From left, Mary Beth Wickes, St. Luke’s organist and director of accompanying for Lee’s School of Music; Tammy Randolph; Dr. Andrea Dismukes, St. Luke’s director of music and music professor at Lee; Josh York, Lee’s director of Facilities Management; Matthew Krepps; Charles Nix of Barger and Nix; and Rev. Dr. Joel Huffstetler, rector of St. Luke’s.
Lee University hasy donated an organ console to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Cleveland. Representatives of the local school, the church, and Barger & Nix Organs gathered to oversee the transfer of the console.
“This is a wonderful gift,” said Tammy Randolph, senior warden of St. Luke’s Vestry. “Lee University has always been a wonderful neighbor, and we are so blessed and thankful for their generosity.”
St. Luke’s is in the process of restoring its 1956 Möller pipe organ, parts of which date from the 1880s Piltcher pipe organ and have not been heard since 1956. The organ console donated by Lee will help make this restoration possible.
According to Dr. Matthew Krepps, organ consultant for St. Luke’s and a chemistry professor at Lee, the church has been looking forward to this renovation for a long time. Dr. Krepps has served as interim organist at St. Luke's on two occasions since 2002 and is familiar with the pipe organ.
“The aging organ has needed restoration for many years, which requires a significant financial commitment,” said Dr. Krepps. “The parish is now in a position to continue their commitment of high quality musical worship by moving forward with the signing of a contract with Barger & Nix.”
According to Dr. Krepps, Father Huffstetler approached him about two years ago asking him to conduct a thorough review of the instrument and to provide options for what type of work would be needed and for who could complete the work. This culminated in a presentation by Dr. Krepps at St. Luke's annual parish meeting, January 2016, and the signing of a contract in July.
Dr. Krepps is also involved in the Pangle Hall pipe organ enlargement project at Lee. The university recently acquired Pigeon Forge First Baptist Church's unused pipe organ. Plans for Pangle Hall does not include the Pigeon Forge organ console. Dr. Krepps was able to suggest to Lee University and then secure the donation of this console to St. Luke's.
“Right here in our community, there are two major pipe organ projects in the works, at various stages, which is a very rare opportunity,” said Dr. Krepps. “St. Luke's project is a significant commitment for the parish and to have support of this magnitude from a close neighbor, Lee University, is a blessing. I feel fortunate to participate on both the St. Luke's and Pangle Hall organ projects.”
St. Luke’s has contracted with Barger & Nix Organs of McDonald, Tenn., for the complete restoration project. Work is scheduled to begin late 2017/early 2018.