Directory of Organists
Who Can Play the Organ at the Chapel? The University Organist will play for all events in which the organ is used. A guest organist may play only with the consent of the University Organist and the University Organist will be present at all times. The University Organist will continue to receive their customary fees.
Edwina Beard has been the Organist at the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel since 1977. She has a master's degree in organ performance from UNM and has served on the faculty of the UNM department of music. She has extensive experience as a recitalist, church musician and accompanist. Edwina works full-time, but will return messages within 24 hours.
- Phone: 505-828-0673 (please leave a message)
Donese Mayfield has been a professional musician (organ, piano and Celtic harp) in Texas and New Mexico for many years. Donese performs solo on the Celtic harp and in an ensemble with harp, flute and guitar. She has written a teaching curriculum for folk harp, has released two CDs and has conducted folk harp workshops across the southwest. She has served on staff as a church organist at several Presbyterian churches in the Albuquerque area. Donese's musical talent is in great demand for private parties, weddings, funerals and church services. She especially enjoys playing for weddings, performing at approximately 100 weddings a year.
- Phone: 505-450-2109
Michael McHugh has played the organ for church services, weddings and other occasions in Albuquerque since 1976 when he moved here from New England. Michael studied organ at Rowan University and later with Henry M. Cook in Philadelphia and Alistair Cassels-Brown in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has served as a member of the faculty at Loyola University of Chicago and the Episcopal Divinity School. He served as occasional organist for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in New England and New York for 18 years. He has offered recitals in the United States and in the Near East. Perhaps most important, Michael enjoys playing the organ and regards every occasion for organ music as an opportunity to offer music that is unique and fresh. To Michael, no event is routine or mundane.
- Phone: 505-977-7376
Maxine Thevenot currently serves as a lecturer of music history and music theory as well as director of Las Cantantes (women's choral ensemble) at the UNM music department. She is an international recitalist who has performed in such prestigious venues as Notre Dame, Paris; St. Paul's Cathedral, London; Westminster Abbey; Washington National Cathedral; Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine and several others. Maxine moved from Canada to the USA to pursue the master's and doctoral degrees in organ performance at New York's prestigious Manhattan School of Music. Locally, she is the associate organist-choir director at the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. John, where you can hear her on most Sunday mornings. Maxine has played for weddings and anniversary celebrations since she was 11 years old, which means she has played for no less than 1,000 weddings. She still remembers the first wedding like it was yesterday and prides herself on choosing repertoire that suits the occasion and the people.
- Phone: 505-250-8614
- Website: www.maxinethevenot.com
Last updated: May 7, 2013
