Organist: meaning, definitions and examples

Primarily used for someone who plays the organ, often in church settings or classical music concerts.

• The organist played a beautiful prelude before the service started.
• She has been the church organist for over 20 years.

A general term for anyone who plays a musical instrument or sings, regardless of the type of music or instrument.

• She is a talented musician who can play multiple instruments.
• Being a musician requires a lot of practice and dedication.

Specific to someone who plays the piano, suitable for both classical and contemporary styles.

• The pianist gave an impressive performance at the concert.
• He is an accomplished pianist with several awards to his name.

Best used for someone who plays electronic keyboards across various music genres, including pop, rock, and electronic music.

• The band's keyboardist added some amazing synth sounds to the track.
• As a versatile keyboardist, he can play both classical and modern pieces.

Appropriate for referring to someone who professionally or regularly plays the organ, especially in a variety of settings like concerts, churches, or special events.

• The organist played a beautiful piece during the wedding ceremony.
• Our school hired a talented organist for the annual graduation ceremony.

Refers to someone who plays music during church services. This term is more general and can include organists, pianists, guitarists, and other instrumentalists involved in religious services.

• As a church musician, she plays the guitar and leads the congregation in hymns.
• The church musician coordinated with the choir to arrange the songs for the Easter service.

Best used for someone who specifically plays the piano or organ to support choral groups, choirs, or vocal ensembles during rehearsals and performances.

• The choral accompanist helped the choir stay on pitch during the performance.
• We need a skilled choral accompanist for our upcoming Christmas concert.