Organ Campaign Underway

Fund raising for the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica Gallery Organ Campaign is underway. Father Cyprian Constantine, O.S.B, Principal Organist of the Archabbey, opened the campaign with a performance of George Frideric Handel’s Organ Concerto in F, Op. 4, N. 5, on the recently-completed monastic choir Apse Organ. The Handel organ concerto was performed with the Academy Chamber Orchestra, Saint Vincent College Choir and the Saint Vincent Camerata in April. 

The Basilica Gallery Organ, to be built by Buzard Pipe Organ Builders of Champaign, Illinois, will replace the former Möller gallery pipe organ that had deteriorated to an unplayable condition.

John-Paul Buzard, president of Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, has completed visual designs and engineering for the new gallery organ. Father Cyprian G. Constantine, O.S.B. is coordinator of the project. Father Vincent de Paul Crosby, O.S.B., is the design consultant.

The sheer volume of the building, and its sumptuous acoustical environment, necessitates an organ be in equally good proportion to it,” Buzard, a master organ builder, stated. “Saint Vincent has some of the finest acoustics of any church or cathedral in the United States.”

The new Basilica Gallery Organ will complement the Apse Organ, which serves the monastic choir for daily celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. The three-manual console is located in the apse area of the monastic choir and will also control the Gallery Organ once it is installed. According to Father Cyprian, the Gallery Organ will be a three-manual and pedal organ of 50 stops and 70 ranks of pipes.

“Visually, it will complement the Basilica’s architecture,” Father Vincent said.

Archabbey Director of Development Mr. Paul Whiteside noted that Mrs. Orlie Ferretti of the Kattan Ferretti Insurance Agency will chair the Basilica Organ Campaign, along with former pastor Father Gilbert Burke, O.S.B.. Mrs. Ferretti is a member of the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica Parish. Her late husband, Mario Ferretti, chaired the Parish Division of the 1996 Basilica Renovation Project. Their daughter, Carli, is a junior at Saint Vincent College.

To make a gift to the Organ Campaign or to any Archabbey endeavor, please visit this link.