St John’s Organist Featured in Organ Canada

Last fall, St John’s welcomed musician Ben Keith as our part-time organist. Featured in Organ Canada’s winter issue, Ben recently wrote about his work as a musician living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and shared his thoughts on what it means to him to join a church community. His article is gratefully republished with permission below.

Music has always been a significant part of my life. From an early age I have appreciated music—especially orchestral and choral works, and pieces that simply make me feel good. Whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, or just want to lift my spirits, I turn to soothing music. As a child, I often listened to classical music at night to help me fall asleep—a habit that research now shows can aid in developing memory and mathematical skills. I sometimes wonder if that early exposure influenced my ease with mathematics and computer science during my teen and early adult years.

I studied piano for many years under the tuition of Peter MacKinnon until Royal Conservatory Grade 9 level, after which I transitioned to the pipe organ. As my playing skills improved, Peter encouraged me to develop my organ-playing skills as a potential revenue stream. I continued practicing the organ throughout my computer science studies at Trent University, right up to my graduation in June 2024.

I have perfect pitch, likely strengthened by my musical training and years of listening. It’s especially helpful during choir rehearsals, since I can often hear and find the correct notes internally—particularly when we’re working on unaccompanied pieces. Because of this, I’m sometimes affectionately called the “human tuning fork.” However, perfect pitch has its drawbacks—when others drift off pitch, it can be surprisingly grating (pardon the pun, but it truly resonates poorly with my brain!).

Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has made some aspects of life, such as forming new friendships, more challenging. A turning point came in 2017 when I joined the All Saints Anglican Church in Peterborough. At first, I was overwhelmed by the amount of music the choir already knew. But as we practiced together, things became easier—and I began to truly enjoy it.

During one Advent season rehearsal, our music director, Syd Birrell, asked what it meant to be part of a church choir. Others said things like “we learn beautiful music” or “we have fun,” but my answer was, “I get to see my friends.”

All Saints was the first group I’d ever been part of with real continuity, and it helped me find a sense of belonging. Since then, I’ve sung with several choirs, including the Peterborough Singers and the St. Peter’s Anglican Church choir in Cobourg. These welcoming communities have helped me build meaningful connections and become more expressive in public.

Playing music in a church service feels profoundly different from performing in a recital. At a recital, you play music for its own sake. In a church, I feel like I’m contributing to something greater than myself—not just playing for the congregation, but as part of a shared act of worship.

In my second year at St. Peter’s, I was offered the opportunity to become an organ scholar, facilitated by Syd Birrell with joint support from the RCCO and the church. I am deeply grateful to both organizations for their generosity. In June 2025, I prepared and played an entire service for the first time—a milestone that filled me with pride.

My experience as an organ scholar has greatly strengthened my confidence and brought me closer to my goal of becoming a full organist. I currently am preparing for my RCCO Colleague examination, which I see as a stepping stone as I continue to develop my organ-playing abilities.

As I cemented my position as a regular chorister, I gained enough confidence that Syd let me conduct the choir at both St. Peter’s and the Peterborough Singers. He even let me conduct during the concerts for Yuletide Cheer in 2024 and the ABBA concert this past spring. It’s a position I always enjoy taking; it makes me feel like I’m in a position of power, and I can get the choir to sing a piece the way I imagine it being sung. It encourages me to be expressive as I convey the lyrics, the dynamics, and the rhythm. It feels like I’m truly expressing my love of music.

I’m excited to share that, as of this fall, I’ve started a part-time organist position at St. John the Baptist in Lakefield. I look forward to continuing to grow in confidence, deepen my musicianship, and form new connections through this next chapter of my musical journey.

Participating in choral and church music has allowed me to experience a true sense of community that might not have been available to me anywhere else. I have encountered many remarkable individuals whose support and encouragement have been instrumental in nurturing my passion. I feel very privileged and grateful to be a part of such a welcoming society and wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all those who have helped me along the way, including my long-time music teacher Peter MacKinnon. 

The unique privilege of being an organ scholar would not have been possible without the collaboration of St. Peter’s Church and the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and the mentorship of Syd Birrell.