LINDSBORG -- Bethany College has announced that a new Rodgers Artist Series 599T digital organ will be installed in Pearson Chapel.
The purchase of this instrument, from RankinOrgans150, was made possible by a generous grant from the Rouback Family Foundation.
From the conception of the new Pearson Chapel, it was envisioned that Pearson Chapel be equipped with a pipe organ to continue Bethany College’s tradition of organ and sacred music. As a college of the Lutheran Church, Bethany has maintained and nurtured the use of traditional organ music in worship since its earliest days. Faculty, students, and the community have continuously encouraged, created, presented, and elevated inspiring worship and concert experiences with the use of the organ. It was therefore important to the building committee of the Pearson Chapel that plans be laid and proposals gathered for the installation of a pipe organ, even when there were indications that there might not be sufficient funding to continue with the installation of an instrument.
While a digital organ is by no means the equivalent to a real pipe organ, the 21st century has provided us with many excellent alternatives. A digital organ such as the Rodgers Artist Series 599T will be able to fulfill the needs and objectives of the Sacred Music program and Campus Ministry at Bethany at a more affordable cost, and with almost no long term maintenance costs. This organ provides a digital organ sound of the highest quality that is very close to that of a real pipe organ. It has several voice pallets making it possible for students to play repertoire spanning four centuries with accurate sounds. The organ will be installed by David Rankin of RankinOrgans150.
The addition of an organ to Pearson Chapel will fulfill the original vision of the building: to complete a worship space in which traditional music can be used alongside more contemporary styles for chapel services, to provide additional space for students to practice and study a wide range or repertory, to enhance Pearson Chapel as a performance venue that can be used for organ recitals and in collaboration with other forces such as the choir, and to be a venue that can be used for hymn festivals and sacred music conferences.
“The addition of the organ will be an enhancement to our worship, both weekly and on special occasions,” said Campus Pastor Amy Truhe. “It is exciting to see this vision come to life!”
The organ will be heard publicly for the first time on Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. during a Hymn Festival titled: Advent at Bethany: Journey of the Magi. This Hymn Festival will feature the new organ played by Dr. Hentus van Rooyen, sacred music coordinator and college organist, the Bethany College Handbell Ensemble, and reflections by Truhe. While the event will be live streamed, participants will have access to an online program by which to follow and sing along. An official dedication of the organ is being planned in the spring.