Obituary of Bene Wesley Hammel

BENE WESLEY HAMMEL Concert Organist Extraordinaire 16 July 1942 - 21 July 2011 '. . .No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what God has prepared for those who love Him. . .' 1 Cor. 2:9 Born to Wallace and Johnie in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Bene was destined to perform. He studied organ under the tutelage of Carl Scheibe of Chattanooga. Bene pursued his full-time concert career at the early age of 16, when he performed numerous recitals under the sponsorship of various chapters of the American Guild of Organists throughout the United States. At the age of 18, Bene won first prize in the National Organ Competition open to anyone under age 30. He received his degree in theory and composition from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Bene served as organist for various oratorio performances, performed as guest artist for numerous symphony orchestras, served as organist-choirmaster at numerous churches, served as organ consultant to many churches, and served as Adjunct Professor of Organ at William Jennings Bryan College, where he was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Music. Bene studied Bach interpretation under Dr. Marilyn Mason, Sam Batt Owen, and Claire Coci. His own unique style of 'orchestrating the organ' came from an in-depth study of the late Virgil Fox. At the age of 18, Bene made his New York City debut at such notable churches as ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, ST. THOMAS CHURCH, and THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. (his favorite) Other impressive venues were ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, WASHINGTON D.C.'s NATIONAL (Episcopal) CATHEDRAL, and THE SHRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. He was featured recitalist during the Inaugural Organ Concert at Cincinnati's famous MUSIC HALL. Bene also performed as recitalist for a National Convention of the ROYAL COLLEGE OF ORGANISTS in Canada and was a keynote speaker during a National Convention of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PASTORAL MUSICIANS. He also performed daily concerts at the FRANKFURT FAIR in Germany, and performed a recital at the Washington State CAPITAL ROTUNDA. In his 42 year career, he performed hundreds of concerts and conducted hundreds of church organist workshops and master classes in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. Bene was asked to perform a Christmas Concert during the week-long inaugural opening of the new PERFORMING ARTS CENTER in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. His most recent performance was on the beautiful Aeolian-Skinner organ at ST. ANDREW'S (Episcopal) CATHEDRAL in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii to a STANDING ROOM ONLY audience. It was a 3-hour marathon of organ music! In 1985, Bene met the love of his life while performing concerts in the Seattle area. Bene and Marti fell in love and married on his birthday. They performed together in concert across the U.S. and Canada for 15 years. The Hammels were the only husband/wife duo who performed simultaneously on two organs! Their concerts were televised on numerous P.B.S. stations throughout the United States. Their largest duo performances were at the 6,100-seat FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of ORLANDO, Florida, and ST. JOHN'S (Episcopal) CATHEDRAL in Jacksonville, Florida. Their final concert together was in January 1998 at the PARAMOUNT THEATRE in Anderson, Indiana. From then on, they were planning to bring their love of organ music to the general public in theatre venues across the country, but it wasn't meant to be. . . In May 1999, while completing a concert tour of Florida, Bene suffered a massive stroke. He couldn't walk or talk and it left his right side paralyzed. Through the grace of God, Bene and Marti worked together to get him the rehabilitation he needed. It was a long and arduous struggle, but Bene slowly regained his speech and was able to walk with the assist of a cane. He played organ at worship services where Marti is Ministry of Music. In January 2011, Bene developed pneumonia and had to be hospitalized each month until he entered Hospice House in University Place, WA. He had COPD, Congestive Heart Failure, and Renal Stenosis, but Bene never gave up or in, even though he greatly struggled to breathe. Bene and Marti were blessed to have his beloved brother Wally and sister Susan of Chattanooga, along with longtime dear friends Glen Kersten and Gary Norris join them at the Hospice House to celebrate Bene's 69th birthday and their 26th wedding anniversary. Bene was a warm, loving, caring, spirit-filled, gifted, brilliant, witty, and sweet man with incredible artistry that lifted the hearts of all who heard him play to the Glory of God. He always felt it was his duty to give back to his audiences what God had so graciously given to him. To quote KEN EDGINGTON, former executive at BALDWIN PIANO & ORGAN COMPANY: ' . .Bene had a way of capturing the audience's attention from the very first note and holding it to the very last. He always showed the instrument in its best light. . ." He is performing in God's presence now and we shall always greatly love and miss him. Special thanks to St. Clare Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, and Franciscan Hospice House in Tacoma, Washington for their compassionate care in Bene's final months and days.