Just in time for Easter, the console of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish’s pipe organ was restored and reinstalled.
“This was the first thing on my desk when I arrived,” said Caleb Mitchell, coordinator of pastoral music for Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish and hired in 2022.
After repairs and reinstallation of the console, Mitchell was enthusiastic to have the pipe organ back in working condition at the church.
He explained that when the pipe organ was originally installed in 1980, the parish’s pastor was Fr. Edward Erbe, who had a great love for organ music and wanted an organ for the parish.
Since then, the pipe organ had been in continuous use for 44 years and, understandably, was in need of repairs.
Mitchell said that “throughout that time, the wiring had started to disintegrate, the connections weren’t working, certain things weren’t working on the console, and parts were worn out and needed to be repaired.”
“Some parts they don’t make anymore, so [it] had to be modernized,” he added.
The restoration
For its restoration, Mitchell contacted various organ companies to see what work they would be able to complete and what the estimate would be. After hearing back from a few, Mitchell decided that the original builders of the pipe organ, Schantz Organ Company in Ohio, would be the best fit.
He said, “We determined that it would be best to go with Schantz because they could offer the most comprehensive work on the organ which included redoing the whole console, the keyboard — part of the organ that other firms couldn’t do because a lot of the pieces were worn out.”
By Palm Sunday, the organ was back in working condition.
Now that the organ is back, Mitchell is especially looking forward to transposition — playing things in a lower or higher key.
He said, “A notable thing is that the organ can now transpose. There’s a little computer in the console where I can transpose, which is something a lot of our cantors are very happy about.”
While the organ was away, beginning in November of last year and running almost up to Easter of this year, Mitchell had found a suitable replacement in the short term — a digital Allen organ.
He said he had an acquaintance who was the Wisconsin representative for the Allen Organ Company, and through that acquaintance, Mitchell was able to acquire the digital organ.
Music ministry
In his role as head of pastoral music for the parish, Mitchell enjoys when piano and organ are played together for Masses. He said that when the organ is played with the piano, “it helps create fuller sound”.
That is, of course, in addition to the human voice, which many parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Peace volunteer to give each weekend.
Mitchell talked about the robust music ministry at the parish.
He said, “We have more than 500 people in music ministry, which range from three children’s choirs each with about 50 to 60 kids, three adult choirs, a Resurrection choir that sings for funerals, a handbell choir, and we also have a “busy person” choir that sings for Holy Days and special Masses.”
Mitchell himself directs two choirs, sings, and accompanies various groups.
Before arriving at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Mitchell worked for many years at St. Joseph Parish in Dodgeville, St. Mary and St. Paul Parish in Mineral Point, and St. Philomena Parish in Belmont.