Friedemann Stihler has been involved in music since he was a little boy.

  Originally from Germany, he said learning to play an instrument was a way of life for his family.

  “My father was a pastor in Germany and played piano and organ,” he said. “I had no chance not to do it. My three brothers learned it, so I wanted to learn it, too.”

  These days, Stihler uses his  organ skills to put his own unique spin on a wide range of musical styles. He is slated to display those skills when he performs a free Rockin’ Organ concert January 27, at 3 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 1865 Ga. Highway 20 East in McDonough.

  Stihler, 65, lives in Carrollton but makes the trek to Henry County twice a week to serve as musical director at St. Joseph’s. He began playing the piano when he was five years old.

  It wasn’t long after that, he said, when he would branch out further on the musical spectrum.

  “The first time I played in an organ concert was when I was 10,” he said.

  Stihler worked for 40 years as a teacher for disabled children. Throughout his career, Stihler has composed and arranged choir music, and has performed in concerts as a choir conductor and organist since 1978. He has also served as a studio musician on numerous projects.

  When he retired at age 60, he was able to devote more time to music. Stihler published the first of six Rockin’ Organ compilation in 2013.

  Proceeds from that project, he said, go toward supporting a cause that is close to his heart.

  “I was not paid for these concerts,” said Stihler. “They were charity concerts for raising money to build schools in Tanzania.” The concerts, he said, raised more than $60,000, which helped to build or rebuild five schools there.

  For Stihler, playing the organ isn’t solely reserved for church on Sunday morning. He incorporates melodies from the Beatles and other mainstream artists, along with well-known musicals, into his repertoire.

  In addition to classical favorites, he also enjoys playing selections by rock musicians including Carlos Santana, Deep Purple, Chicago, Queen, Paul McCartney, ABBA and Billy Joel.

  “The music is a cross between classical barouche music and rock music,” he said.

  Stihler explained that the concept for the Rockin’ Organ performances was sparked by a series of disheartening experiences while playing the instrument at various churches.

  “People would talk to each other and not listen to me,” he said. “They used to leave the church and not listen to me. That was, for me, a bad situation. I thought, it’s crazy that I practiced a lot and they don’t listen.”

  It was then that Stihler decided to play songs people would recognize. His first foray into that arena, he said, came when he used music from “Dr. Zhivago” as a postlude.

  Stihler said he was pleasantly surprised to see people sticking around a while longer than usual, to hear him play.

  “That was a great result,” he said. “That was the real beginning.”

  Eventually, he performed about 60 concerts a year in Europe and Canada, before moving to Georgia on a visa in August of 2017. He worked as the music director at a church in Doraville until it closed.

  Soon afterward, he said, an opportunity opened up at St. Joseph’s.

  “St. Joseph’s was looking for a music director and hired me,” said Stihler. “That was the end of October, start of November.”

  Stihler has been married to his wife Silvia for 35 years, and has four children. He said additional fund-raising activities for the Rockin’ Organ project lie ahead in 2019, and hopes his music will encourage other philanthropic endeavors in the U.S., going forward, as well.

  “I’m invited to go to Germany in June and perform more concerts to support these things in Tanzania,” he said. “If it’s possible to support an organization, I would love to do it.”   For more information, call 770-703-0268 or visit Stihler’s website at en.rockin-organ.com.