Loading...In September, our Vestry made a decision to go with the Susquehanna Organ proposal. Due to sensitive information applicable only to our church, we have removed the links to the proposals and any information regarding pricing. October 23, 2017
Early in 2017, we realized that our current pipe organ had reached the end of its useful life. Since then, we have been exploring our options for music in our sanctuary. This article will continue to be updated with information as we work towards a decision to be made by our Vestry at its September 13 meeting.
Financing: The Finance Committee and Vestry will review financing possibilities. A number exist. We are in the process of liquidating some stock from Orrstown Bank, which could possibly supply an initial payment of $20,000-$30,000. Donations would also be taken.
Please review these proposals and then take the short, 4-question survey. Also, feel free to speak with Sue Beamer, Bill Day, Wendy Day or Andrea Jezewski about your thoughts. THANKS!
Pipe organ proposal from SDG organs in Millersville.
Company Website: //www.sdgorgans.com/
This proposal would "recycle" whatever is possible from our current pipe organ to use in a new pipe organ.
The cost is projected to be ______ and to take at least six months. Since the new organ will use pieces from our current instrument, we will be without an organ during that time.
Much of the cost is for labor. The current access to the pipe organ is very small, so rearranging the configuration of it is also a part of the process.
A pipe organ requires tuning approximately twice a year. We currently pay $500 per year ($250 per visit) for these tunings.
A pipe organ is projected to last for at least 60 years. Our current instrument was installed in 1955, so is 62 years old, and it appears it was not new when it was installed then.
The new organ would allow us to record music ahead of time, which could then be played back for services without the organist being present.
Digital organ proposal from Susquehanna Organs in Dallastown.
Company Website: //www.susquehannaorgan.com/
This proposal is for a fully digital organ.
There are a number of options and the committee is most interested in option 2, with tabs instead of draw knobs and a sub woofer. The committee heard this organ in Glen Rock.
The organ would be built at the Allen Organ Company in Macungie, PA https://www.allenorgan.com/ . It will take approximately 6-8 weeks to build the organ and then installation would take one week. During that time, we'd continue to use our current organ.
At least the decorative pipes would remain in the sanctuary and serve to hide the 5 speakers.
We would have more sounds and capability since the sounds are produced via computer and do not require space for pipes.
It comes with 150 pre-recorded hymns and the capability to record music ahead of time with playback when needed and without the presence of an organist.
The digital organ will be "tuned" according to the needs of the current organists and parish.
The organ requires virtually no maintenance; however, there may be technology upgrades that need to be purchased and after approximately 30 years, the computer/digital technology may need to be replaced. The installer says Allen Organ company designs new technology so that it will fit into the previous organs they've built.
