It has been our company's goal to constantly challenge its employees to learn new skills and technologies so that each person continues to grow as a craftsman and organ builder. It is this process which makes each new project exciting and fresh, which encourages long-term commitment to the shop. Each brings their own special talents, skills and personality to a friendly atmosphere where unique work is created.
Dennis Milnar – Sr. Partner
Dennis Milnar was born in Buffalo, New York in 1943 and married Constance Cairns in 1961. They have five children, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
Dennis started his organ building career in 1961 with the Delaware Organ Company of Tonawanda, New York under the direction of Robert C. Colby (mentor). He served a full apprenticeship starting in the woodshop moving on to the metal shop, leather work, and electrical wiring. He spent the last few years voicing and tonal finishing with Vice President and Tonal Director Eugene Burmaster. During his tenure with Delaware he was involved in building, installing, and tonal finishing dozens of organs including thirteen in New York City. In the summer of 1968, Dennis moved the family to Nashville Tennessee to start Milnar Pipe Organ Service and was also a representative for Delaware Organ Company. In 1976, he again moved the family to a farm just south of Nashville, built a new organ shop and started building organs under the name of Milnar Organ Company.
Derek Milnar was born September 8, 1961 in North Tonawanda, New York. He moved with his parents to Nashville, TN in 1968. At age 12, Derek began working summers for the Organ Company.
Derek joined the TN Army National Guard in 1979 and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Nashville State Technical Institute in 1981, with an AE in Architecture. He then joined Milnar Organ Co. full time right after college specializing in design and electrical work. Derek and Denise Walker were married in 1984 and have two sons Ryan 18 and Jonathan 14. Derek served in the Gulf War from 1990-1991 and in 1999 retired from the National Guard with the rank of Major. During 2000, Derek's family moved to a 27 acre farm in Bell Buckle, TN. Derek enjoys landscaping with a chain saw!
Jeff Milnar was born February 18, 1964 in North Tonawanda, New York. Jeff started working with the organ company during summers around the sixth grade.
He started working full time in 1983, after attending Middle Tennessee State University. Jeff specializes in woodworking for the company. He has attended multiple seminars around the country for woodworking techniques. He is a member of the AGO, AIO, and the ISO. Jeff currently lives in Murfreesboro and enjoys the weekends on his houseboat at Center Hill Lake.
Todd Milnar was born February 3, 1966 in North Tonawanda, New York. Todd began with Milnar Organ Company at an early age as a high school student working summers and after school. In 1986, he joined Milnar Organ Co. as a full apprentice and is now a partner.
Todd studied pipe voicing and scaling in Belgium with Klaus Furtwangler of Germany and Ferdinand Stemmer of Switzerland. In this country, Todd attended voicing seminars at Schantz Organ Company, C.B. Fisk and with Peter Duyes at Peterson. In 1995, he attended a workshop on organ restoration at Nelson Barden's shop in Massachusetts. In June of 1996, Todd married his beautiful and talented wife Veronica Edwards of Murfreesboro, TN. Veronica has a Master of Music degree from M.T.S.U.. Veronica works at Tenn. State University as a piano instructor. They live in Murfreesboro at Rutherford Green with their dog Miss. Olive.
Greg Milnar was born November 8, 1972 in Nashville, TN. Greg started working for Milnar Organ Company during the summers of high school and college. In 1995 he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a Major in Marketing and Minor in Photography.
Greg is an Affiliate Broker with Forest Hills Realtors and a Residential Appraiser with R.W. Rajotte & Co. out of Nashville. He worked for Milnar Organ Co. for two years full time after graduation, then took a position with a software firm in Brentwood, TN. After working four years in Technical Support for Private Business Inc., he returned to the family business for six years as a Partner. Currently he is working as a Real Estate agent and Appraiser, also the Webmaster for us in his moonlighting hours. Greg lives in Brentwood with his beautiful wife Donna and their son Preston. Donna works in Nashville as a Benefits Manager.
Tim Murphy attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, majoring in voice and a minor in organ. He developed a great interest in organ building when Aeolian Skinner installed a new instrument at his alma
mater campus. Tim worked for Aeolian Skinner from Sept 1969 - April 1971 and was involved with two complete installations. In 1974 he worked for about a year with a small organ service company in Steward, NE. Tim started working with Milnar Organ Co. in April of 1990 and is enjoying working on his favorite instrument.
Chris Brent was born in Nashville, TN in 1979. He graduated from
Oakland High in 97'. Chris worked for Milnar Organ briefly while attending M.T.S.U.. Then Chris landed a full-time position with the Wal-Mart distribution center in Shelbyville, TN and became a supervisor for several years. Then he took a position with Brinks security company for a period of time. He gained experience in wiring and instillation. He now has joined the Milnar Organ firm full-time. We are proud to have him on board.
Kevin McGrath was born Jan 8, 1981 in Nashville, TN. He currently lives in Rockvale, TN on a farm just outside of town.
He attended Eagleville High School and graduated in May of 2000. He took many wood working and art classes during his schooling. Kevin worked for Don Pablo’s restaurant for three years as head cook. He worked with management a great deal and left for better opportunities. His father works for UPS and heard of us needing extra help for the business. He told Kevin about an opening. Kevin applied at Milnar Organ Co, and now is an apprentice. He has been with us for 6 years and shows great interest and respect for the pipe organ industry. He is currently working with Jeff in the woodworking division and is doing very well. He has been involved in several rebuilds and installations. We are proud to welcome him aboard.
A man or woman who works with their
hands is a laborer. If they work with
their hands and head, they are a
craftsman. If they work with
their hands, head and
their heart, they are
an artist.
Milnar Organ Company 3165 Hill Road Eagleville, Tennessee 37060 1-877-244-6177 (615) 274-6400 FAX # (615) 274-2022
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