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In the News

Kennedy Center’s new organ in the spotlight

Although the organ built by Casavant Freres has arrived at the Kennedy Center, the installation for the $2 million project doesn’t happen overnight. Installation and fine-tuning will continue until the 5,000-pipe organ’s official inauguration.

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After years of planning as part of a $2 million project, the highly anticipated organ takes the stage inside the Kennedy Center Concert Hall at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The organ was built by Casavant Freres.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

The $2 million Kennedy Center organ project was the culmination of years of planning; installation and fine-tuning will continue until the 5,000-pipe organ's official inauguration in November.

The $2 million Kennedy Center organ project was the culmination of years of planning; installation and fine-tuning will continue until the 5,000-pipe organ's official inauguration in November.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Sam O'Brien, left, Harry Casey, center, and Ghislain Latour unload parts for the new organ.

Sam O'Brien, left, Harry Casey, center, and Ghislain Latour unload parts for the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Steve Bartley, center, helps with the heavy lifting of parts of the Kennedy Center's new organ.

Steve Bartley, center, helps with the heavy lifting of parts of the Kennedy Center's new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

The new organ will be a huge improvement over the current Filene organ, which had two main problems. First, it didn’t work well, showing a disturbing tendency to cipher — that is, to emit unplanned noises at inconvenient moments — during performances. Second, it wasn’t a heavyweight orchestral instrument.

The new organ will be a huge improvement over the current Filene organ, which had two main problems. First, it didn’t work well, showing a disturbing tendency to cipher — that is, to emit unplanned noises at inconvenient moments — during performances. Second, it wasn’t a heavyweight orchestral instrument.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Organ tuner Richard Marchand sits at the organ console as he tunes the new instrument at the Kennedy Center. Marchand works for Casavant Freres.

Organ tuner Richard Marchand sits at the organ console as he tunes the new instrument at the Kennedy Center. Marchand works for Casavant Freres.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Marchand sits at the organ console as he tunes the new instrument at the Kennedy Center.

Marchand sits at the organ console as he tunes the new instrument at the Kennedy Center.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Stops on the console of the new organ.

Stops on the console of the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

The keys and a portion of the console of the new organ.

The keys and a portion of the console of the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Organ tuner Daniel Fortin works on tuning pipes in the chamber area behind the facade of the new organ.

Organ tuner Daniel Fortin works on tuning pipes in the chamber area behind the facade of the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Pipes that make up the facade of the new organ.

Pipes that make up the facade of the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Marchand, left, works on changing the wind pressure as fellow organ tuner Fortin looks on in the chamber behind the facade of the new organ.

Marchand, left, works on changing the wind pressure as fellow organ tuner Fortin looks on in the chamber behind the facade of the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Fortin walks in the chamber area behind the organ's facade.

Fortin walks in the chamber area behind the organ's facade.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Pedals on the organ console.

Pedals on the organ console.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Pipes that make up the facade of the new organ.

Pipes that make up the facade of the new organ.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

Electronics are seen inside the console of the new instrument.

Electronics are seen inside the console of the new instrument.

Matt McClain / For The Washington Post

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