The new, custom-made pipe organ in Dahlgren Chapel, donated by the Georgetown alumni Lewnowski family, is expected to be ready for use by the beginning of March as a final step in the renovation of the 121-year-old chapel.
After reaching out to multiple companies, the University settled on San Francisco company Schoenstein & Co to build the organ, according to James Wickman, director of liturgy and music. The company worked for a year to build the organ, which first arrived at Georgetown on Jan. 21, to be prepared for use in the Chapel.
Wickman explained that, prior to the organ’s debut, it will undergo extensive tuning to adjust the pipes to Dahlgren’s acoustic environment. “There’s the science of sound and acoustics, but there’s also the art of the human ear listening, so [those working on the organ] will actually tune and voice every single pipe,” said Wickman.
The new organ will be located in the front of Dahlgren in order to provide a better sound that compliments the inner acoustics of the chapel. Additionally, the removal of the old organ from the back of the chapel will free up more needed seating, according to Rachel Pugh, director of media relations.
Renovators also installed two wooden columns, able to hold over one thousand heavy organ pipes collectively, to maintain the structure and safety of the instrument. The largest pipe is 16 feet long and weighs over 150 pounds.
Fr. Kevin O’Brien, vice president for mission and ministry, believes that the organ will augment the natural beauty of the chapel for generations to come. “Not only is it visually inspiring, but the music that will fill the chapel will touch the hearts and souls of those who worship there,” O’Brien wrote in an email to the Voice.
As part of a celebration of both the organ installation and the close-to-complete renovation of Dahlgren, there will be a mass of thanksgiving and blessing in Dahlgren Chapel on April 12 .
