Opus 134

Designed by architects Bullock, Smith and Partners, the church takes full advantage of a commanding hilltop setting above the city. Installed in 2009, Opus 134 stands atop the choral risers at the front of the church. Dr. Janette Fishell, with whom we had worked so productively at Opus 126 in Greenville, NC, served as consultant to the organ committee, helping to make clear the possibilities and choices in the specification. Terry Eason, the liturgical designer, and Dana Kirkegaard, the acoustician, were indispensable in creating the excellent placement of the instrument and choir and the carefully shaped supporting structures around them.

Charles Nazarian’s visual design of the organ case grew from our use of a 3-D model of the building, allowing site lines to the rose window above and behind the organ to be thoughtfully considered, ensuring that the 48-foot tall instrument does not overwhelm the chancel.

An eight-week installation and many months of finish voicing made certain that the 20-ton, red oak organ fit the space perfectly and spoke properly into the outstanding acoustics for music and worship.