Dr. Neil Harmon

    Neil Harmon teaches organ at Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Utah Valley University. Prior to his university teaching in Utah, he worked as full-time Director of Music and Organist at Grace United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Delaware for 19 years. Dr. Harmon earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Eastman School of Music. He enjoys a career as teacher, performer, accompanist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is known throughout the country for his creative organ arrangements and for his choral and handbell compositions.

    Dr. Seth Bott

    Dr. Seth Bott is a native of Castle Dale, Utah. In May of 2020, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance at the University of Kansas, where he studied under James Higdon and Michael Bauer. He was appointed to a graduate teaching assistantship, where he taught private lessons and worked closely with the organ faculty to organize and execute organ department business. Also while a student at KU, Seth served as a sabbatical replacement professor at Kansas State University and taught the organ majors and secondary students there. Before attending the University of Kansas, he received the Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in organ performance and pedagogy from Brigham Young University, where he studied with Don Cook and Douglas Bush. 

    Seth is an active recitalist and performs many recitals around the United States every year. Some recent recital venues have included: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, New York; Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, California; Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York; University of Nevada—Las Vegas,  Las Vegas, Nevada; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, Florida; and in Hervormde Kerk, Noordbroek, Netherlands. Seth also served for many years as a Guest Tabernacle Organist on Temple Square and participated in the daily recital series performed on the famous Mormon Tabernacle Organ. 

    He has had an abundance of church music roles in many denominations, and is currently serving as Director of Music, Choir Master and Organist at St. James Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. Seth accompanies many choirs and orchestras in Utah and throughout the United States, and has a large—and ever growing—organ studio of around 30 students. In 2009, he took first place in region IX of the RCYO AGO organ competition for young organists, allowing him to perform at the National AGO convention in Washington, D.C. in 2010. 

    Renee Gastelum

    Renee Chiu Gastelum is an accomplished concert organist, church organist, concert pianist, choir accompanist, jazz pianist, improviser, composer, and educator. She hopes that the music she performs, teaches, and writes will give power to its performers and to its listeners.

    Renee will graduate in April 2025 with a Master’s Degree of Organ Performance from Brigham Young University. She became a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists at the age of 19 and an Associate of the same organization at the age of 22. Renee maintains private piano and organ studios and performs regularly on both instruments throughout Northern Utah.  

    Renee served as a volunteer representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Taipei, Taiwan from 2019-2020. Upon returning to the United States, she taught Mandarin Chinese at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Renee currently serves as an organist for both her local LDS congregation and for the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Provo. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    To learn more about Renee, feel free to visit www.reneechiumusic.com/about.

    Connor Larsen

    Originally from Alpine, Utah, Connor Larsen is an organist, church musician, and music instructor based in Utah County. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. While his concentration in his undergraduate degree was in organ, he also studied sacred music, hymnody, and conducting. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in organ performance at Brigham Young University.

    Connor began playing the organ at the age of 9 after attending a Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Christmas concert. Beginning his organ study with the late Dr. Parley Belnap, Connor has also studied with Dr. Clay Christiansen, Dr. Daniel Hester, and currently studies with Dr. Don Cook and Dr. Neil Harmon of BYU. In addition to his responsibilities as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at BYU he also works on the attributions sub-committee for the new hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serves as an organist at the Provo Missionary Training Center. Connor has also served as organist for a variety of denominations and frequently travels across the United States for performances and to play for church services.

    When Connor isn’t playing or teaching, he enjoys spending time with friends or relaxing and enjoying a Fresca.