Don VerKuilen is 17 years old and a Native of Appleton Wisconsin. His love and passion for music and the organ started before Don could even walk or talk. As a baby, when Don was in church, the only time he was quiet was when the organ was playing. When he could finally learn to stand, he would stand backwards in the pew and stare up at the organ, waiting for it to play again. At the age of three when Don was in pre-school, his teacher would play the piano every morning. One morning Don sat on the bench after she was done playing and played back exactly what the teacher was playing. This was the tell tale sign that Don was destined to be a musician.

Today, music is one of the biggest parts of Don’s life. He plays 11 instruments and sings. He was a singer in the Appleton Boy Choir and is currently in his school choir. Don is head organist at First Presbyterian Church in Green Bay. He has won many competitions for the piano and the organ. He was recently selected as one of three finalists in the National Albert Schweitzer organ competition in Connecticut and competed in front of a live audience and world famous organists as judges. He was the first person from Wisconsin to compete in this competition.  Don not only performs in churches as part of the worship service, he also performs regular concerts for the public to share his gift of music with the world.

Read more about Donald VerKuilen in the Appleton Post-Crescent.