St. Mary's Organ and Music
This information is provided by Dr. Kevin Parizo
St. Mary's Organ history
The original Catholic Church (St. Mary's) in Middlebury has an Estey Reed Organ (from the late 1860's) as the organ for the Church. It was transferred to the present Church building in the late 1890's when the present St. Mary's Church was built. This instrument is still in excellent condition and is periodically used when the electricity goes off. It is located in the Choir Loft.
The second Organ was installed by the Estey Company of Brattleboro, Vermont in 1907 and was a Tubular Pneumatic Pipe organ of 10 ranks.
In the mid 1980's open bids were solicited from major organ builders for a complete renovation to the Estey Organ, which had worn out. John Wessel, a Dutch emigre and renowned organ builder was awarded the contract and built an instrument of 28 ranks. He reused certain ranks of the Estey Pipes as well as having new ranks built by the Anderson Pipe Manufacturing Company. This organ served the needs of St. Mary's very well until serious mechanical problems with the console began to make the organ very unreliable.
The last organ renovation occurred in June and July of this year. The Walker Technical Company of Pennsylvania and Mr. Alan Sterner of Sterner organs were awarded the contract to replace the console and add digital technology to the organ. This project was largely underwritten by a grant from the Vermont Conservatory. Dr. Charles Callahan, founder of the conservatory worked with Dr. Kevin Parizo, present Titular Organist of St. Mary's with the design of the present organ. Dr. Callahan was in charge of the tonal finishing of the project. The Estey/Wessel/Walker Organ is 60 ranks over 3 manuals with an antiphonal in the ceiling of the sanctuary.
The second Organ was installed by the Estey Company of Brattleboro, Vermont in 1907 and was a Tubular Pneumatic Pipe organ of 10 ranks.
In the mid 1980's open bids were solicited from major organ builders for a complete renovation to the Estey Organ, which had worn out. John Wessel, a Dutch emigre and renowned organ builder was awarded the contract and built an instrument of 28 ranks. He reused certain ranks of the Estey Pipes as well as having new ranks built by the Anderson Pipe Manufacturing Company. This organ served the needs of St. Mary's very well until serious mechanical problems with the console began to make the organ very unreliable.
The last organ renovation occurred in June and July of this year. The Walker Technical Company of Pennsylvania and Mr. Alan Sterner of Sterner organs were awarded the contract to replace the console and add digital technology to the organ. This project was largely underwritten by a grant from the Vermont Conservatory. Dr. Charles Callahan, founder of the conservatory worked with Dr. Kevin Parizo, present Titular Organist of St. Mary's with the design of the present organ. Dr. Callahan was in charge of the tonal finishing of the project. The Estey/Wessel/Walker Organ is 60 ranks over 3 manuals with an antiphonal in the ceiling of the sanctuary.
