Nick Renkosik: Bacharach, Brubeck, Burlesque and Beyond!
By Karen Pier Hunt
Illinois native Nicholas Renkosik has not been to Michigan in almost twenty years, but he is excited to play at the Senate Theater and has strong Michigan ties. “My mom is from Port Huron, MI,” Nick said, “all of my mother’s family comes from Michigan; my great grandfather was actually a semi-professional pianist in Detroit in the 1920s.”
If they had a keyboard, I gravitated to it.
Nick comes from a musical family. “My parents are both musical. My father played the drums. My mom played the flute, and her grandfather was the pianist from Detroit. My father’s side of the family had several musicians and painters as well.”
Like many musicians, Nick started at a young age; His parents knew early on that he was musical. “When I was about three or four, if I was in an electronics store, if they had a keyboard, I gravitated to it.” He also loved listening to music, especially the organ at his family’s church. At the age of 13, Nick began playing the organ. He was inspired by the church organist; and really got the bug after inheriting recordings of the Chicago Stadium organ from a distant relative who was a singer and pianist herself.
Nick practices on his Rodgers 340 electronic theatre organ, that once belonged to the famed Col. Jack Moelmann, his Hammond A102 organ, and his Korg digital piano.
I don’t have a preference of theater organ or classical organ; they are each special.
Nick plays both classical and theater organ, and he enjoys them equally. “I don’t have a preference of theater organ or classical organ; they are each special.” Although both church organs and theater organs are pipe organs; theater organs are designed to imitate an orchestra pit including percussion, such as drums and cymbals. These organs also have more stops, which allow for varied volume and tones.
I work for a firm that has restored historic pipe organs all over the world.
Nick’s life is full of organs. Along with giving concerts across the United States in venues like the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee, WI, he has been the principal organist for St. John the Baptist Church in Johnsburg, IL for twelve years. With concentrations in Piano, and Organ Performance, Nick earned his bachelor’s degree in 2021 at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. In 2024, he completed his master’s degree at his alma mater, concentrating in International Business, Design, and Innovation.
Nick doesn’t just play organs; he gets inside of them too! In his day job, he is project coordinator for J.L. Weiler Inc. of Chicago, IL. “I work for a firm that has restored historic pipe organs all over the world. We are also the caretakers of the organ at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.” His company relocates historically significant pipe organs to new locations where they can be preserved and enjoyed for another lifetime. Nick also likes to spend his time reading, collecting sheet music, and restoring antique clocks and lamps.
Music that is important to me and to American culture…
Nick calls his concert, “Bacharach, Brubeck, Burlesque and Beyond!”, which will consist of two forty-five-minute segments, and a fifteen-minute intermission. “The music for the concert has been carefully curated, reflecting music that is important to me and to American culture–the classic music of the theater organ” he explained.
“Bacharach” in the title refers to Burt Bacharach (1928-2023), the pop and jazz composer who wrote soundtracks such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), and songs such as “That’s What Friends Are For” (originally performed by Rod Stewart, but better known with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and Elton John.)
Dave Brubeck is the other musician referenced by name, the American jazz pianist and composer (1920-2021) was famous for The Dave Brubeck Quartet. Nick will play the song, “Take Five,” which was composed by the group’s saxophonist Paul Desmond, and was the first jazz single to sell over a million copies.
For “Take Five”, Nick will do something rather unique. He will play the piano and the organ at the same time. So how will Nick do this? Does he have extra long arms? No, it’s because the pipe organ and the piano at the Senate are connected. In fact, the organ controls the piano, so Nick can play the organ and the piano at the same time from the console.
A fantasy in musical form…
Nick will also be playing Burlesque music because, as he says, “Burlesque music is fun! Burlesque music was played during the theater organ revival in the 1950s such as when the organ of the Fisher Theater went to the Iris Theater in Detroit, before making its way to the Senate.”
You can expect to hear “In a Persian Market,” by Albert W. Ketelbey at Nick’s concert. To Nick, this piece is a perfect piece to play in a vintage movie house, like the Senate. “The piece emulates a fantasy in musical form, just like the old theaters were built to create a fantasy in visual form.” Nick said he will perform his own arrangement for the concert. Additionally, he will play selections from film scores and soundtracks with some George Gershwin included as well.
The concert will be at the Senate Theater on Sunday, May 17 from 3 pm to 4:30 pm. The cost is $17. Tickets can be bought at the door or online. Click here for tickets and details.