Project 52

Just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Benedict Cathedral completed a comprehensive renovation of both the interior and exterior of the church. The project introduced a new decorative scheme, upgraded HVAC, lighting, and sound systems, and replaced much of the nave flooring with reflective surfaces. Most significantly for music and worship, the removal of acoustical impediments—including the Celotex ceiling tiles—transformed the room into a magnificent six-second reverberant acoustic. A substantially enlarged rear gallery was also constructed, capable of supporting a major pipe organ while accommodating choirs of more than one hundred singers.

Although the cathedral renovation was a significant undertaking, it did not include funding for the replacement of the small Depression-era organ. Recognizing the extraordinary potential of the renovated space, then-Rector Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, and Cathedral Organist and Director of Music Jeremy Korba began exploring options for a new instrument worthy of the cathedral’s expanding musical and liturgical mission. Their vision was unexpectedly realized when retired Deacon David Allan Cook and his wife, Virginia (“Ginny”), generously offered to fund the organ project in its entirety. Beyond supporting the original proposal, Ginny also funded enhancements to the specification and established resources for the organ’s long-term maintenance. Although Deacon Cook passed away before the organ’s dedication, a representative portion of the instrument was completed and made playable for his funeral.

Following Fr. Mullen’s appointment to a new position in the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, responsibility for the project passed to Fr. Alex Zenthoefer, who worked closely with Mr. Korba and Parsons Pipe Organ Builders throughout construction. The resulting instrument consists of 70 ranks, with 62 ranks located in the gallery divisions and 8 ranks in the nave divisions. Two identical three-manual movable consoles allow the organ to be played from either the gallery or the front of the nave, providing exceptional flexibility for worship and performance.

Tonally, the organ draws inspiration from the finest English and American Romantic traditions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Its design emphasizes carefully terraced divisions, rich accompanimental resources, and a broad palette of orchestral colors. The Great, Swell, Choir, Pedal, and Nave divisions work together to create an instrument capable of both intimate accompaniment and commanding congregational leadership. A generous complement of strings, flutes, choruses, and reeds, combined with a unified wind system and the cathedral’s exceptional acoustics, produces an organ of remarkable warmth, cohesion, and expressive range.

Throughout its development, the project evolved through ongoing collaboration among the cathedral leadership, donors, musicians, and builders. Opportunities arose to expand and refine the instrument beyond its original conception, resulting in an organ that fully complements the renovated cathedral and its vibrant acoustic environment. Parsons Pipe Organ Builders is extraordinarily pleased with the outcome and hopes the instrument will continue to support the worship, musical life, and broader mission of St. Benedict Cathedral for generations to come.