A year later, at Classen High School, the choir director suggested she take some organ lessons to become the school organist. Although this required little more than pop tunes and the school song, she started serious lessons with Dubert Dennis who insisted she play Bach correctly. At 16 she was offered a weekly radio show at Station KTOW playing pop tunes on the Hammond and reporting High School News.

At 17, she entered The University of Oklahoma School of Music and became a protégé of the renowned Mildred Andrews whose exceptional teaching skills and discipline resulted in top honors in several State and Regional competitions including First Place in the American Guild of Organists National Competition in San Francisco 1952. She received a scholarship to study at l'École de Musique de Fontainebleau, France, composition with Nadia Boulanger and organ with Marcel Dupré who recommended her as “...an excellent and perfect musician with a brilliant technique.” In Paris, she was guest organist at the American Church, Ave George V, and later, organist at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Nice. A trip back to the states resulted in a position as organist at First Methodist Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1954-55, and while there she received an invitation to return to Europe as Organist-Choirmaster of the American Church, St Paul's Within the Walls, Rome, Italy, 1956-58.

A visiting Yale Professor heard her perform and offered a scholarship to Yale University Graduate Music School where she studied composition with Mel Powell, organ with Frank Bozyan, and played her Master's Recital Program including the seldom performed Schoenberg “Variations on a Recitative” at Woolsey Hall in 1959.

A series of life-changing events including the death of her beloved father from complications of diabetes a few months later, led her into the healing arts. She completed pre-med studies at Columbia University, New York City, gained admission to the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine at age 33, and received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1969. After completing four years of post-graduate training she practiced Internal Medicine in Pasadena, California, until her retirement in 2000.

After relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada, she resumed serious organ playing once again performing the Liszt “Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H” for the AGO Spring concert in 2004. In 2006 she performed on “Pipe Dreams Live from Las Vegas” as part of Region IX AGO Mid-Winter Conclave. Two months later, she played her 75th Birthday Celebration Recital at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for a near-capacity audience receiving a standing ovation for her rendition of Sokola “Passacaglia quasi Toccata on B-A-C-H.”

A 77th Birthday Celebration Recital at First Christian Church, Las Vegas, 2009, was dedicated to her father on the 50th anniversary of his death and included the world premiere of her transcription of the Second Movement of his First Symphony written when she was six years old. Dr. Riess is noted for her musicality and interpretation, a legacy from her father.

Dr. Riess serves as Associate Organist at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Las Vegas, and is a member of Southern Nevada Chapter AGO. She enjoys recording and has released four commercial CDs through a private label, RAECD, available at CDBaby and Amazon.

She is married to Dr. Louis C. Riess, B/G USAFR Ret., has two step sons and two grandchildren. She maintains performance edge with a vigorous program of weight training and long distance swimming. She is also an accomplished photographer whose images are sold worldwide by several international agencies, and enjoys languages, travel, dancing, swimming and hiking.

DOROTHY YOUNG RIESS: ORGAN RECITAL 2009

Classical organ music performed by Dorothy Young Riess on the Allen Renaissance Organ at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Las Vegas Nevada. Released 2009 on RAECD label. Music by Buxtehude, JS Bach, R. Wagner, Roy Young-Riess, and others. Available at:

DOROTHY YOUNG RIESS: ORGAN MUSIC FROM OU 2007

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Classical organ music played on the Mildred Andrews Boggess Memorial Fisk Organ at the University of Oklahoma by Dorothy Young Riess, Organist. Released 2007 on RAECD label. Music by Gabrieli, Buxtehude, Sain Saens, and others. Available at:

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DOROTHY YOUNG RIESS: ORGAN MASTERS SERIES, VOL 1. 2006

Great pipe organ music with a flair - Reger at Yale and "Bach with a Beat" played by Dorothy Young Riess and jazz drummer. Released 2006 on JDOTPRO label. Available at