Musician Spotlights

Jerry was born in Topeka, Kansas to a musical family. Both parents had musical training and both played the piano, various other musical instruments, and both had their own bands in high school. He began his musical training at age 5 with several years of piano lessons followed by a one-year stint on his mother’s saxophone. He moved on to his father’s mellophone in the 7^th grade and fell in love with the instrument. He switched to the French horn and has been playing it for the last 70+ years. While in high school, he was offered lessons at the Kansas City Conservatory of music where he studied for three years under Russell Paterson who was 2^nd horn with the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra under Hans Schwieger. Mr. Patterson also created and was Music Director of the Lyric Opera. Jerry continued his playing at the University of Kansas (as a geology major) in the band, orchestra and small groups. During that time, he was in the music union and was a substitute player with the Kansas City Philharmonic. He also played the bass in various musical groups including rock and roll, country western and jazz groups. While at KU he was also involved in the sport of fencing and was an NCAA All-American fencer ranked 5^th in collegiate epee fencers.

Over the years, Jerry has played in multiple professional and community orchestras and other musical groups in Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Saudia Arabia and has played in over 150 operas, light operas, and musicals including 55 musicals at Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park. He currently plays in four community orchestras and freelances in various musical groups in Kansas City.

Jerry’s 31 year working career was in data processing having worked for Waddell & Reed, TWA, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles where he retired in 1993 as Senior Project Manager in the corporate data processing office. After retirement, Jerry has been pursuing his hobbies including restoring vintage British roadsters and 1980’s Japanese motorcycles, collecting stamps (the world prior to 1930), running Lionel trains, collecting and faceting gemstones, collecting antique cameras (and fooling around in the darkroom), collecting French horns and playing in various musical groups. Jerry is also heavily involved in Cowboy Action Shooting and holds multiple state, regional, national and world championships.

Jerry is married to Kimma Old and they have 4 great-grand children ages 1, 2, 6 and 8. They go to The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood where they perform in the church choir and orchestra. They love to travel and especially enjoy river cruises.

Jerry’s favorite saying is “You Only Live Once, But If You Do It Right, Once Is Enough”.