History

Mr. Karstens love fo the pipe organ began at a very early age by listening to his father play the organ at home. The majestic sound had him hooked.

Many years later the organ in the family church was being rebuilt when he, as a teen, climbed a ladder into the swell chamber and asked if he could help. Soon after that, he became an apprentice organ builder. During his summer and winter vacations from school, this involved working as a keyholder and as a general shop helper. Mr. Karstens continued his apprenticeship, while attending Northern Illinois University, majoring in Organ Perfomance. He graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music in Perfomance.

After college, Randy worked as a service technician and restorations specialist for the H. A. Howell Pipe Organ Company until December of 2005 when he went out on his own as a specialist for organbuilders around the country. This work eventually led to him opening his own company, R. Karstens Organ Works in 2007.

Randy contiunes as an occasional organist in the Columbus, Ohio area. He specializes in accompanying the English choral repertoire as well as the traditional English service playing. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, gardening, fitness swimming, and going on long hikes in the California back country.