Serious horsepower: Dilworth’s new organ installed.
As we prepare to open the doors of the new St Patrick’s Chapel over the weekend of 28 January, something truly special has taken centre stage.
Because just before Christmas, our eagerly awaited new organ was installed.
Talking to Dr Philip Smith and Reverend Greg Worboys, who together undertook the project to find the right instrument for the chapel, it turns out there is quite a story behind it. This is no ordinary organ; it has been specially designed for Dilworth.
Dilworth has been fortunate to have Dr Smith playing the organ for our students and congregations for over 10 years. He also serves as the resident organist at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell and teaches organ at the University of Auckland, Waikato University, and several other schools in Auckland and beyond. You could say he knows what he is doing!
However, he says the challenge of finding a suitable organ for Dilworth’s new chapel has been enormous, down to one simple problem: Dilworth’s congregations sing so strongly that they can easily out-sing the organ, and he has never seen this anywhere else!
“The congregational singing at Dilworth is unrivalled; they would out-sing the old organ regularly – I had to play the organ flat out! I needed to find another gear,” he laughs.
“We simply had to find something with some guts”.
Reverend Worboys explains that the project team set out to find ways to upgrade the existing organ and relocate it, but sadly, as it was built a long time ago, just after World War II, he said it simply didn’t have the capacity we need, and it proved impossible. In the end, after a worldwide research project, the decision was made to opt for a purpose-built instrument for the new chapel.
The new organ was made in the Netherlands by specialists Johannus, with the pipework coming from Slovenia. But for the façade, the team commissioned a New Zealand company, Josh Anderson of Anderson Organs in Timaru. Rev Worboys went on to say that apparently,” This is the biggest project they’ve ever undertaken – it really adds some gravitas. It is so important for Dilworth, and it sounds amazing”.
And Dr Philip Smith, who will take his seat at the new organ on opening weekend, is excited about the music that will be played and sung together at Dilworth.
“I think it’s great; it is thrilling! A good organ like this one will encourage the congregation to sing even more. The acoustics in the new chapel will enhance it all further.”
