St Mark Choir Organ

Through the generosity of many St Mark Parishioners, a new "Choir Organ" was installed in the balcony of St Mark Lutheran Church and dedicated on Reformation Sunday, 2005.

This wonderful instrument is the brain-child of St Mark Organist, Caroline Valentine, working in concert with Rene Marceau and Tom Skyler of Marceau & Associates, Organ Builders, Portland, OR.  Of special note is that this instrument is built primarily of 'recycled' components 'salvaged' from other churches who've upgraded their instruments.

Here's the (mixed) "pedigree" of this 3-rank 168 pipe instrument:

1.  The windchest is from Bethany Lutheran, Seattle, WA

2.  The wind reservoir is from First Lutheran, Ketchikan, AK

3.  The blower is from Champagne, IL

4.  The keyboard is from Centralia, WA

5.  The 8' Gedeckt pipes are from the genesis of this project - the Roy Helms Portativ - from St Mark Lutheran, Anchorage, AK

6.  The 8' Salicional is from First Presbyterian, Spokane, WA

7.  The 4' Harmonic Flute is from First Methodist, Portland, OR

8.  The electronic driver assembly that makes this such a versatile instrument is from Syndyne, in Vancouver, WA

Truly, this is an 'interdenominational' instrument!  While this may be a 'potluck' organ, the sound is rich and blended, and beautifully compliments the sound of St Mark's Kenneth Jones Tracker.

For more information on this instrument, you may contact St Mark's Organist, Caroline Valentine at stay@camaibnb.com