Chicago native Sol Rizzato is known for integrating the science of organbuilding with the art of performance. In July of 2021, Sol appeared as a presenter of organ maintenance at the American Guild of Organists National Pipe Organ Encounter. In the summer of 2019, He pursued an internship with Messrs. Czelusniak et Dugal Pipe Organ Builders of Northampton, Massachusetts, working on the restoration and maintenance of pipe organs in the New England area. As an organist, Sol began his formal keyboard studies at the age of eighteen with Dr. Adam Pajan at the University of Oklahoma, coming to the instrument with over thirteen years of experience as a violist. Because of this, Sol enjoys transcribing orchestral works for solo organ as well as performing both arrangements and improvised film scores on theatre organ. Sol has recorded multiple film scores for movie producers in California, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ohio, and can frequently be found accompanying shows at the Lorain Palace Theatre (Lorain, Ohio) on the 3/10 Wurlitzer organ. This past March, Sol was named as a recipient of the Diapason’s “20 under 30,” a national award “recognizing young talents in the fields of organ and harpsichord performance, organ and harpsichord building, carillon, and church music.” Sol is a graduate student at the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM ’23, Todd Wilson), Service Technician at the Muller Pipe Organ Company, and Organ Scholar at Plymouth Church, UCC of Shaker Heights, Ohio. In March of 2022, Sol was named as the graduate student winner of the Immanuel Lutheran Church (Evanston, Illinois) Organ Scholar Competition. Previously, Sol was a non-degree-seeking graduate student at Oklahoma City University, where he studied with Dr. Melissa Plamann. Prior to his studies at OCU, Sol graduated in May of 2020 from the University of Oklahoma where he earned dual bachelor’s degrees in organ performance and viola performance, as well as the organ technology emphasis and a history minor. Sol continues to remain active as a professional violist and enjoys cooking and weightlifting. He also has a particular passion for education and outreach and hopes to be in a teaching role in some capacity.
