John Dower, Vice-President:

Over thirty-five ago he started a small company in the heart of the North Carolina Piedmont, dedicated to the idea that every organist should be assisted by a beautiful and reliable instrument. He focused on providing superior service and value to these organists.  Today the firm is known as Lincoln Pipe Organs, Inc. and has grown to cover a six-state region.

His lifelong interest in church music and the pipe organ comes quite naturally; his mother's father was a very fine organist and his early musical experience included studying piano with Stephen Chalfa and serving as a boy soprano at Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. He has been an active parish musician for most of his adult life. He holds a BA in music from Eckerd College and a Fellow's Certificate from the American Institute of Organbuilders.

He began studying the organ as a college freshman and his career as an organ builder with an independent study course in Western Europe, while he was an undergraduate. He apprenticed with Fritz Noack and did his journeyman work in maintenance with Richard Nickerson. He served Visser-Rowland Associates as pipe maker before moving to Lincolnton and establishing John Dower & Company.

Stephen Spake, President:

Stephen expressed interest in the pipe organ at an early age by crawling around in them to see how they worked. He started "a summer job" with John Dower and Co. at the age of 15. He continued working at the shop through high school and his matriculation at Gaston College, where he earned an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technologies. 

He then became a full-time tuning and maintenance technician, developing his skills as an organ builder by rebuilding and redesigning instruments of all types and makes. Since the “summer job,” he has gone on to become the majority owner of the company. He is passionate about the company and all of the clients we serve,

Daniel C.:

Dan feels fortunate to do something that many only dreams of working in his dream profession.  He has always loved music and earned a BA in Music Education (Voice and Piano), but teaching wasn’t his dream job.  Instead, he sought out an opportunity to use his wood-crafting skill and musical experience.

He got the chance when he answered a "Help Wanted" ad from a pipe organ company. His prospective employer explained that the company would offer him an apprentice for as long as a year, and might even hire him permanently, provided he proved himself. At the end of his first week of training, he was offered a full-time position as an organ technician, and he has never looked back. 

Since then, Dan has worked for himself, for Columbia (PA) Organ Works, and for almost 20 years with the team that now makes up Lincoln Pipe Organs, Inc. Dan keeps up his musical skills by singing with his church choir, in professional choirs, and with the Carolina Men’s Choir, a featured presenter and demonstration choir at the 2013 ACDA regional meeting in North Carolina.

Scott C.:

Scott has a great ability to understand and solve problems that arise in organs. He has amazing attention to detail and that shows in his work. He handles all the electrical work on our projects and the logistics of ordering the technical components for each job.

Joe W.:

Joe is very meticulous in his work and takes great pride in it. He often handles the leathering projects in the shop but is skilled in all aspects of organ repair.

Hannah L:

Since joining us she has been an integral part of our production and building team and is training to become an organ tuner. She has spent years behind the keys as an organist and is regularly hired to play for special events.