Valley church debuts new pipe organ

By MADELON HYNES

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Patience will be rewarded when the congregation of Christ Episcopal Church celebrates the arrival of its new pipe organ with two concerts Thursday and Friday.

For Kathi Colman, the church's music director for 24 years, the new pipe organ is the culmination of a dream that began 16 years ago when the parish formed a committee to research the project. The process was put on hold after the Rev. Karl Spatz, the parish's rector from 1970 to 1996, passed away in 1996.

Two years ago, the parish decided to resume the project.

"There was renewed interest in the project," Colman says. "A capital campaign drive was launched, and the contract was signed."

The pipe organ was installed over 12 days in November. When Colman saw the completed instrument before Thanksgiving, she says seeing it was very emotional. "It was breathtaking."

"Once the installation was complete, the tonal finishing process took about a month," Colman says. "Each pipe was regulated and tuned individually. The first Sunday that we played the organ was Jan. 17."

The 54 rank four-manual (keyboard) type organ with 3,434 pipes is made of metal and wood and was built by the Schantz Organ Co. in Orrville, Ohio.

Colman says it is the largest pipe organ in Nevada.

To prepare for the pipe organ's arrival, the church had to enlarge the choir loft.

"Pipe organs are handmade to specifically fit the room," Colman notes.

A local architect also was brought in to determine the weight of the organ so the loft would be able to support it.

The pipe organ fits the traditional church's mission-style design so well that Colman says it "looks like it has been there forever."

Thursday's concert is for members of Episcopal churches in the Las Vegas Valley, but it also is open to those who cannot attend the official public concert on Friday, according to Colman.

Both concerts will begin at 7 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church at 2000 S. Maryland Parkway. A reception will follow the concerts in the parish hall.

Prior to the concerts, the Rev. Vincent O'Neill, rector of the church, will give a short dedication prayer.

Three organists will perform at the concerts. They are: Alice Hohenthaner, the church's former organist of 17 years who recently retired; Paul Hesselink, the church's current organist; and Ty Woodward, a representative of the Schantz Organ Co.

For more information call 735-0871.