Dr. Chelsea Vaught is a Henderson native who is known for her musical talent on the organ. She has recently received attention for the peculiar interest in organs at her church where she works in Indiana. While there may be a unique interest for the instrument in her congregation, it comes as no surprise that having an extremely talented organist behind the keyboards is also very helpful.
Vaught unknowingly began what would be a tremendous career in music when she started piano lessons, similar to the one right here, in June of 1991, just before entering second grade. It wasn’t until her freshman year of high school, however, that she actually had her first organ lesson. She began playing the organ at the prompting of Kathryn Goertzen who thought Chelsea would make a great organist and recommended her to organist Laura Steingard. At first, the thought of learning this instrument was very overwhelming because she knew the organ at Bethesda had three keyboards and pedal to play.
Overcoming her apprehensions, Chelsea persevered through lessons and began playing for worship services at Bethesda. She remembers gradually falling in love with playing the organ and playing for worship services. Music became an avenue to open up and connect with people at a time in her life when she was rather shy. Chelsea also received great encouragement from the congregation at Bethesda and other community members which helped her realize the giftedness she had.
This passion drove Vaught to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Bethel College. She didn’t stop there, however, as she continued to the University of Kansas where she earned a Master of Music in Church Music and then a Doctor of Musical Arts in Church Music, both with an organ emphasis. So far in her career, she has been able to bless six different congregations through her education and talent by serving as an organist for them.
Besides completing her doctorate, Vaught has had many exciting highlights her her organ career. In January 2012, she played a solo organ recital at the Washington DC National Cathedral. In April 2011, she placed in the top three in the North America round of the Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition and won a trip to Russia for the semifinals. In April of 2010, she won second prize in the Arthur Poister National Organ Competition in New York, and as a result, she was invited back to perform a recital at Syracuse University. These are just some of her more recent accomplishments.
Currently, she is the Director of Music/Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Vaught had actually been in a competition at the church once and fell in love with it. Just as she was finishing her doctorate, an available position was posted at First Presbyterian, and Vaught got the job.
As Chelsea continues to play the organ, she really loves the ability it has to enhance worship. She also appreciates how music can connect with a variety of people, such as a special-needs teenager who visited her church once with his father and has come back every Sunday with a newfound love for the organ. With a caring heart, Chelsea even let the boy and his father sit in the loft with her during a recent recital. She found joy watching him enjoy the music and reminding herself that this is why she does her job.
While there are challenges that face young organists today, such as dying organ programs and a lack of church jobs, Vaught believes that as long as there are people to play the instrument, organs will continue to be used in churches. She says that a shortage of young people learning to play the organ could likely have the most impact on its use.
Vaught credits the musical foundation that was laid in Henderson as having a great influence on her future in music. Through the years, I’ve realized that being involved in a strong band and choir program throughout school and various musical activities at Bethesda helped lay a strong musical foundation and helped lead me to where I am today, says Vaught. She is grateful for all the people who influenced her musically throughout the years such as Don Peters, Sandra Quiring, Lynn Hall, Royce Schweitzer, and Laura Steingard. As I have spread my wings, I have learned that not everyone is fortunate to be from a community where the arts are valued so highly. I am grateful to be from a community that supports and encourages young musicians!
Congratulations to Chelsea on all of her hard work and well-deserved success! Henderson is fortunate to claim being the hometown of such an accomplished young musician.
