Dr. Timothy Zerlang
Contrary to legend, when Tim Zerlang was born in Fresno, his parents did not install a keyboard on his cradle. Instead, they waited to start him with piano lessons until age six. After his first public performance, "Jingle Bells," at his father's company Christmas party, recitals and piano competitions became a regular part of his life.
Tim's parents arranged a special summer job during his summer after high school: lessons with the organist on the pipe organ at the local Methodist church. It was daunting at first, but the air conditioned church provided extra incentive for lots of practice. The following Easter Sunday, the organist retired and Tim officially started his career in church music. During college, he played for not only the Methodist church, but the Episcopalian and the Greek Orthodox churches, too.
While working on his BA, MA, and DMA in various aspects of Music, Piano Performance, and Keyboard Performance Practices at both CSU Fresno and Stanford, Tim researched issues on repertoire in performance practices with a major focus on Karol Szymanowsky, a Ukrainian composer. He also had lessons on the harpsichord, forte piano, piano, organ, and carillon. If it's a keyboard, Tim can coax music out of it.
Tim arrived at Grace, starting as the organist, shortly after he arrived at Stanford in 1984. Over time, his duties have expanded to directing the chancel and handbell choirs, as well as working with the congregation and occasionally assisting Karen Salveson with the Children's Choir. He not only directs, but teaches, helping his singers and ringers to understand the nuances of each piece, expecting and typically receiving their best efforts.
Music fills Tim's life beyond Grace. He teaches piano, organ, and carillon to both private and Stanford students. He reaches the top of Hoover Tower as the campus Carilloneur. Wide-ranging music-related travels have taken him to Canada, England and France. He's also a founder of—and the pianist for—ChamberMix, a chamber ensemble that focuses its performances on music from contemporary composers, especially those on the west coast, because, as Tim reminds us, even Beethoven wrote contemporary music during his lifetime.
