This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
BELLEFONTE — A local woman’s love of music keeps her going strong as she continues to tickle the ivories and the pedals of the pipe organ at St. John Lutheran Church in Bellefonte.
Virginia McClure has been “on the job” for 65 years at the church, playing the organ that she loves.
A life-long resident of Bellefonte, McClure was born at the Bellefonte Hospital on June 14, 1941, to J. Herman and Adaline D. McClure. She lived with her parents and younger brother, the late Robert L. McClure, on Logan Street until they moved to Linn Street later.
McClure began playing the organ in 1961 and hasn’t quit. At 84 years young, McClure still rehearses regularly, plays almost weekly, accompanies the choir and more. She also plays regularly for services at the Oaks in Pleasant Gap.
She took piano lessons for six years from Dorothy Schad, who was also her father’s violin teacher. Later, Peg Long, an organist who was a friend of the family, educated McClure on playing the organ.
“(Long) took me on to see if I could manage the organ,” McClure explained. “She had to see if I took to it before buying an organ for our home. Peg was the organist at St. John Reformed Church in Bellefonte. I had other teachers also — Dorothea Rosco, Zoline Reissner and June Miller for 20 years.”
McClure does not have a degree in music, but she did take the American Guild of Organists Service Playing exam and is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists.
“I had to take the test on a pipe organ — one I had never played. That was hard, because I had played in lots of places,” McClure said. “We used the pipe organ at Grace Lutheran because there had been some updating to it and I had not been back there since. So, that’s where I did my test.”
McClure says her love of the pipe organ keeps bringing her back to filling the church with sacred sound every Sunday.
“It’s still very challenging,” McClure said of playing. “I don’t have perfect pitch or the ability to sit down and just play like some. It’s hard for me and I must work at it. But I love the pipe organ.”
McClure did spread her knowledge to others, teaching a pastor’s daughter for a while.
When asked what she enjoys most about playing the organ, McClure said, “Being able (to play) at 84. I’ll be 85 in June.”
McClure’s favorite piece to play is The Passacaglia, taught to her by June Miller. She said it takes about 15 minutes to play in entirety.
Her favorite type of music is classical, especially J.H. Bach. She also enjoys hymns arranged by composer Michael Burkhardt.
McClure’s first job was at First National Bank of Bellefonte when she was just 18 years old when she started her career on Aug. 1, 1959.
“I was there for 40 years,” McClure recalled. “That became First Bellefonte Bank and Trust Co. I was a teller, proof operator, bookkeeping, helped open accounts, and more.”
She was also in a chorale group of 40 to 50 people who traveled internationally every two years and sang with groups in Germany and other countries. The furthest trips were Australia and New Zealand. She went every two years, starting in 1984 until 2000. She said she sang over Bach’s grave.
“That was a highlight of my life,” McClure said, recalling the group sang with the Liverpool Philharmonic Choir.
Linda Brown of St. John Lutheran Church was eager to share her church community’s love of McClure’s talent and dedication.
“Our church membership finds Virginia’s dedication and longevity newsworthy, and we are (happy to) honor her service to our church and community,” Brown said in a statement.
