Guest Artist Interview with
Diane Bish
The Joy of Music
Jeannine: We have a marvelous connection in that we are native Kansans and began the study of the organ in Kansas. Please tell us the highlight of your early study in Kansas.
Ms. Bish: What influenced my early study most was a marvelous organ and an excellent orchestra at my high school in Wichita, Kansas. Having started organ study at age 14, I was often asked to play the large Austin organ at Wichita East High School. I played organ concertos with the school orchestra and I often played for school assemblies as well, where I not only entertained but introduced my fellow students to great classical organ repertoire. It was a great learning opportunity on how to program for a varied audience.
J: Your formal organ study took you from Oklahoma to Amsterdam and Paris. Who guided your work during these formative years?
Ms. Bish: I had the privilege of studying with Mildred Andrews at the University of Oklahoma. Ms. Andrews was a fabulous teacher. She worked with each student individually—learning our personalities and knowing exactly how to get the most from each of us. Technique, discipline, playing perfectly and from memory, I might add, were her expectations. She challenged me to apply for scholarships which resulted in my study with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam and Marie-Claire Alain in Paris.
J: How did your work in Europe influence your career?
Ms. Bish: Before I went to Europe, I had listened for years to recordings made by E. Power Biggs on historic European organs. Studying in Europe and playing those organs is when I decided that I wanted to follow in Mr. Bigg’s footsteps and play these organs on television. I wanted to show not only the organs, but the churches, the art, the architecture and the area surrounding the church. This really was the catalyst for “The Joy of Music” television series.
J: That is exactly what you have done! You have allowed the world to travel with you throughout Europe and even to Korea, Canada and Israel! Where does the concept begin for a “Joy of Music” show? Do you start with the music, or with the organ, or the church?
Ms. Bish: First, I have to say that I created “The Joy of Music” from nothing. This type of show had not yet been done so I didn’t have a guideline. It was really quite an adventure.
But to answer your question, 90% of the time, I want to feature a famous organ and I build a tour around that organ. For example, when we did our tour of Holland I started with the St. Bavo organ in Harlem and then added other famous organs in the area.
Then I decide on the music that goes with the organ. Then I write the scripts about the music, the church, and the town. Then I decide whether I will have a guest artist or ensemble. I have used a myriad of artists from the area. We also have to determine the “beauty shots” that will be used as additional visual materials.
Then my staff starts work to set up the tour. Then the money must be raised. We need transportation and lodging for crew of six to nine people. The details are incredible and numerous.
Then have to deal with the churches and the organists. And, organists can be very touchy. Frequently even though plans have been set for over a year, still last minute changes happen.
>J: Examples?
Ms. Bish: Oh yes! I have many stories of the challenges of recording our shows. There are so many!
> We were taping in Salzburg at St. Peter’s Church with Mozarteum String Ensemble and a choir. We had limited time so had worked hard and had a good taping for two hours. After the taping one of the camera men came up to me with a very white face and very bad news! Unfortunately, someone had forgotten to plug in the video so we had actually recorded nothing. We had no option except to quickly record everything again. Happily, though, I must say the second recording was better than the first.
J: How many networks/stations now carry “The Joy of Music”?
Ms. Bish: The show is now carried worldwide via networks and satellite. We could have an audience of 200-300 million people if everyone watched at one time. We are now picking up local stations in Europe, Korea, South Africa, and Japan. We get letters from people all over the world about the show.
J: How many shows have you recorded?
Ms. Bish: We are in our 29th year with The Joy of Music! Amazing! And, we have over 500 programs to date.
It has been an amazing experience. I will always say first that I am not a fundraiser. My talents are a gift of God. God has brought in the money for these shows. I very seldom ask for money but we have had to raise 15-20 million dollars in 28 years. I don’t know where it comes from. The Lord has brought the money in to make this project possible. I want to
to the Lord for his gifts and blessings on what I have done. It would have been impossible without His help and blessing!
It has been a great thrill for me to create “The Joy of Music”. I believe that if you do what you were called to do and you love it – you can do it!
J: Thank you, Diane. Thank you for sharing your life’s work with us and thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for bringing the world of the organ alive for millions of people around the world! We will be blessed with “The Joy of Music” for years to come.
