Jeffery Hobbs

Position: President of R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc.
Telephone: 443-831-6201
E-mail: blkswnhall@me.com

Jeffery Hobbs is a manager with the Federal Aviation Administration and the husband of the late Robert A. Daffer. A lifelong enthusiast of the arts, Jeff has stood by the side of Bob in all of his endeavors in the church organ world, supporting his dreams, and sharing a love of music. Jeff is an active member of the parish of Washington National Cathedral, as Bob was as well. Always supportive of the business, Jeff is now assuming the role of President of R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc., where he will oversee the future of the business, company goals, and progress into the future. Jeff brings a wealth of knowledge in financial planning and administration to the company’s strong commitment t o sales and support in the church organist market. Bob’s vision to serve the Mid-Atlantic region will continue to be realized under the direction of Jeff and the R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc. team.

Ken Brown

Position: Vice President of R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc.
Telephone: 410-340-7701
E-mail: kbrown@dafferorgans.com

Maryland

Ken first began representing Rodgers in 1979 in Akron, Ohio. He studied organ at the University of Akron and was the organist at Montrose- Zion United Methodist Church in Bath, Ohio. In 1984 he transferred to the Tidewater, Virginia market and spent three years representing Rodgers in that fast growing area. In 1988, he moved to Maryland to join R.A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc and represent Rodgers in the Washington, DC market area. In 1996 he became a full partner in R.A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc. Since 1979, Ken has designed, installed and voiced hundreds of Rodgers organs. Ken is an Associate in the American Guild of Organists, a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians, and serves on the Music and Liturgy committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. He and his wife Margie reside in Sykesville, Maryland. They are members of Cathedral of the Incarnation (Episcopal) in Baltimore, where Ken serves as Canon for Music and Worship.

Al Murrell

Position: Vice President of R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc
Telephone: 443-812-5999
E-mail: amurrell@dafferorgans.com
Al is responsible for sales in the following areas:
Hampton Roads area and Richmond, VA and Lower Eastern Shore VA/Central and Eastern North Carolina and South Carolina

In 1978, Al applied for a direct commission through the Navy’s highly competitive LDO (Limited Duty Officer program.  He was commissioned in 1979 and transferred to Virginia Beach where he remained for 10 years and retired in 1989.

While in Virginia Beach, he continued his association with Rodgers working for Parker Piano and Organ.  Upon retirement, he was offered a position with R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc. and in 1996 was made a partner in the firm.   

Al’s career with Rodgers and Ruffatti pipe organs has presented him opportunities to work with the finest concert organist from both the classical and theater organ environments.  These artists included talents such as Virgil Fox, Ted Alan Worth, Felix Hell, Cameron Carpenter, Keith Chapman, Fred Swann, Joyce Jones, Richard Purvis and John Weaver as well as Lyn Larsen, Gaylord Carter, Jonas Nordwall, and Ethel Smith.  Al’s extensive career has earned him great respect among his peers, and he is often sought out for advice and training by other Rodgers representatives.

Al and his wife, Sharon, reside on Lake Gaston, North Carolina. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.  Al is active in a number of AGO chapters and was sub dean of the Central NC Chapter and Vice President of the Old Dominion Theater Organ Chapter..

Randy Sheets

Position: Sales Representative
Telephone: 540-842-4450
E-mail:rsheets@dafferorgans.com

Randy is responsible for sales in the following areas:
Northern Virginia, Washington DC,  eastern West Virginia

Randall Sheets recently retired as Ceremonial Organist for Arlington National Cemetery, where for the past twenty-five years he honored our fallen veterans while performing over 1000 services a year in the historic Old Post Chapel.  He served as a resource for military chaplains and families in planning services and has performed for dignitaries and government officials at the highest levels including senators, Supreme Court justices, secretaries of state and congressmen.

A graduate of Wittenberg University, he studied with William Walters (piano) Trudy Faber (harpsichord) and Cheryl Colantonio (organ), then received a MM from Bowling Green State University under Jerome Rose (piano) and Vernon Wolcott (organ) and a DMA under Thomas Schumacher (piano) at the University of Maryland.  Throughout his graduate study Dr. Sheets taught at the University of Maryland and the Smithsonian Institution, and later taught at the Levine School of Music, the National Cathedral School, and the Landon School. His scholarly work includes several published articles and many lecture-recitals. He was awarded the Liszt Commemorative Medal by the Hungarian Minister of Culture for his work as Festival Director of the Franz Liszt Centennial Celebration held in Washington, D.C.

