OLD ST. VINCENT'S SEEKS MONEY FOR PIPE ORGAN

The first fund raiser was a concert by violinist Heidi Bergman and pianist Dr. James Sifferman. Teen-age violinist Liesl Schoenberger helped raise money in a later recital.

Three years after the Old St. Vincent's Church organ fund was established, about $150,000 of the $255,625 needed to buy the church a new pipe organ has been raised. Much of the money has come from bequests and donations from civic organizations. Msgr. Richard Rolwing said fund-raising appeals to prospective donors will be mailed next week.

In the beginning, the intention was to restore the church's deteriorated pipe organ, a five-rank instrument built in 1929, but the church's pipe organ committee discovered it could spend many thousands of dollars and still not have an instrument that sounds good. "People would say, What did we get for our organ?'" Rolwing said.

Last fall, the committee recommended accepting the Schantz Pipe Organ Co.'s proposal to build a new organ for $255,625. The Orville, Ohio, company, one of six organ builders given consideration, is constructing the 19-rank organ now.

Bishop John Leibrecht signed the contract for the organ on Nov. 22 on the Feast of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music.

Dr. Gary Miller, a professor of music at Southeast and concert organist, is credited with providing the committee valuable advice in making its selection. The committee had to choose between an organ that was part electronic and part pipe or one that was a traditional pipe organ. "The pipe organ was chosen in keeping with the historic nature of Old St. Vincent's," Rolwing said.

An attempt to include some of the pipes from the old organ did not work. Rolwing said the church is trying to find a way to dispose of the old organ.

The organ has been designed in accordance with the church's English Gothic architecture. Ted Wofford, the consultant for the renovation of the church that began in 1987, also was involved in choosing the organ design.

The organ will be placed in the choir loft in the center of the nave of the church.

The organ chosen has the versatility to allow the church to hold concert recitals but also will work for Sunday worship. Sunday morning Mass at the church is always well attended.

The organ will have MIDI capability so that taped music can be played on appropriate occasions.

Acquiring the organ is the final piece of the restoration of the 147-year-old church, Rolwing said.

The organ is expected to be in place in the church by Christmas 2001.

Sam Blackwell may be reached at335-6611, ext. 182 or by e-mail at sblackwell@semissourian.com.