Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company: Our Staff

Bill, a native of Forrest City, Arkansas, attended Lyon College in Batesville, AR where he graduated with a BA in Music. While at Lyon, he studied pipe organ and music theory under Dr. Russell Stinson. Maintenance of his college pipe organ and a summer job with an organ building company gave Bill his first experiences in organ building. Joining the Martin Ott Pipe Organ company in 2000, he assumed a variety of responsibilities in the shop, namely voicing, CAD design, organ service, and installation. Bill has trained with several Orgelbaumeisters to better understand the various aspects of organ building. Outside of work, he enjoys computers, travel, fishing, cooking, and live music.

Marya has BM and MM degrees in organ performance. As an adjunct professor at the University of Florida, she taught Music Appreciation and Carillon Performance. Marya actively promotes the pipe organ through her website (The Pipe Organ Education Project) and recitals. After moving away from St. Louis in 2001, Marya continues to work for the Ott firm part time as webmaster. She is also active as a church musician, performer, and private teacher (piano and organ).

Larry Leed, originally a native of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, moved to Missouri about nine years ago. Larry has been building custom cabinetry and furniture for more than 21 years. Custom woodworking is his labor of love. Larry and his wife, Mary, are active in their community. They are highly involved in animal rescue and placement of abandoned and injured pets. Their other interests include camping and enjoying the marvels of nature.

From Kiev, Ukraine, Alex is an electrical engineer but has also worked in other fields. After earning a degree from International Bible College, he taught bible classes at Kiev State University. While in Kiev, Alex played Russian folk instruments (mandolin, balalaika, domra) and repaired musical instruments as a hobby. His lifelong dream to build musical instruments led him to our company. In our shop, he builds the mechanical stop and key actions. His knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering keeps our shop machines in top condition.

Eileen joined Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company in May of 2002 as the office manager. She has her degree in Administrative Secretarial Science from Trident College in Charleston, South Carolina. She has worked in the secretarial field for over twenty-two years. In 1989, Eileen moved to the St. Louis area with her husband and two sons. Eileen says that her job at Ott Pipe Organ Company is a rewarding and challenging position. She also enjoys baking, kayaking and bicycling.

Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Earl studied organ with Carl Staplin at Drake University where he earned BM and MM degrees. He also attended Eastman School of Music for further pipe organ study with Russell Saunders. After working in the Saint Louis area in organ maintenance, Earl joined the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company in 1983 when Opus 20 was in progress. He is experienced in every area within organ building, specializing in drafting and layout of our instruments. He also handles a large portion of the company's maintenance contracts. Earl has also served Saint Louis area churches and synagogues since the early 1980s. He currently is choir director and organist at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves, MO.

Sascha Ott's earliest recollections of pipe organs are from his childhood. His father, Martin Ott, would bring home small tracker action components, which he and his older brother, Thorsten, would assemble while watching their favorite TV programs. In high school, Sascha enrolled in Mathematics, Manual Drafting, and Art classes. He received a B.S. degree (Industrial Drafting and Design) in 1991 from Southwest Missouri State University. During that period, Sascha also apprenticed in Munich, Germany for an architect, assisting in the designing of bridges and residential housing. After college, Sascha worked for Organ Supply Industries (Erie, Pennsylvania) with OSI President Dennis Unks where Sascha lead a project that involved the design, manufacturing and distribution of a small, specialty organ. After completion of this project, he was given the responsibility of the Engineering Department to further develop and engineer components for the pipe organ industry. After four years with Organ Supply Industries, Sascha returned to St. Louis to join his father Martin Ott in the family business. Since then, Sascha traveled to Göttingen, Germany for additional training with Carl Gieseke und Sohn, where his grandfather Alfred Ott had been Tonal Director of reed pipes for forty years. Under the direction of Gieseke President Klaus Furtwängler, he was exposed to the fine art of reed voicing, working with craftsmen who produce some of the finest reeds in the world. Sascha, after completing his flight training in Florida, returned to St. Louis and continues to serve as Vice President of the company. Recently he has taken a lighter schedule with the organ company to fulfill another passion: flying corporate jets.

Inna Sholka came to the United States from Ukraine. Born and raised in Donetsk, Ukraine, she earned a nursing degree after graduating from high school. In 2004, Inna and her family moved to St. Louis. Three months later, she started working at Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company. Inna enjoys working with a great crew and in a well-organized environment. She finds the life of an organ builder interesting and the people she meets through work interesting. In the near future, Inna wants to get a degree in a musical field. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the United States. Inna loves discovering beautiful places and the splendor of nature.


