Church Organ Project
We are happy to celebrate our church services with the accompaniment of our newly restored Skinner organ!
An Organ Task Force was created in 1998, and assigned the task of researching and education people on the state of this instrument. In the summer of 1998 we invited a group from the American Guild of Organists (The AGO) Organ Advisory Committee to visit us and evaluate the status of our organ. Our invited experts filed a number of separate reports. We also have solicited opinions from other knowledgeable organists and organ builders. In October of 1999 we hired a well known organ consultant for a one-time consultation who advised us on how to proceed. We also received evaluations and proposals from Don Olson of the Andover Organ Company, Joe Rotella of the Spencer Organ Company, and Thad Outerbridge, a local organ builder. In June of 2000 we held a program called a "Pipe Organ Encounter", where we took the facade off the front of the organ, and allowed people to see how it works. We had demonstrations of the different pipes and sounds, as well as demonstrations of the way the sound carries within the church. We learned some history, as well as some technology. We learned what is good about the organ, as well as what is bad. All of this is in an effort to educate our parish about the state of this organ, and to make recommendations of what needs to be done. Later events included tours of other church organs, and local organ builder workshops. At the January 2001 annual meeting of the church, the Organ Task Force submitted their final report and recommendations to the parish.
The Restoration Begins! The final report and recommendation of the Organ Task Force was accepted by the Vestry, and was underway on January 2, 2002. And the console is complete in 2006.
An Organ Task Force was created in 1998, and assigned the task of researching and education people on the state of this instrument. In the summer of 1998 we invited a group from the American Guild of Organists (The AGO) Organ Advisory Committee to visit us and evaluate the status of our organ. Our invited experts filed a number of separate reports. We also have solicited opinions from other knowledgeable organists and organ builders. In October of 1999 we hired a well known organ consultant for a one-time consultation who advised us on how to proceed. We also received evaluations and proposals from Don Olson of the Andover Organ Company, Joe Rotella of the Spencer Organ Company, and Thad Outerbridge, a local organ builder. In June of 2000 we held a program called a "Pipe Organ Encounter", where we took the facade off the front of the organ, and allowed people to see how it works. We had demonstrations of the different pipes and sounds, as well as demonstrations of the way the sound carries within the church. We learned some history, as well as some technology. We learned what is good about the organ, as well as what is bad. All of this is in an effort to educate our parish about the state of this organ, and to make recommendations of what needs to be done. Later events included tours of other church organs, and local organ builder workshops. At the January 2001 annual meeting of the church, the Organ Task Force submitted their final report and recommendations to the parish.
The Restoration Begins! The final report and recommendation of the Organ Task Force was accepted by the Vestry, and was underway on January 2, 2002. And the console is complete in 2006.