County Residents Greet Grammy Winner Paul Jacobs

It isn’t too often you get the chance to meet and greet a Grammy Award winner, especially one from your own county, but several hundred people turned out Monday night at the George Washington Hotel in Washington to congratulate and meet Paul Jacobs.

The 34-year-old organist, who grew up in South Strabane Township, but played at churches and performed concerts, including the complete works of J.S. Bach at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair, was honored in his home county by a reception for friends and well-wishers.

“I’m just overwhelmed by the turnout and the number of people who wanted to greet me,” Jacobs said. “There are so many people who I haven’t seen for years who came to greet me. It’s very moving to see the faces of people who had a significant role in shaping me and my career.”

Jacobs, who is chair of the organ department at The Juilliard School in New York, won the Grammy for best classical solo instrumental performance for his CD “Livre du Saint Sacrement” by Olivier Messiaen. He became the first organist to ever win a Grammy award.

The music of Messiaen has always been a favorite of Jacobs. Besides doing the complete works of Bach, Jacobs has also performed the complete organ works of Messiaen in Pittsburgh and in venues around the world. He even received a note of thanks for his performance from Messiaen’s widow in Paris.

The meet and greet was hosted by Jacobs’ mother, Mary Jeanne Maggi. Jacobs is the stepson of county commissioner Larry Maggi (Jacobs' father passed away before he was born).

“It’s just an unbelievable honor for Paul to receive the Grammy,” said Mrs. Maggi. “Paul never thought that he would win against all of the other nominees, but we always believed that he would.”

The winning CD on the Naxos label is Jacobs’ second album. In his first CD, Jacobs performed the works of Bach.

Visit to read more about Grammy winner Paul Jacobs.