	About Our Staff
	The staff and their families at the company picnic.
	Bill Dunaway Bill, a native of Forrest City, Arkansas, attended Lyon College in Batesville, AR where he graduated with a BA in Music. While at Lyon, he studied pipe organ and music theory under Dr. Russell Stinson. Maintenance of his college pipe organ and a summer job with an organ building company gave Bill his first experiences in organ building. Joining the Martin Ott Pipe Organ company in 2000, he assumed a variety of responsibilities in the shop, namely voicing, CAD design, organ service, and installation. Bill has trained with several Orgelbaumeisters to better understand the various aspects of organ building. Outside of work, he enjoys computers, travel, fishing, cooking, and live music. Marya Fancey Marya has BM and MM degrees in organ performance. As an adjunct professor at the University of Florida, she taught Music Appreciation and Carillon Performance. Marya actively promotes the pipe organ through her website (The Pipe Organ Education Project) and recitals. After moving away from St. Louis in 2001, Marya continues to work for the Ott firm part time as webmaster. She is also active as a church musician, performer, and private teacher (piano and organ). Larry Leed Larry Leed, originally a native of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, moved to Missouri about nine years ago. Larry has been building custom cabinetry and furniture for more than 21 years. Custom woodworking is his labor of love. Larry and his wife, Mary, are active in their community. They are highly involved in animal rescue and placement of abandoned and injured pets. Their other interests include camping and enjoying the marvels of nature. Alex Leschenko From Kiev, Ukraine, Alex is an electrical engineer but has also worked in other fields. After earning a degree from International Bible College, he taught bible classes at Kiev State University. While in Kiev, Alex played Russian folk instruments (mandolin, balalaika, domra) and repaired musical instruments as a hobby. His lifelong dream to build musical instruments led him to our company. In our shop, he builds the mechanical stop and key actions. His knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering keeps our shop machines in top condition. Eileen McGuinn Eileen joined Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company in May of 2002 as the office manager. She has her degree in Administrative Secretarial Science from Trident College in Charleston, South Carolina. She has worked in the secretarial field for over twenty-two years. In 1989, Eileen moved to the St. Louis area with her husband and two sons. Eileen says that her job at Ott Pipe Organ Company is a rewarding and challenging position. She also enjoys baking, kayaking and bicycling. Earl Naylor Raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Earl studied organ with Carl Staplin at Drake University where he earned BM and MM degrees. He also attended Eastman School of Music for further pipe organ study with Russell Saunders. After working in the Saint Louis area in organ maintenance, Earl joined the Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company in 1983 when Opus 20 was in progress. He is experienced in every area within organ building, specializing in drafting and layout of our instruments. He also handles a large portion of the company's maintenance contracts. Earl has also served Saint Louis area churches and synagogues since the early 1980s. He currently is choir director and organist at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves, MO. Sascha Ott Sascha Ott's earliest recollections of pipe organs are from his childhood. His father, Martin Ott, would bring home small tracker action components, which he and his older brother, Thorsten, would assemble while watching their favorite TV programs. In high school, Sascha enrolled in Mathematics, Manual Drafting, and Art classes. He received a B.S. degree (Industrial Drafting and Design) in 1991 from Southwest Missouri State University. During that period, Sascha also apprenticed in Munich, Germany for an architect, assisting in the designing of bridges and residential housing. After college, Sascha worked for Organ Supply Industries (Erie, Pennsylvania) with OSI President Dennis Unks where Sascha lead a project that involved the design, manufacturing and distribution of a small, specialty organ. After completion of this project, he was given the responsibility of the Engineering Department to further develop and engineer components for the pipe organ industry. After four years with Organ Supply Industries, Sascha returned to St. Louis to join his father Martin Ott in the family business. Since then, Sascha traveled to Göttingen, Germany for additional training with Carl Gieseke und Sohn, where his grandfather Alfred Ott had been Tonal Director of reed pipes for forty years. Under the direction of Gieseke President Klaus Furtwängler, he was exposed to the fine art of reed voicing, working with craftsmen who produce some of the finest reeds in the world. Sascha, after completing his flight training in Florida, returned to St. Louis and continues to serve as Vice President of the company. Recently he has taken a lighter schedule with the organ company to fulfill another passion: flying corporate jets. Inna Sholka Inna Sholka came to the United States from Ukraine. Born and raised in Donetsk, Ukraine, she earned a nursing degree after graduating from high school. In 2004, Inna and her family moved to St. Louis. Three months later, she started working at Martin Ott Pipe Organ Company. Inna enjoys working with a great crew and in a well-organized environment. She finds the life of an organ builder interesting and the people she meets through work interesting. In the near future, Inna wants to get a degree in a musical field. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around the United States. Inna loves discovering beautiful places and the splendor of nature.

	There currently are no available positions.

	Martin Ott Pipe Organ Co., Inc. Mailing Address: 7408 Somerset Ave. St. Louis, MO 63105 Shop Address: 1850 Walton Road St. Louis, MO 63114 Tel: (314) 429-6699 Contact Us

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