A young Mearns organist has won acclaim in the US after a guest appearance at a church in Arkansas.
Alexander Jones (16), from Leys of Arbuthnott, was guest organist for two services at First United Methodist Church in Paragould while on holiday with his family in the summer, earning a glowing review in a local magazine.
While he read the music for his first performance, for the other he improvised, mesmerising his audience.
He started playing piano about nine years ago, but when he wanted a change, his piano teacher Ian Robertson, of Inverbervie, who also plays the organ, was happy to oblige.
Alexander began practising on the organ in Arbuthnott Church near his home and soon demonstrated an astonishing flair. He has now set several records as the youngest organist to play for services in a number of churches as well as Brechin Cathedral.
He said, “With the organ, there is so much more to do and think about. You must move your feet and be aware of sounds whereas a piano is only loud or soft. It is interesting, fun and you can make a lot of noise too.”
For the flexibility he needs with his feet he usually plays in his socks.
Until it closed in June, he was the regular organist at Kinneff Church. He currently plays regularly at Dunnottar Church in Stonehaven, and other churches including Bervie, plays keyboard with the Bervie praise band and, since age 14, he has filled in for his teacher in Brechin Cathedral.
He reckons he inherited his musical talent from his mother, Caroline, a classical guitar teacher, as according to him, his father Andrew, a lecturer in journalism at Robert Gordon University, “is totally not musical”.
His brother William (13) plays the piano and saxophone and did play the bongo drums.
Alexander, in fifth year at Mackie Academy, hopes to go to St Andrews University to study international relations and modern history.
The rest of his spare time is spent acting as a young leader for the Cubs in Inverbervie and he also produces CD copies of church services for distribution among the elderly unable to attend.
For these services to the community, he was named Inverbervie Young Citizen of the Year two years ago.