First Reformed UCC: Meet organist Chris Kiser

Christopher Kiser is a 27-year-old from Lexington, NC who graduated from Union Grove Christian School and went on to study piano performance at UNC-Greensboro and UNC-School of the Arts. He began taking piano lessons in the third grade, but his desire to learn piano began many years prior. On his third birthday, his grandmother, Geneva Kiser, who was a lifelong church pianist and organist, gave Christopher a keyboard and said, “I want you to learn to play this one day.” From that day on, each time Christopher spent time with his grandmother, she would help teach him how to play many different songs. During his second official year of piano lessons, he was chosen to represent his school in a regional piano competition. That year and almost every consecutive year until graduating, he won first place. He went on to compete at the state and national levels receiving Third Place at the national competition during his senior year.

He also competed in the piano solo and piano duo categories for the National Federation of Music Clubs annual competition winning several first and second place awards. Ever since that first competition in fourth grade, Christopher has had an ever-growing determination to be better at playing the piano. After only taking lessons for three years, Christopher was asked to be the pianist for his church’s youth choir and children’s church.

Within only a year or so, he had taken on the role as church pianist for the adult church services. This position led to many opportunities and growing experiences for him. This position taught him the true “just go with it” attitude. Adaptability was the only option. Playing by ear, transposing, and sight reading are only a few of the many things Christopher had to adjust to with only a moment's notice.

During his seventh-grade year, Christopher was asked to become the pianist for the Middle and High School choirs at UGCS as well as playing for many other small groups and soloists within the school. He has also played for many local choirs and ensembles. He was the pianist for the Men’s Glee Club while at UNCG as well as accompanying several vocal and instrumental students within the music department. When not accompanying church services or choirs, Christopher also enjoys teaching piano lessons and music directing local Community Theatre shows. Some of his most recent shows include The SpongeBob Musical, Parade, and Cabaret at Winston Salem Theatre Alliance, and Cinderella with the Gallery Players in Burlington. He began working in the theatre in 2014, when he was the pianist for A Christmas Carol with Lexington Youth Theatre.

Before coming to First Reformed UCC in March 2021, Christopher was the Director of Music/Accompanist at a few other area churches. He feels truly blessed to have found FRUCC and to be working with so many incredibly talented and welcoming people. He enjoys being able to play in such a beautiful sanctuary with a truly magnificent pipe organ. Since his time at FRUCC, Christopher has started accompanying several local Middle and High School choirs. He has also grown his piano teaching studio over the last year and is accepting new students for the upcoming school year. If you are interested in learning more about piano lessons, please email Christopher at chris@frucc.org. FRUCC is such a welcoming church family, and Christopher feels as if he has truly found a place where he belongs.