Name: Michael Herrmann
Age: 13
School:
Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Key to Awesomeness: Michael Herrmann, a seventh grader at St. Michael Parish School, plays the organ for all school masses and for St. Michael Church. He’s been playing the piano since first grade and became interested in learning to play the organ after tinkering with his Grandma’s organ.
Herrmann bugged his mom, Maureen, for organ lessons for an entire year before she agreed. “Michael was enthralled with playing the organ because it has so much more to offer than the piano,” said Maureen Herrmann.
Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
When her son was in fourth grade, Maureen Herrmann approached Christopher Orf, Music Director at St. Michael Church for help in locating a teacher. Orf agreed to one lesson with Herrmann to determine the best course.
“Michael had great potential and was very excited to learn to play the organ,” said Orf, who has been teaching Herrmann since their first meeting.
“Michael has an insatiable curiosity and is absolutely dedicated to learning to play the organ,” Orf said.
“Like most students of his age, Michael is polite, well-spoken and very inquisitive and busy with school things. Give him the opportunity to sit down and play and his inquisitive nature becomes an overwhelming enthusiasm…If Michael sits down, he could stay there for hours experimenting with sounds and practicing the music he is preparing. Music is a language that Michael excels in,” Orf explained.
In addition to playing the organ and piano, Herrmann participates in a host of sports: football, cross-country, basketball, slalom water skiing, wake boarding and snow skiing.
Herrmann describes his two proudest moments: First, recently earning a ribbon for 25th place in cross-country. Second, playing the organ for the Easter service where he was also an altar server. “It was really cool. No other altar server had ever done it before,” Herrmann said.
His parents surprised Herrmann by purchasing an organ a year after he began lessons.
Herrmann said that he enjoys playing an instrument that not many kids play and likes the “big noise” that it makes.
