-2.png)
Jacobs, Paul
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x400-1-1.png)
James, Dennis
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kennerley-500x500-2.png)
Korndoerfer, Jens
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cornils-at-keyboard-400x400-1-1.png)
Krasinski, Peter
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Earl-Miller-1988-89-R4-E068-400x4002-1.png)
Latry, Olivier
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x4003-1.png)
Laube, Nathan
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x4004-1.png)
Lippincott, Joan
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kennerley-500x5003-1.png)
Richards, Rob
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cornils-at-keyboard-400x4003-1.png)
Strony, Walter
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Earl-Miller-1988-89-R4-E068-400x4003-1.png)
Swan, Frederick
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x4005-1.png)
Thallander, Mark
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Gerald-McGee-400x4006-1.png)
Trenney, Tom
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kennerley-500x5004-1.png)
Weaver, John
![Image](https://foko.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cornils-at-keyboard-400x4002-1.png)
Wickerham, Dave