11/5/2009 7:50:02 AM

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By Sarah Lysne

Post-Bulletin, Austin MN 

Janet Gilbertson has been a church organist and pianist at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Austin since 1959.

	Reception Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1600 W. Oakland Ave., will celebrate Janet Gilbertson's 50 years of service with a party in her honor after the 9 a.m. service Sunday.

The church will honor her efforts this Sunday after its 9 a.m. service.

Being a church organist now is just the latest chapter in Gilbertson's long history as a musician.

"I remembered my kindergarten teacher playing the piano, and I thought, "That is so neat,'" said Gilbertson, who grew up in Vermillion, S.D. "We owned a piano, and my mother played it sometimes. When I was in second grade, I started taking lessons."

The lessons continued and continued. For Gilbertson it was a joy.

"I took lessons throughout my whole childhood," Gilbertson said. "My mother often asked me if I wanted to stop taking lessons in the summer, but I usually kept taking them. By the time I was in junior high, I was accompanying many of the school choirs."

The Rev. Glenn Monson, who has worked with Gilbertson for almost 14 years said, "I am always in awe of how Janet is constantly challenging herself to learn new and difficult pieces. The congregation is so grateful for all the beautiful, new and traditional music that she shares with us."

Gilbertson credits her love of music for fueling her diligence to practicing nearly every day. It also helped that there were fewer diversions, she said.

"I knew I was expected to practice every day, so after school I went home and practiced," she said. "I think I enjoyed it because I became good at it. It was something I knew I could do.

"Also, there were not as many distractions when I was growing up. There weren't any girls sports, and we didn't have a TV or computers, so it was fun to have a piano to play."

When Gilbertson was in high school, she decided she would like to learn to play the organ. She started to take lessons from her church organist at the Lutheran church she and her family attended. When she was a senior in high school, she played for two church services every Sunday morning. After her own church's service, she would run down the alley and play for the Methodist church.

"Sometimes I really had to hurry to make it to the second service on time," Gilbertson said.

She still keeps a busy schedule today in Austin.

For many years, she taught piano lessons. In addition to her work at the church, she accompanies the Austin Symphony Orchestra, when needed, and the Austin Symphony Choir. She also enjoys playing in Austin's Ecumenical Bell Choir.

"I just cherish the wonderful relationships I have had over the years with pastors, choir directors and other staff," Gilbertson said.

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