The Joy of Music with organist Diane Bish celebrates 40 years of continuous television and internet broadcast

For Release: June 1, 2022

Diane Bish is arguably the most visible organist in the world today. For forty years, she has hosted and produced the international television series, The Joy of Music, that first entered homes in 1982 via weekly cable television programming and now reaches over 300 million viewers through television and YouTube.

Christened The First Lady of the Organ in the late 70's by WTMI, Miami's classical radio station of that era, Miss Bish was dispelling all preconceived notions of how a concert and church organist should perform and dress. Her proven performance reputation and dazzling concert gowns were a natural fit for television, and she knew that this medium could reach the general public in a way that recitals alone could never hope to do. With very little funding, she launched The Joy of Music, a weekly television show featuring informative narrative and historic organs in magnificent cathedrals worldwide. She stepped out on faith, believing the audience and funding would appear. Both did. 

The Joy of Music brought the pipe organ, "the king of instruments," into the living rooms of America and the world. The show combined exhilarating organ and ensemble performances by world renown guest artists with inspirational narrative and exciting world travel. And, the production evolved with the times - from the bulky cameras, cable programming, and 1-inch tape of the 80's to DVDs, handheld cameras, and digital editing of the 90's to high definition, compact cameras, and continuous streaming today. The mainstay for meeting the production costs has always been devoted individuals whose gifts sustain the artistic and cultural mission of The Joy of Music. As a nonprofit organization, gifts are tax deductible and carefully managed.

The Joy of Music achieves many of its programs through tours that include cruises and sightseeing excursions of beautiful cathedrals and prominent organs of the world. These tours are open to organ and travel enthusiasts and give a look behind the scenes of the video production and exclusive organ demonstrations by Miss Bish. To commemorate the 40th year of production, a Christmas cruise down the Danube River will include tapings in St. Stephens Cathedral, Vienna, the Salzburg Cathedral, Wilhering Abbey, and other venues in Austria and Germany.

Many noted organists attribute Miss Bish and The Joy of Music as the catalysts for their careers as performers and teachers. Jeremy Wance, organist and former Associate Director of The American Organ Institute, asserts: "Everyone who is under 50 in the organ world owes a large part of their early awareness of the pipe organ to Diane. She’s done more for the pipe organ in the last 100 years than anyone, as far as making the organ relevant and accessible."

Only a few other organists can claim such a loyal and vast following and fan base, but none boast a 40-year impact on the general public through visual media. The American Organist magazine summed it up nicely: "Diane Bish is a worldwide ambassador for the organ and its music...We can be thankful to Diane for the many friends she has won for the organ."

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