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Keys to the stadium GMToday.com, July 6, 2003 By JIM CRYNS
Some of you may recall the organ at the old County Stadium that went silent during the first Bush administration. The organ has been replaced with a state-of-the-art Kawai SRX 7000, and, in connection with an effort to make the baseball venue more fan-friendly this season, it is resonating throughout the Menomonee Valley. The new organist at Miller Park, Dean Rosko, was in diapers when "Roll Out The Barrel" was last played on the keyboards at County Stadium. Rosko, 19, says he started playing the piano as soon as he was able to reach the keys. "I don’t know if I was as surprised to get the organist job with the Brewers as much as I was delighted," Rosko comments. "I took six years of piano lessons and seven years of organ playing lessons," Rosko recalls with a grimace. " I learned how to play the organ in front of a live audience at roller rinks in the Milwaukee area. "My family is absolutely thrilled with this gig as they’ve been Brewer fans forever. It’s been great for the whole family to be part of this experience," Rosko continues. "I don’t consider myself a fair weather fan. I have always been a Brewer fan." Rosko says he and the Brewers have worked steadily to compile a list of songs that might work at various points before, during and after the game. "The Brewers have asked me to give the fans something during a foul ball, or possibly during a pitching change." About 32 people applied for the job as the team organist and the first cut took that number down to 16 people. Resumes were perused and tapes listened to. The 16 enthusiasts were whittled down to eight applicants which ultimately led to the final interviews. "I’m scheduled to play about 73 games a year. I’m the primary guy, but there is a second organist to fill in the remaining games," Rosko explains. His game assignments will require him to do the familiar charges, chord progressions, the theme from "Zorba the Greek." "I pretty much have the green light to plug in some music where I deem it necessary," Rosko explains. "I will continue to develop stuff we can use and it will be a kind of work in progress." Rosko works just a few booths down from Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker. "I’ll have to come up with some kind of Bob Uecker theme," Rosko quips. "Fans seem to enjoy the organ playing so far. We’re in a booth right in front of the fans with the open windows and I haven’t heard any negative comments."
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