Department of Performing Arts: Music

Pipe Organs at SOU

When the Music Building was designed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, plans included space for a pipe organ in the Music Recital Hall. Under the direction of Music Department Chairperson William Bushnell, Agnes Flanagan raised about $65,000 for the instrument. The plaque in the Music Lobby lists the contributors. The instrument is named after Worth Harvey who contributed a significant portion of his estate. The organ was installed in 1974. Recital presenters have included Frederick Swann, Marilyn Keiser, Ladd Thomas, Uwe-Karsten Gross, James Welch, Edward Hanson, Todd Wilson, J. Melvin Butler, Janette Fishell, Colin Andrews, Lee Garrett, Tamara Still, John Strege, David Rothe, Thomas Harmon, and Larry Crummer. The instrument was used for a variety of events for the American Guild of Organists Region VIII Convention in July 1997.

By the mid-1980s the Music Recital Hall was used for more and more events, decreasing the time available for organ lessons and practicing. A campaign was undertaken to raise money for a mechanical action practice organ to be located in a new room in the basement of the Music Building. Again, private funds were raised for the instrument as well as part of the room remodeling, including significant contributions by Hal Hinkle, Dr. Lee Mulling, and Gilman Plunkett. The instrument, made by Richard Bond of Portland, cost $47,000.

We have established the "Organ Plus" fund in the SOU Foundation which allows us to bring guest organists to campus, and also helps pay for work which needs to be done to the instruments. For example, the Worth Harvey instrument received a new combination action in summer 2000, funded by private donations. If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund, please contact Dr. Margaret Evans or the SOU Foundation for details.