Diane Bish
The Joy of Music
Jeannine: We have a marvelous connection in that we are native Kansans and began the study of the organ in Kansas. Please tell us the highlight of your early study in Kansas.
Ms. Bish: What influenced my early study most was a marvelous organ and an excellent orchestra at my high school in Wichita, Kansas. Having started organ study at age 14, I was often asked to play the large Austin organ at Wichita East High School. I played organ concertos with the school orchestra and I often played for school assemblies as well, where I not only entertained but introduced my fellow students to great classical organ repertoire. It was a great learning opportunity on how to program for a varied audience.
J: Your formal organ study took you from Oklahoma to Amsterdam and Paris. Who guided your work during these formative years?
Ms. Bish: I had the privilege of studying with Mildred Andrews at the University of Oklahoma. Ms. Andrews was a fabulous teacher. She worked with each student individually—learning our personalities and knowing exactly how to get the most from each of us. Technique, discipline, playing perfectly and from memory, I might add, were her expectations. She challenged me to apply for scholarships which resulted in my study with Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam and Marie-Claire Alain in Paris.
J: How did your work in Europe influence your career?
Ms. Bish: Before I went to Europe, I had listened for years to recordings made by E. Power Biggs on historic European organs. Studying in Europe and playing those organs is when I decided that I wanted to follow in Mr. Bigg’s footsteps and play these organs on television. I wanted to show not only the organs, but the churches, the art, the architecture and the area surrounding the church. This really was the catalyst for “The Joy of Music” television series.
J: That is exactly what you have done! You have allowed the world to travel with you throughout Europe and even to Korea, Canada and Israel! Where does the concept begin for a “Joy of Music” show? Do you start with the music, or with the organ, or the church?
Ms. Bish: First, I have to say that I created “The Joy of Music” from nothing. This type of show had not yet been done so I didn’t have a guideline. It was really quite an adventure.
But to answer your question, 90% of the time, I want to feature a famous organ and I build a tour around that organ. For example, when we did our tour of Holland I started with the St. Bavo organ in Harlem and then added other famous organs in the area.
Then I decide on the music that goes with the organ. Then I write the scripts about the music, the church, and the town. Then I decide whether I will have a guest artist or ensemble. I have used a myriad of artists from the area. We also have to determine the “beauty shots” that will be used as additional visual materials.
Then my staff starts work to set up the tour. Then the money must be raised. We need transportation and lodging for crew of six to nine people. The details are incredible and numerous.
Then have to deal with the churches and the organists. And, organists can be very touchy. Frequently even though plans have been set for over a year, still last minute changes happen.
>J: Examples?
Ms. Bish: Oh yes! I have many stories of the challenges of recording our shows. There are so many!
> We were taping in Salzburg at St. Peter’s Church with Mozarteum String Ensemble and a choir. We had limited time so had worked hard and had a good taping for two hours. After the taping one of the camera men came up to me with a very white face and very bad news! Unfortunately, someone had forgotten to plug in the video so we had actually recorded nothing. We had no option except to quickly record everything again. Happily, though, I must say the second recording was better than the first.
J: How many networks/stations now carry “The Joy of Music”?
Ms. Bish: The show is now carried worldwide via networks and satellite. We could have an audience of 200-300 million people if everyone watched at one time. We are now picking up local stations in Europe, Korea, South Africa, and Japan. We get letters from people all over the world about the show.
J: How many shows have you recorded?
Ms. Bish: We are in our 29th year with The Joy of Music! Amazing! And, we have over 500 programs to date.
It has been an amazing experience. I will always say first that I am not a fundraiser. My talents are a gift of God. God has brought in the money for these shows. I very seldom ask for money but we have had to raise 15-20 million dollars in 28 years. I don’t know where it comes from. The Lord has brought the money in to make this project possible. I want to
to the Lord for his gifts and blessings on what I have done. It would have been impossible without His help and blessing!
It has been a great thrill for me to create “The Joy of Music”. I believe that if you do what you were called to do and you love it – you can do it!
J: Thank you, Diane. Thank you for sharing your life’s work with us and thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for bringing the world of the organ alive for millions of people around the world! We will be blessed with “The Joy of Music” for years to come.