Kent Concert Hall organ receives overhaul
The $178,000 refurbishing of the pipe organ in USU’s Kent Concert Hall that began June 2010 will be finished by the end of February.
Lynn Thomas, the director of organ studies at USU, has been closely involved in the project since its conception. Thomas said the organ, which was built in 1972 by the Holtkamp Organ Company, was in desperate need of repair.
“The organ never had a sufficient maintenance budget,” Thomas said. “Over time, parts wear out.”
Thomas recalled an incident in 2009, when he was checking the organ to prepare for a concert. He said he tried to turn it on and nothing happened.
The problem was found and fixed, but Thomas said it was indicative of the need for repair.
George Cooper, the head voicer at the Holtkamp Organ Company, is overseeing the project. He said it is the voicer’s job to ensure the pipes in the organ all have a similar timbre, or tone quality, during the tuning process.
The refurbishment of the organ was divided into three phases. In the first phase, Thomas said several pipes had to be shipped to the Holtkamp headquarters in Cleveland to be completely re-worked with the advanced facilities located there. The pipes had been warped either over time or from improper use.
Thomas said phase two consisted of a deep-cleaning of the organ. Dust had built up in many of the pipes, inches thick in some locations. This led to muffled sound and further degradation of the structural integrity of the organ.
In phase three, the organ’s electrical system were brought up to spec with other, more modern organs. Before the upgrade, Thomas said the organ was controlled by several hundred tiny wires responding to commands from the console where the performer sits.
Now, Thomas said, the organ has a single data wire, from the console to the organ, where a series of computer-controlled electromagnets open and close the valves on the pipes. The console was upgraded as well.
Thomas said various teaching aids were added to personalize each student’s experience. The organ also now has the ability to play itself with the proper computer program to control it.
Thomas said the phases of the project cost an estimated $178,000. When first purchased, the organ cost about $100,000.
“To purchase an organ of similar quality today, however, would probably cost about $1.5 million,” Cooper said.
Paul and Paulette Campbell, owners of Campbell Scientific, gave $100,000 to the university specifically for the organ, because they took organ classes when they attended USU.
Thomas said the rest of the money for the project came from school funds.
When the last organ professor left the university four years ago, the organ program fell dormant, but Thomas said USU had a good program for 10-15 years, with 10-15 graduates each year.
There is currently one student majoring in organ studies at USU, and Thomas said he hopes there will be many to follow.
Taylor Griffin is a student who is considering switching to an organ major. First a piano major, then commercial music, he said it is his dream to be the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organist.
“The difference is power,” Griffin said. “I love the powerful sound behind it that you can’t get with a piano.”
Thomas wants to re-establish the organ’s place at USU. He is hoping for a series of three to four recitals a year, which would feature guest artists. He said he also hopes it will take its place among the various concerts and performances given throughout the year at USU.
– adam.barkley@aggiemail.usu.edu