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Pitt's key stand-in
Thomas Pavlechko: Organist
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HANDIWORK: The hands of Thomas Pavlechko may be seen as a hand double for actor Brad Pitt in a movie to be released next year. The former Mahoning Valley residents is now an accomplished musician.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENT: Thomas Pavlechko, cantor and composer-in-residence at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Austin, Texes, rehearses to get into peak-performance level for an organ concert set for 7 tonight at Calvary Baptist Church in Boardman, where he once served as organist. The former Mahoning Valley resident coached actor Brad Pitt on the organ and piano for an upcoming movie.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Vindicator Staff Writer
FORMER MAHONING VALLEY RESIDENT Thomas “Thom” Pavlechko has composed more than 25 choral works and 85 hymns, and serves as cantor and composer-in-residence at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas.
He’s devoted 30 years as a church musician, amassing an impressive list of accomplishments. Now he’s returned to play a concert at Calvary Baptist Church in Boardman for the 25th anniversary of the dedication of its Austin pipe organ.
The concert also will feature two premiere performances of “Pastorale on Woodard” and “Solemn Procession” by Pavlechko.
With so many noteworthy achievements, Pavlechko has added another to his résumé that’s sure to get a double take.
In February and March, he coached actor Brad Pitt on organ and piano for the movie, “The Tree of Life,” written and directed by Terrence Malick. Pavlechko also performed as Pitt’s hand double. The movie is scheduled for release next year. Pavlechko, who noted that his contract limited what he can discuss about the movie and his involvement, said he does not know the plot of the film.
How did a liturgical musician come to rub elbows with an international movie star?
“The director and site manager visited St. Martin’s. They needed an organ in the balcony,” Pavlechko recalled, at this point not knowing the actors in the movie. Another visit brought the sound engineer and other crew members; Pavlechko played the Visser-Rowland mechanical organ for the film crew. “The first assistant to the director told me ‘the actor’ does not play,” Pavlechko said. The musician, who had given organ and piano lessons, said he was asked to “teach him to act as if he’s playing” so that it would be “convincing on screen.”
Pavlechko said his first meeting with Pitt was in secrecy at the church. “He had on a ballcap and dark glasses,” Pavlechko said. “He wanted to learn and not fake it.”
“He was a very down-to-earth guy and a good student,” Pavlechko said. “He had great interest in the architecture of the church.”
The second encounter, Pavlechko said, was a surprise. “He showed up at the front door with Angelina [Jolie, his partner] and Shiloh, [their daughter],” he said. “I had no idea, and I caught my breath.
“Angelina told Shiloh that they needed ‘to let Dad work,’” Pavlechko said, and mother and daughter spent time in the church nursery.
Pavlechko instructed Pitt during the course of a few lessons. “He was very attentive to detail, took notes on the fingering and memorized,” Pavlechko said. Pitt, who doesn’t play a musical instrument, was an excellent student.
There was a day of filming at St. Martin’s, where Pavlechko played as Pitt’s hand double, and he also traveled to Smithville, Texas, where other scenes were filmed. “It amazed me how much is involved in the process to create a few seconds on film,” he said. Pavlechko said his hands had enough similarity to Pitt’s to serve as a double.
But with all the movie fantasy, Pavlechko is realistic: “All the work I did could end up on the cutting room floor.”
The learning experience and mingling on a movie set was remarkable and memorable for Pavlechko.
Even if his part in the film is edited out, local residents will be able to hear his musical talent firsthand during a concert set for 7 tonight at Calvary Baptist, which can seat about 325 people. Anthony Cebriak, director of Canfield Community Concert Band and Calvary member, invited Pavlechko to play in the concert. Pavlechko admired Cebriak for his work as director of Canfield High School band.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Pavlechko. He has family here; his mother, Arlene Pavlechko, lives in Canfield; he took his first organ lesson from Anthony DiCello at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown; and he and his father, the late John Pavlechko, both worked as custodians at Calvary. Pavlechko also had a stint in the early 1980s as organist at Calvary.
Pavlechko was around for the “voicing” of the organ at Calvary, the technique that requires both technical skill and musical aptitude to make sure the “ears, mouth and beard” (terms for parts of the pipes) and “nicking” of the mouth, which helps determine sound, are correct. “The angle of the beard affects the sound,” Pavlechko said, also noting that each pipe contributes to the overall sound.
“It’s wonderful coming back,” Pavlechko said, noting “no one in Texas knows what cavatellis are” ... so that’s on the menu during his visit. “Calvary Baptist is so grounded as a church,” Pavlechko said. “When I walked in, I felt that grounding, the beauty and spirituality here.”
Pavlechko also loves the organ, which he described as a “symphony orchestra.”
“It can be thunderous or quiet,” he said.
“Music can span the spectrum of emotions,” Pavlechko said. “Music opens the heart and spirit to the Divine.”
SEE ALSO:Concert Details