Don Corbett, a former parishioner whose life has been intertwined with St. John's organ, returned to Fallbrook to help mark the instrument’s silver anniversary with a special performance during our Thanksgiving Sunday service.

Don, an accomplished organist and composer, is a native of Canada and received his initial musical training and degree from the Royal Conservatory in Music in Toronto. He later earned a master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach.

While living in Toronto and the Long Beach area, he played the organ for the United Church of Canada and various Methodist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches.

Don and his wife Jacqueline moved from Long Beach to Temecula in 1981. Soon afterward, he connected with St. John’s and began playing the Fallbrook congregation’s obsolete, existing instrument. Before long, congregation member Patricia Noll agreed to pay for a new organ in memory of her deceased husband. Using Corbett’s specifications, the instrument was custom designed by Abbott and Sieker Organ Builders of Los Angeles.

The company designated the organ “Opus 91” because the instrument was its 91^st creation. With some modifications, the cost of the Robert E. Noll Memorial Organ totaled about $150,000.  

Don performed some of his own compositions as well as works by Purcell, Bach, Pachelbel, Karg-Ebert, Milford and others when he played two dedicatory recitals at the church in January 1984.

Over the years, Don played the organ during countless religious services, weddings, funeral and memorials and other functions. He has composed six published organ pieces, and has performed at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City and played many of the premier organs in Canada and Europe during his travels.

 “I’m really pleased this could come about,” the 75-year-old Corbett said from Oregon, where he moved after a 26-year stint as St. John’s organist. “It’s a real privilege to come back and do this.”