Glorious sounds ahead for Aurora University

In recent years, Aurora University's push to reclaim its church and faith roots and musical history of the 1930s and '40s has been missing something. A pipe organ.

Not any longer, after anonymous donors and alumni raised more than $500,000 to install a 1,203-pipe, custom-designed organ in Crimi Auditorium. Workers began installing the organ in late June and intend to have it completed in time for the fall semester.

Executive Vice President Ted Parge said the organ was the last piece missing as the university has amped up its arts curriculum and brought back theater and musical performances.

"This organ will allow performances featuring a full orchestra, the University Chorale, concert grand piano and organ," Parge said. "This is really a statement to the community that we are committed to providing our students with as many opportunities as possible."

Music department Chairwoman Cathryn Wilkinson, a professional organist, researched the instruments at area churches so the university wouldn't duplicate the "tone color" community members already experience. She then began designing the organ that is being installed, a tedious process she called a career "high point" because of the time and details involved.

"This is the first and likely last time I'll design an organ from scratch and I designed it to set the tone for celebrations and festive occasions," Wilkinson said. "I think it's going to be in the top rung. I've been playing a lot of organs for many years and I can make a lot of comparisons, but right now I can only imagine what it's going to sound like. I predict some glorious sounds will be made by this organ."

One of only a few trained organists on campus, Wilkinson will be charged with teaching students how to play the new instrument.

"Right now there's only a few of us that know what to do with it, but the more who know how to play it the better," she said. "If I can show a class how it works, the students are sure to have a deeper appreciation for musical instruments in general."

Parge said he hopes the organ will play a part in the revival of church organs in the region.

"There are churches with beautiful organs sitting around with no one who knows how to play them anymore," Parge said. "There's a real concern for the future of the art so we hope to spur a revival of sorts by reintroducing people to this beautiful instrument and the powerful sounds it creates."

Parge said the installation should be complete by August and the organ will need to sit untouched to adjust to the humidity and the environment before the designers come back to adjust the tuning and voicing. Once that's complete, the instrument will be played for the first time by renowned organist David Snyder and dedicated at an Oct. 8 ceremony during homecoming weekend.

"This has been two years in the making," he said. "So hearing it played for the first time will be a treat."