Trainers

Don Cook joined the organ faculty of Brigham Young University in 1991. In that capacity he serves as organ area coordinator, as university carillonneur, and oversees the group organ program. Formerly he held associate organist/choirmaster positions at Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and at First United Methodist Church, Lubbock, Texas. He toured Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia with the Lubbock choir, and accompanied the Parish Choir of Christ Church Cranbrook on a singing tour of England.

After earning Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ at Brigham Young University, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance from the University of Kansas. His principal organ teachers were J.J. Keeler at BYU and James Moeser at KU. For many years he served as head of the instrumental area for the BYU Workshop on Church Music, and currently directs the annual BYU Organ Workshop, founded in 2002. He appears frequently as a Guest Organist at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Cook studied carillon with Albert Gerken while pursuing doctoral studies in organ at the University of Kansas. He became a full member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1984, and has performed actively throughout North America since that time. He has served on the Board of Directors and as chair of the Music Publications Committee for the Guild. Carillon performances include a concert tour of Holland in 1990, and a recital tour of east-coast carillons in the summer of 1992. In 1994 he hosted the annual Congress of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America at Brigham Young University.

He has developed and published the first multimedia organ tutorial for pianists, Organ Tutor Organ 101 in several versions. The tutorial is used for private and group instruction, BYU Independent Study courses, and by individuals in at least nine countries.

Sheri Peterson, a native of Los Angeles, California, reared in Bountiful, Utah and Arvada, Colorado, earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance and a degree in Family History from Brigham Young University. She is presently a graduate student at Brigham Young University, pursuing a Master’s degree in Organ Performance. As part of her graduate assistantship, Sheri teaches classes in sight singing, two different levels of group organ classes, and private organ lessons. She has played for the BYU Women’s Conference, numerous BYU devotionals, BYU Vocal Beauty Boot Camp and is currently preparing to audition to be a guest organist on Temple Square. Sheri has taught piano lessons for thirty-five years and has been a judge for piano competitions. In addition to teaching at BYU, she has a private studio of piano and organ students. Sheri is the dean of the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (UVAGO) and as such has organized organ competitions and recitals, as well as organized and taught at organ workshops. She has had her work published in The American Organist magazine and has created a data base to catalog organ repertoire. Sheri is currently ward organist, temple organist and plays for the Unitarian Church in Springville, Utah. She is also a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA), as well as a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Sheri loves gardening, is an avid family historian, and loves to spend time with her six children and two grandbabies (and is thrilled that two more are on the way).

Ceri Benson, a native of Nicollet, Minnesota, received a Master's degree in Organ Performance and Bachelor's degree in Piano and Organ Performance from Brigham Young University. She moved to the D.C. area August 2012 after completing her studies and currently works as Assistant Minister of Music at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring, MD. This position has given her the opportunity to be the director of a children's choir, conduct the mini opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, and continue to perform great works on organ and piano, both with the choir and solo. In addition to church music, she teaches early childhood music classes for the Levine School of Music. Ceri has enjoyed being a member of the Choral Arts Society of Washington where she has performed a great variety of choral works including Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the National Symphony Orchestra. Ceri is currently a member of the Washington D.C. stake.

Jonathan Evans, a native of Warrenton, VA, earned a Bachelor's degree in Organ Performance from Brigham Young University. During his senior year, Jonathan was a finalist in the annual BYU Concerto Competition, earning the chance to perform Samuel Barber's "Toccata Festiva" with the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, for his Honors Thesis he studied the British composer Charles Parry's major organ work "Fantasia and Fugue in G Major," writing an analysis and completing a scholarly edition. Jonathan has played for LDS, Anglican, Christian Scientist, and Catholic services. Currently he serves as ward organist and is an organist for Georgetown University. Jonathan and his wife, Beth, moved to the DC area over a year ago to pursue Master's degrees. He is studying Democracy and Governance at Georgetown University and has interned at the Pew Research Center and the State Department. Jonathan and Beth are currently members of the McLean stake.

Felipe Dominguez, a native from Talcahuano, Chile, moved to Utah in 2005 to pursue studies in organ. In 2010 he received a Bachelors in organ performance with a minor in Political Science and in 2012 he completed a Masters in organ performance, both at Brigham Young University. While at Brigham Young University, he was the continuo player for the BYU Chamber orchestra and performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons as harpsichord soloist and continuist, works by Handel, Mozart and others. He also performed regularly for University devotionals and Church Educational System firesides broadcasted worldwide. In 2011, Mr. Dominguez was appointed Organist and Assistant Music Director at the First Presbyterian Church of Annandale, where he has had the chance to work with one of the most acclaimed conductors of the metropolitan area, Ron Freeman. Besides his musical activities, Mr. Dominguez is pursuing a Master of Legislative Affairs at the George Washington University, has worked in the U.S. House of Representatives, and currently works full time for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority's as a procurement technician. Mr. Dominguez, his wife Brandi and their two children are currently members of the Mount Vernon stake. www.felipedominguez.net