Lawrence A. Sanders Lifetime Achievement in the Arts | Joanne Raulin
Joanne Mae McPherson Raulin was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a long time ago. Her father worked for the Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority, installing electricity in rural areas in Tennessee.
Her family moved to Washington. DC, when she was 6 years old. There, she began taking piano lessons from a teacher around the corner from their house. She studied with that same teacher for 10 years, until she was 16, and graduated from high school. She attended American University in DC, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1956.
That same year, her twin boys were born. (By the way, she got married in 1954 at the age of 19.) The new family moved to Alexandria, Virginia, in 1958, where their third son was born.
Joanne has been a church organist for about 60 years. She has played in churches of every denomination, but, mainly, Methodist and Presbyterian. She is the Principal Organist at Palm City Presbyterian Church, and also directs the bell choir.
Her passion, besides her three sons, three grandchildren, and one great-grandson, is playing the organ.
