By Darlene Bowers
Photos by Bailey Bowers
It’s Sunday in Ada, Ohio. The typical church scene unfolds with gathering people and a sense of waiting for the Christmas celebrations to begin, waiting a bit longer for the adornments of poinsettias and candelabra, waiting for the greens and nativity set, and waiting for all the special touches that come once a year.
The church service begins, but wait, there is definitely something happening right now on this day that is not typical for St. Mark Lutheran. A young boy, a teenager, sits tall and erect at the organ. He’s focused and poised on the bench. After a moment’s hesitation as in thought, determination or possibly a prayer for the task ahead his hands and fingers deftly move across the organ keys finding each bar perfectly as his playing leads the congregation through the liturgy.
Skyelar Raiti, 13, lives in Ada with his family. He attended Ada schools from Kindergarten through 3rd grade and now attends Lima South Science-Technology Magnet School. Skyelar has been playing piano since age 4. Prior to that Skyelar had been begging for piano lessons and this was at first seen by his parents as a phase, but Skyelar was persistent.
During a pretend game one day, Skyelar made a birthday cake out of play dough complete with candles. Upon showing his mom the cake he was encouraged to make a wish but not to share it. Skyelar insisted on telling his mother that he wished he could become a pianist.
The lessons ensued shortly thereafter and continue to this day with Don Hurless of Lima. Skyelar shares his most memorable musical accomplishment thus far as 2nd prize winner in the intermediate division of the Indiana Purdue Ft. Wayne (IPFW) Gene Marcus piano competition in June 2013.
As early as age 4 Skyelar remembers being fascinated by the extra keyboard for hands and the keyboard for feet and the many buttons of the organ. Skyelar now takes organ as well as piano lessons, and plays percussion in his school band. He plays a bit of cello too.
Skyelar’s siblings, Vance (age 11) and Tierra (age 8), have musical talents of their own and together they comprise the Raiti’s Trio performing a mix of duets, trios and solo performances. Skyelar prefers not to sing leaving the vocals to Vance and Tierra. Skyelar’s musical advice: Practice. A lot! Every day if possible.
Skyelar gives credit to his parents, Maria Raiti and Patrick Croskery, and to his birth dad, Michael Raiti, who passed away when Skyelar was in kindergarten. All three parents, educators, raised a thoughtful and kind young man. Skyelar’s career plans are to be a pianist and/or an astrophysicist following his passion for music (“obvious” he says) and physical science and technology. Skyelar’s also into computer programming, 3D graphic design and learning Mandarin Chinese (just to learn it).
When an opportunity to share his organ skills for service at St. Mark presented itself the score was set and ready to begin and now Skyelar Raiti’s opus continues. During organ practice at the church recently after school “People, Look East” and “Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah” filled the building and spilled out onto the sidewalk and down Johnson Street as Skyelar played. We certainly hope we don’t have to wait much longer to hear Skyelar share his musical talents publicly again.
