Name: Esther Lanting, Born in Los Angeles, 1952
Education:
• BA – Bible, English, Psychology; Fresno Pacific University
• MA – New Testament Theology; Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary
• MA – Education/Educational Administration; Portland State University
• Certification for K-12 Administration; Portland State University
• M.Div – Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries
Accordion/Music
• Accordion lessons, age 4 to ?? I’m still a student of the accordion
• Other instrumental study: organ, piano, percussion
• Self-taught guitar
• Age 11 auditioned w/ Anthony Galla-Rini, and after a 6-month trial he accepted me as a full time student, full time = hourly lessons each week and bi-weekly 3-hour ensemble
• Age 15-16, piano (hymn key modulation and adaptation)
• At age 16, we moved several hours away and my regular lessons discontinued but I stayed in contact w/ Galla-Rini for lessons when I’d get to L.A., always getting new music
• Junior/Senior year in college, independent music, supervised by one of the music profs at Fresno Pacific University, with Galla-Rini providing the material and bulk of critique from recorded sessions with this prof
• 1974, Senior Recital on Accordion, Fresno Pacific University
• Continued being mentored by Galla-Rini in accordion performance, ensemble, conducting, and accordion music arranging, until he died at age of 102 on July 30, 2006. I played for him 2 weeks before he died and played The Lord’s Prayer at his memorial service per his request
• Since moving to Indiana in 1995, played with Gene Van accordion group/s until Gene’s death in 2018
• Serve on the ATG board of directors since 2000, and currently serve on the Executive Board, chair the Wednesday Workshop Committee, and serve as editor of the quarterly ATG Bulletin
• Serve as substitute organist for St. James Episcopal Church, Goshen, IN
• Invited to serve as a summer substitute at Chapel of Transfiguration (Episcopal), Grand Teton National Park, during my summer month in Wyoming
• Recognition/Awards/Performances/Conducting (that I care about & mean something to me)
• 1st place Western States Accordion Competition, Junior Division (solo)
• 4th place, Western States Accordion Competition, Senior Division (quartet)
• 4th place Western States Accordion Competition, Open Division (solo)
• Galla-Rini’s 50th Jubilee Concert at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angles (accordion orchestra)
• Recording of an album w/ Galla-Rini’s Ensemble, Galla-Rini Symphonette, 1967
• Concert at Santa Monica Civic Center w/ Galla-Rini’s Ensemble (ensemble), 1967
• Gene Van – various performances
1998 Christmas concert, Battell Center,Mishawaka
2008 Gene Van Golden Anniversary Reunion Concert, Bendix Theatre, Century Center, South Bend (I believe Carolyn Hertzler attended this)
Feature ensemble group at National Accordion Association in Dallas, TX (2009)
2009 Christmas concert, Battell Center, Mishawaka
2011 Concert, Gene Van group – South Bend, IN
2012 Concert, Gene Van group – South Bend, IN
2012 Featured Guest Orchestra at ATG, Chicago
2013 Concert, Gene Van group – Mishawaka, IN
• Conducted the Galla-Rini music at Galla-Rini camps in San Diego (2005) and San Rafael (2007)
• Conducted Galla-Rini Orchestras at National Accordion Association, Dallas, TX (2010) and Accordion Teachers Guild, San Jose, CA (2010)
• Recording of Galla-Rini’s Concerto in G Minor w/ piano reduction (Heidi King/piano) at Galla-Rini’s request (1998)
Teaching/Lectures
• Private lessons for 40 years – accordion, piano, guitar
Would give only accordion lessons if I possible
Most of my students from have been piano until 2022
Now I teach only accordion
• Various Lectures: Accordion technique
• Music interpretation (on the accordion)
• Practice technique per Galla-Rini
• Galla-Rini: the man, his music, his contribution to the accordion in particular and music in general (Galla-Rini camps, San Diego, San Rafael; National Accordion Association, Dallas, TX; Accordion Teachers Guild, San Jose, CA)
Memberships
National Music Teachers Association
Indiana State Music Teachers Association
GEMTA (Goshen, Elkhart Music Teachers Association)
ATG Board of Directors
Gene Van Accordion Orchestra
My Other Life
While I love music and have much passion for the accordion, neither music nor the accordion has ever been my primary source of employment.
High School Bible teacher, Asst. Principal, and Principal for 20 years, 17 years, 1 year respectively at Western Mennonite High School in Salem, OR
Pastor for 25 years at Hudson Lake Mennonite Church, Retired June, 2022
Misc. interests
• Share a house – we call it “living household” – with a married couple, Rol and Bj Leichty and their 4 children (only 1 at home now), and another single adult, Heidi King. Rol, Bj and I have shared a household living for over 40 years; Heidi has lived with us for 34 years.
• Camping and fishing in Wyoming
• Reading
• Indianapolis Symphony
• Have 2 cats
• Like watching Professional Tennis, Notre Dame Women’s Basketball, and Football (NFL and college)
• Long standing interest in Mennonite History/Theology and Bonhoeffer; did my Master’s Thesis in this area
• Completed Advanced Training in Spiritual Direction (at AMBS)
