Organ player dazzles crowds at Plaza Classic Film Festival

The Plaza Classic Film festivalcame to a closeSunday nightin downtown El Paso.

Movie stars like Al Pacino and Tippi Hedren came to El Paso for the ten-day event
but onSunday a woman entertained audiences before the filmsplayed, her talent as great as any on the silver screen.

She’s the show before the show.

Laurie Koval isthe entertainment before the lights dim in the plaza theatre.

Koval’sthe lady beneath the big screen.

Her home, behind the big organ.

As movie-goers make their way down the aisles looking for their seats, it’s the movements of her fingers on the keys and her feet on the pedals, that allows the audience to forget they’re waiting for themovie to start.

Laurie Koval told ABC-7,”Music revitalizes the soul, it lifts the mood.”

Koval’s originally from Ohio andmoved to El Paso many years ago.

She says her talents have been welcomed with open arms by the Sun City crowds.

“This has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people. I feel like part of El Paso now,” said Koval.

Koval hasbeen playing piano and theorgan since she was a kid; back then for friends and family, but now she’s plays tunes for the masses.

Theapplause and standing ovations, she says, touch her heart.

“To feel their appreciation it’s very humbling for me, a great source of joy,” said Koval.

And just because Koval is playing on a organ that’s 82 years old, doesn’t mean she can’t rock the house.

Everyone claps along, and it’s not only the melodies of the past.

She can lay down some Lady Gaga, too.

It’s part of her wild spirit.

She considers herself the female Elton John.

“I am a woman of passion and fun loving adventurous, a little bit of a gypsy,” said Koval.

The adventure is evident., even down to her crystaline, glass-like slippers, that havebeen giving her some trouble. “A little bit of a Cinderella-like quality suited me fine,” said Koval.”In fact the heel fell off(during) this festival.I had to get it glued.”

Once the music hasended, Koval says it isjust beginning for her.

Her greatest happiness is watching the excitement of the audience she leaves behind. “To have them leave encouraged, exhorting, feeling happy, is wonderful,” said Koval.

And that’s all before the show haseven started.