Watch: Adorable 11-year-old plays the organ for his ward

Kobin Harris’s first orthodontist appointment was standard procedure—at first. The then-10-year-old had X-rays taken of his whole head, a routine practice, and everything looked normal. But after Kobin and his mom, Lori Harris, had left the office, the orthodontist felt impressed to look at the X-rays again. That’s when he saw it—a small mark on Kobin’s skull that shouldn’t have been there.

A few doctor appointments and an MRI later it was confirmed: Kobin had a cyst growing on his brain. Gratefully, it wasn’t cancerous, but he would need surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital to remove it.

“I was really nervous and kept asking why this had to happen to me,” Kobin remembers.

The surgery was a success: the cyst was removed without causing any damage to his brain. The surgery took place in June 2023, and for the next six weeks, Kobin could not submerge his head and had to refrain from any physical activity that would stress or bump his head—which is a lot to ask of a 10-year-old in the summertime. Luckily, Kobin found an excellent, inspiring way to spend his time.

“I just felt so bored, and it was just terrible,” Kobin remembers about the beginning of the summer. But then he and his mom had an idea. Kobin had been taking piano lessons for about four years but had always wanted to learn to play the organ. And it just so happened that his piano teacher’s husband, Jim Clark, was a “phenomenal organ player” who had just retired and had some time on his hands—and love in his heart.

So almost every day for six weeks, Kobin took organ lessons from Jim. They met in Jim’s large music studio where he had several organs, including ones with real pipes.

“I learned from Kobin that a person is never too young to begin in something. Kobin was young enough he couldn’t easily reach the pedals but that didn’t stop him from working to develop his talent,” Jim says. “He is always pleasant and I’m sure happy I got to meet him.”

Kobin’s mom, Lori, was also impressed by her son’s dedication.

“He’s always willing to play and never complains, he just loves it,” she says. “Music has been such a healing power for him.”

And all that playing has given Kobin a talent he loves to share with others.

Now Kobin has a calling as the ward organist. He plays on the first and third Sundays of the month, and the members of his ward love it.

“I always have people that come up to me and say, ‘Nice job. It was wonderful. You play so well at your age.’ It’s just amazing how many people I get every Sunday coming up to me,” Kobin says.

And he doesn’t just play the congregational hymns—Kobin also accompanies the choir, no easy feat for any musician. He also plays at baptisms, funerals, and for “anyone who asks.”

“I would say the first time [I played in church] before, I was like, ‘Oh dear, I’m so nervous,’ but now it just feels like a habit of doing it so much,” he says. And it’s a habit bringing the Spirit to young Kobin’s heart.

“I feel like I’m always sharing a talent, and I’m doing something for Heavenly Father. I always feel the Spirit,” he says. “With every hymn, I always feel a message.”

An especially meaningful experience was playing for the funeral of the ward chorister’s husband.

“When she asked me, I was like, ‘I can totally do it.’ And it just felt so peaceful. I loved it,” Kobin says.

His favorite hymn to play is “Rejoice, the Lord is King!” because of its “encouraging message” and “wonderful sounds.”

Kobin hopes that other kids his age will keep an open mind about the talents they could develop. And his advice about practicing is a tender reminder to any age.

“There’s a saying that if you don’t keep practicing and growing, then you’re going to turn weak and lose all your talents. Kinda like with trees, if you don't water them, then they’re just going turn weak and they won’t grow,” Kobin says.

Looking back on his surgery and everything that’s happened since, Kobin has gained not just a deeper appreciation for music, but also for his Heavenly Father’s care.

“Heavenly Father is always on our side whenever we have hard times,” he says. “He’s always there to help us, even when we have our trials.”

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