Our Staff

Jeff Ayers ~ President / CEO

Jeff has been an integral part of Allen Organ Studios for over 30 years. His interest in organs began at age 6 studying piano and organ for many years. Jeff started with Allen installing instruments for the Allen Organ Company while he was a student at East Carolina University majoring in Church Music. He has played organ and conducted choirs in churches of most major denominations. Today, Jeff has designed and installed more organs in Georgia and Tennessee than any other individual.  His business ethics, organ design experience and organ knowledge are hallmarks that have made him among the most respected in the organ industry and church music circles. For the past 20 years, Jeff has served on staff at Virginia Highland Church in Atlanta. He has held the title of Organist, Director of Music and is currently the Director of Worship. He is also proud to serve as chair of their Deaconate.

Alan Buchanan ~ Technician/Engineer

Alan was born in California and moved to North Carolina at an early age. He attended UNC Charlotte receiving his degree in 1988. He earned his computer electronics technology degree from ECPI. As a technician for Circuit City and Alltel communications, Alan’s move to the engineering and technical needs of the organ business was a given. He joined AOS in 2000 and plays a vital role in customer support not only as a technician but also as our MIDI specialist. Alan heads our transit operations and our installation team. He is also our foremost expert on Theater organs, and is well known and loved among the theater organist community here in Atlanta. As a musician, Alan also possess the skills to make proper tonal adjustments after technical repairs are complete – and these skills are rare among organ technicians. His installations and ‘attention-to-detail’ exemplify our philosophy of making the visual as beautiful as the sound.

Joe Hill ~ Technician/Installations

Joe Hill is a native of Georgia and has served as organist for several churches in both the Atlanta and Central Georgia area over the last 20 years. Joe graduated from Middle Georgia State University in 2004 with a degree in Information Technology. He is currently the organist for Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Peachtree City. He became part of the AOS team in May of 2013. Joe has an extensive knowledge of pipe organs along with their voicing and tonal properties. On top of being one of our service technicians for the Central/South Georgia areas, he helps other members of the staff in keeping our pipe/digital combination installations in tune and properly voiced throughout the year.

Bruce Clark ~ AOS Representative- Tennessee

Bruce is a native of Michigan. Growing up in the Phoenix area, he studied music at Arizona State University. Bruce attended High School in Escondido, California, and then to Chicago attending Sherwood Music School. His organ skills were further developed studying at Andrews University. Bruce moved to Chattanooga in 1969 serving Central Baptist Church Woodmore and First Cumberland Presbyterian where he has been organists for 33 years. Bruce has been associated with Allen organs since 1971. He is well known in Tennessee not only as a superb musician, but as a friend to so many. Bruce is a caring individual that is always helping others in so many ways. He and his wife Peggy (a local pediatric nurse) have three children.

Brad Cunningham ~ AOS Representative -Augusta

Brad has been with Allen Organ Company since 2008 representing 28 counties in east Georgia and west South Carolina. He enjoys cultivating relationships with existing Allen organ owners and making new friends with those who need to be Allen organ owners!

Brad grew up in Augusta, Ga. and studied organ with Dr. John Schaeffer of Augusta College (now Augusta University), before graduating from Shorter College in Rome, Ga. with a bachelor degree in organ performance under Dr. Peter B. DeWitt. He has served professionally on church staffs in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Southern Baptist Convention, and Roman Catholic Church.

Brad has served as executive board member, employment referral administrator and professional concerns committee member for the Atlanta chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He has co-chaired a week-long Pipe Organ Encounter for young people in Atlanta. Brad has worked for Calgary International Organ Competition and Festival in Atlanta and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a dual member of the Augusta-Aiken chapter and Columbia SC chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

He holds the Master of Divinity degree from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss. and Service Playing Certification (SPC) from The American Guild of Organists. Brad is organ instructor for the Cardinal Newman Organ Academy at Cardinal Newman High School, Columbia, SC.

Ron Carter ~ Theater Organs

Ronald Carter, a member of the American Theatre Organ Society and on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Chapter, has presented numerous theatre organ concerts and silent film accompaniments throughout the southeast. He is a graduate of Georgia State University and recently retired as a Commander with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with over 38 years of public law enforcement experience.

At age seven (7) Ron began accordion lessons and soon became interested in the piano and organ. He studied under Glenn Moffet and with the Anderson School of Music in Atlanta. He has served four churches as organist/Music Director for the last 40 years and is currently the organist, Music Director for the Hiram First United Methodist Church. Ron’s vast experience with theatre pipe organ and more recently digital counterparts makes him a favorite consultant for those considering the purchase/installation of a theatre organ. He is currently the house organist for the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Decatur, Georgia where he is responsible for the 60 rank Aeolian Residence Organ. As an organist for silent movies, Ron is constantly in demand through the US. He has been married to Donna Sharon Carter for 39 years and they have one son John, daughter-in-law Julie and two precious grandchildren Abby and Jake.

Oscar Watts Technician Emeritus In Heaven!

Oscar’s association with Allen organs in the US started in 1978. Oscar, Dorothy (his wife) and 5 children came to the US in 1978 from Jamaica, his native land. Prior to entering the US, he and Dorothy served the Jamaican government as representatives in England. Oscar studied at Oxford and is indeed a fine organist. As a US citizen, Oscar filled a technician opening at AOS and remained among the top organ technicians of Allen organs world-wide. His musicianship, skill as an Anglican organist and technical experiences with pipe organs in his early years were indeed an asset to his customers!

Oscar retired in January, 2019 after over forty years of service! His many years of experience, authentic English accent and charismatic personality, made Oscar a favorite with all AOS customers.

Oscar passed away in November 2020 at the young age of 89, leaving behind his wife Dorothy, with whom he was married for over 50 years, and five children and numerous grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him including the staff here at AOS and all of the organists he helped during his 40+ year career with Allen Organs.