Randall tours frequently with trumpeter Chuck Seipp as the Seipp/Sheets Duo.  They have performed over 100 concerts during the last six seasons in twenty-two states at universities, churches, and festivals.  Their concerts are an innovative blend of standard repertoire, patriotic programs, and contemporary arrangements with video.  They continue to commission many new arrangements and compositions as well as creating their own arrangements.

As a church musician, Dr. Sheets has extensive experience as an organist and choral conductor, handbell director, and producing and managing concert series.  Concert appearances as an organist include programs at Washington National Cathedral, The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land, West Point Cadet Chapel, National City Christian Church, The Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, St. Luke’s Catholic Church, McLean, historic Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.

Charles Nelsen

Position: Sales Representative
Telephone: 610-246-8420
E-mail:cnelsen@dafferorgans.com

Chuck is responsible for sales in the following areas:
Eastern Pennsylvania, South New Jersey, New Castle County, DE

Professional in Information Technology for forty years:  Univac, Sperry Univac, Sperry, Unisys, Lockheed Martin – Programmer & Systems Analyst; Project Manager; Technology, Business Process Reengineering and Disaster Recovery Consultant.

For over 38 years Chuck has been a representative for Johannus Orgelbouw, first independently doing marketing, sales, and service.  The Global Organ Group was formed (Johannus, Rodgers, Makin, and Copeman Hart) and Chuck now continues sales and service of all GOG product lines with R.A. Daffer Church Organs.

Musical Background: Studied organ with Alexander McCurdy, Clair Rozier, and Jeff Fowler. Has sung in Choirs his entire life: Boy soprano soloist, baritone in the choirs of First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, the Wittenberg University Choir, Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston, St. Asaph’s Church, Bala Cynwyd, PA, and sang in the Wayne Oratorio Society of Wayne Presbyterian Church, PA for twelve years under Jeff Fowler and Tim Evers.

Enjoying wonderful times with wife Linda of thirty years, and our three grown children, Catherine Domanska Elliot (grands William and Mathilda), Christopher and Margaret. Then there are the other kids: Three cats and a dog!

Dave Yoder

Position: Consultant, Custom Projects
Telephone: 410-707-0012
E-mail: dyoder@dafferorgans.com

Dave joined R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc. in 1979 after having several years in the Tidewater, Virginia area as a Rodgers technician. Dave has been responsible for hundreds of Rodgers installations and is one of the most respected service technicians in the Rodgers Dealer Network. Dave studied organ at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and is the organist at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church in Washington, DC.

Bill Teyssier

Position: Senior Pipe Voicer, Pipe Organ Technician
Telephone: 410-751-5260
E-mail: BTeyssier@dafferorgans.com

Bill Teyssier joined the staff of R. A. Daffer in September, 1988. Prior to joining the staff at R. A. Daffer, Bill worked for the Rodgers Organ Company from 1979 to 1986. Bill apprenticed as a pipe voicer at the Rodgers Organ Company pipe shop in Erie, Pennsylvania under Ferenc Gyuratz, former head-voicer for Tellers Organ Company, Erie, Pa and Phelps Organ Company, also located in Erie. During this time, Bill was one of the tonal finishers for the Rodgers Company and travelled extensively throughout the United States voicing combination pipe-electronic organs. He worked with many well-known organists such as Dr. Joyce Jones (home installation), Frederick Swann (home installation), Dr. Keith Chapman, Ted Alan Worth, and Diane Bish.

In 1986, Bill joined the staff of Altenburg Piano House in Elizabeth, NJ as pipe voicer, tuner and salesman for Northern New Jersey. After leaving Altenburg Piano House in 1988, Bill joined the staff at R. A. Daffer as a pipe voicer, tuner, installer and general maintenance. During this time, Bill has worked on many major organs in the Baltimore/Washington area in the capacity of pipe organ tuner and voicer/tonal finisher.  He is also able to troubleshoot and do repairs on Rodgers digital organs.

Robert A. Daffer

(1938 – 2020)

Position: Founder of R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc.

Bob started selling Allen organs to churches for the Jordan-Kitts music company in 1963. In 1977, he founded his own company, R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc, initially just representing Rodgers Organ in the Baltimore market area. His vision was to create a company that would put the same care and effort in the installation of electronic organs that fine pipe organ builders put into their creations.

Through his vision, we grew to be the most successful Rodgers sales and service company in the United States. In 1993 we expanded by representing the Fratelli Ruffatti pipe organ company. In 2017, we expanded again by adding the Johannus and Makin line of digital organs.

He will be deeply missed as our company carries on his legacy of excellence.

The service is live streamed at https://youtu.be/MQWMarzzUr4