Music keeps him young

This Ferlach native has been playing the organ for 78 years

Roland Popatnig has been playing the organ at masses in the Ferlach parish church for more than 70 years(Bild: Arbeiter Dieter)

At almost 90 years old, Roland Popatnig from Ferlach still provides the musical framework for church services. The Rosental native is far from thinking of giving up.

When people from Ferlach walk past the parish church and hear organ music, they know: "Ah, Roland is practising again!" And he has been for 78 years now. Back then, the parish priest, Dr. Edgar Geramb, approached the then twelve-year-old Roland Popatnig and asked him if he would like to learn the organ. "I then worked my way up bit by bit," says the now 89-year-old, who once played the old organ in the parish church. "It was particularly cumbersome, and my piano teacher noticed that in the way I played. She even wanted me to stop playing the organ. But I stuck with it," recalls the master baker.

Roland Popatnig learned to play the trumpet at the age of 50. The 89-year-old speaks a total of seven languages and is involved in voluntary work. After closing his parents' bakery, the Rosental native switched to the banking business.(Bild: Arbeiter Dieter)

"Playing the organ keeps you fit!"
When the church was renovated, a new organ also moved into the church. "It also has its pitfalls, and you have to know them," says the Rosental native, who taught himself to play the trumpet at the age of 50. "That was quite a challenge. Because I also played in the Kolping band." However, the organ in Ferlach parish church always remained Popatnig's home. The bachelor not only plays church literature on the time-honored instrument, but pop songs and other melodies also echo through the church from time to time.

Despite being almost 90 years old, Popatnig is far from thinking of stopping: "Playing the organ keeps you fit!"