Guest Artist Interview with Ray Cornils,
Municipal Organist and Educator
Jeannine: I would like to focus on two aspects of your amazing multi-faceted music career; your work as Portland, Maine’s Municipal Organist playing the historic Kotzschmar Organ, as well as your work as an educator. Before we get started with more detailed questions, would you please introduce yourself to our readers.

Mr. Cornils: I grew up in a small town in Illinois where the organist at the church my family attended was a graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He was a fine musician, so I grew up hearing fine organ playing. I started piano lessons at age 7 and then at age 13 began my organ studies. I majored in Organ Performance at Oberlin Conservatory (B Mus) and New England Conservatory (M Mus). After living in Boston for 10 years, my husband and I decided that we wanted to move to Maine. That was made possible when in 1987 I was hired as Minister of Music at a major UCC church (First Parish Church, UCC, Brunswick Maine). I was able to build a strong music ministry with a fully graded choral program (with choirs for ages 4 through adult) and a handbell program. The church has an 1883 Hutchings/Plaisted tracker organ and was where Harriet Beecher Stowe worshiped during the time she wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I held this position for 30 years, through the church’s 300th anniversary celebration in 2017.
In 1990 I was named the 10th Municipal Organist for the City of Portland Maine where I remained for over 27 years. Additionally I was an adjunct music faculty member at Bowdoin College in Brunswick Maine, where I taught organ, and the University of Southern Maine, in Gorham Maine, where I taught organ, harpsichord and advanced keyboard skills.
I have also been very active in the American Guild of Organists, serving in many leadership positions including being Convention Coordinator of the 2014 National AGO Convention in Boston, MA.
Jeannine: What did your work as the Municipal Organist for the City of Portland, Maine involve?
In 1990 I was named the 10th Municipal Organist for the City of Portland Maine where I remained for over 27 years. Additionally I was an adjunct music faculty member at Bowdoin College in Brunswick Maine, where I taught organ, and the University of Southern Maine, in Gorham Maine, where I taught organ, harpsichord and advanced keyboard skills.
I have also been very active in the American Guild of Organists, serving in many leadership positions including being Convention Coordinator of the 2014 National AGO Convention in Boston, MA.
Jeannine: What did your work as the Municipal Organist for the City of Portland, Maine involve?