The Cathedral has begun the exciting project of acquiring a new organ. Parts of the old organ date from 1923, while others are from a more recent and ill-fated rebuild in 1978. Since its installation, the old organ has proven mechanically unreliable, costly to maintain and has never adequately served the musical needs of the Cathedral. The Diocesan Organ Committee evaluated the old organ in 2000 and recommended that it be replaced by a new mechanical action instrument. Bishop Griffin subsequently signed a contract with Paul Fritts and Company of Tacoma, Washington for a new 3-manual, 66-stop (100 ranks) organ for the Cathedral.

The old organ will play for the last time on Sunday, September 4, 2005, and will then be removed to allow for repairs to the choir loft and to make room for the new instrument whose installation will begin in June of 2006. Until the dedication of the new organ, the small organ in the sanctuary of the Cathedral will serve as the primary instrument.

The new organ has arrived at the Cathedral.  It is currently being assembled.

The organ was built at the shop of Paul Fritts & Company, one of the most respected organ builders in the United States. The most recent Fritts organ was just installed at the University of Notre Dame. Stay tuned to the cathedral web site for more information as this project unfolds.

1.  View first batch of images (August 2005).

2.  View the new organ under construction (January 2006).

3.  Organ under construction photos (April 2006).

4.  Organ under construction photos (June 2006).

5.  Organ arrival and unloading at the Cathedral (August 2006).

6.  Organ Assemble at the Cathedral (August 2006).

This page was last updated on: Saturday September 02, 2006.
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