From Chapel to Wrigley: How Josh Langhoff ’99 Became a Chicago Cubs Organist

When Josh Langhoff ’99 took organ lessons at Valparaiso University, he wasn’t dreaming of playing at Wrigley Field. He was simply following his advisor’s advice to give him more career options as a music major.

“My advisor, Reddel Professor of Music Dennis Friesen-Carper, recommended that I take a couple semesters of organ lessons because Valpo has all these organs around and great organ teachers,” Josh recalls. “He recommended I take these lessons as a fallback for after college. That way, I could get a church job if I needed to.”

That practical advice would eventually lead Josh to one of the most unique and coveted musical positions in Chicago: organist for the Chicago Cubs.

In 2019, an extraordinary opportunity arose when the Chicago Cubs’ organist of 33 years retired. “I had friends who knew I could play by ear, so they told me, ‘Oh, you should apply for that,'” Josh says. “I sent an email of interest and when the hiring process opened up, they invited me to submit a resume.”

What followed was an extensive audition process, including video recordings, in-person interviews, and live auditions. Happily, Josh and another organist made the cut and were hired in March 2020 — the same week the COVID-19 pandemic began. That made his first season rather unique: playing to an empty stadium. Despite this curveball, Josh was able to make lemonade out of lemons. “In retrospect, it was great training because there was no one around to hear us mess up,” he reflects.

When full-capacity crowds returned in June 2021, Josh experienced the true magic of the position. “It was just like this huge celebration and it was a lot of fun,” he says. “An audience really does make a difference. When we play ‘Seven Nation Army’ by the White Stripes, the crowd starts singing along.”

Josh’s song selections at the ballpark vary depending on the game situation. For Cubs batters, he plays celebratory, energizing rock and rap riffs that pump up the crowd. For opposing players, the selections become more strategic. “The song selection tends to be more mocking,” he explains, “either a pun on their name or just songs about how they’ll never succeed.” He develops playlists while watching games at home, with input from his family. This creative freedom allows him to build a unique atmosphere that has become synonymous with the Wrigley Field experience.

Josh’s path to Wrigley Field wasn’t direct, but his Valpo education laid the foundation. As a Christ College – The Honors College – Scholar, he experienced intellectual challenges that shaped his approach to music and life. “Christ College definitely developed my ability to think and to not be too certain that I knew the answer to anything,” he says of his Valpo experience. “Our first paper was graded very harshly… it taught me that I do not have all the answers. It was like a reality check.”

Beyond academics, Valpo provided opportunities to explore his passions and even try something else new. Josh hosted a radio show for several semesters, worked the reel-to-reel projector for on-campus movies his freshman year, and took advantage of diverse learning experiences, including an Eastern religion course that expanded his horizons.

However, Josh had one particularly influential experience when his advisor encouraged him to attend an organ concert in the Chapel of the Resurrection instead of going to a Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performance, as he had already planned.

“Professor Friesen-Carper said, ‘We should always be going to the CSO to hear these great players, but tonight, you should stay here and listen to this organ cycle being performed in the Chapel, because to hear a work this big on that instrument will be great. You’re not going to get that anywhere else,'” Josh recalls. “The performance was “The Hildegard Organ Cycle” by Valpo alum Frank Ferko ’72, and I’m so glad I went because that was a formative musical experience for me.”

Valpo also gave Josh something else invaluable: his wife, Lea Dashiell ’99 Langhoff. They met as freshmen, became friends, and started dating junior year. Both share a deep love for music — Josh with his music composition degree and Lea with a music education degree. Valparaiso University was already on Josh’s radar because his father, Donald Langhoff ’67, had studied philosophy here before attending seminary. Those Valpo ties always run strong!

Today, he serves as music director at St. James the Less Episcopal Church in Northfield, Illinois, where he and Lea, an elementary music teacher, and their two children attend.

For prospective students considering Valpo, Josh emphasizes the critical thinking and writing skills he gained, which are lessons he still carries today. “It’s easier (at Valpo) to challenge yourself, which is why you go to college — to challenge yourself and get yourself outside of your comfort zone,” he says. “One of the subjects that my parents and I discussed when I was thinking of going to Valpo was that they challenge your faith more than other schools might. It wasn’t just ‘here’s your faith, it’s set in stone and that’s it,’” Josh explains. “It’s either challenged for a good reason or it comes out that much stronger, and the latter proved to be the case with me.”

Inspired by Josh’s story? Learn more about Valparaiso University’s department of music which includes concentrations in music education, general music, music therapy, church music, and more. Like Josh, you never know where this path may lead!