Ron Rhode

Ron Rhode has enjoyed a thirty-four year career as a theatre organist. He has received "Top Rating 10/10" from CD Review Magazine on two of his recordings and was awarded "Theatre Organist of the Year, 1989" by the American Theatre Organ Society. He has played virtually every major theatre organ installation in the world.

Ron is a native of Illinois where he began his musical career on the piano. He quickly advanced to classical pipe organ and in 1968, held his first theatre organ job playing for roller-skating. In 1973, Ron moved to Phoenix, Arizona to start a long association with the Organ Stop Pizza restaurants. In 1975, he moved to Mesa, Arizona where he held the “Featured Organist” post and played for pizza patrons until November 1986. In July 1988, Ron again joined the staff as “Associate Organist” until his retirement in 2000. Since its inception in Phoenix in May 1999, Ron has been the “Featured Organist” for the Orpheum Theatre Foundation's "Silent Sunday" Series.

Since leaving the pizza parlor on a regular basis, Ron has completed a Bachelor of Education degree in Early Childhood Education at Arizona State University and in 1995, received a Master of Elementary Education degree from Northern Arizona State University. He is currently a “Media Specialist” at Roosevelt Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona. In addition to teaching, recording and concertizing, Ron is the organist for the First United Methodist Church of Gilbert, Arizona.

Although Ron is busy in the classroom throughout the week, he still finds time to maintain an active concert and recording career. He continues to perform professionally across the United States, Canada, England and Australia. Ron is a favorite at American Theatre Organ Society National and Regional Conventions and has more than twenty recordings to his credit!