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Statement of Intent
Statement of Intent
August 2022
Dear Friends,
We, the compilers of this website, have been unaware of the locations of many pipe organs in our area, so we decided to assemble a list of the pipe organs in Utah County and share it with the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (UVAGO), because that is where many organists go to get information about organs.
One of the goals of UVAGO is to help all organists, including those who aren’t members of the Guild, increase their abilities to serve in the churches where they play. While most chapels have good electronic organs, most organists are intrigued by “the real thing”—a pipe organ—and the opportunity to play and perhaps practice on one.
As a committee we have been gathering data about these organs for the past six months, from interviews with many local organists, personal knowledge, and listings gleaned from the online database of The Organ Historical Society. Eventually, we realized that our list was incomplete and/or inaccurate, with numerous discrepancies in many cases.
Furthermore, we have been surprised to find out how many pipe organs there are in the Utah Valley—79!—more than we initially thought. With our onsite visits and with the help of many other individuals, including organists, organ enthusiasts, and the Operations and Maintenance Division in the Meetinghouse Facilities Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we now feel that we have an excellent working list of the pipe organs, the buildings where they are located, and the essential details (builders, model and opus numbers, number of manuals, ranks, etc.), including photos, of each organ. Some of the information will change as the pipe organs are refurbished and rebuilt, which has already been the case of several instruments on our list.
We invite you to become part of the project. Please report errors, omissions, or needed additions, using the contact information on the Utah Valley Pipe Organs website: https://sites.google.com/view/uvpipeorgans/home.
We hope this project will increase interest among organists, resulting in more training and cultural activities in the venues that house these unique instruments.
Sincerely,
Mike Carson
Blaine Olson
James Welch
Jim Welch
Dr. James Welch has enjoyed an illustrious career as a university professor, international performer, recording artist, composer, author, and teacher. Visit welchorganist.com for his performance schedule, complete bio, and list of publications.
Mike Carson
Mike Carson has studied music composition, music theory, piano performance, choral conducting, organ, and cello. He enjoyed a 24-year career in retail print music in Utah Valley, followed by 18 years as an administrative assistant in private and government sectors, retiring in 2019. He is published by Neil A. Kjos Music Co., Jackman Music, and WardOrganist.com. He has written over 160 Hymnbellishments™ for organists at: carsonhymns.com.
Blaine Olson
Although not licensed to practice medicine, Blaine Olson may look you in the eye and tell you he has performed several successful organ transplants. (Most of them were pipe organs.) At age 16, Blaine took organ classes from Tabernacle organist Dr. Frank W. Asper, and his knowledge of and infatuation with all things pipe organ have grown ever since.
Blaine is educated as a professional audiologist, but spent most of his career in the printing industry. When not tinkering with experimental expansions to the 32+ rank pipe organ he built in his home, Blaine enjoys rewriting a series of children's novels that he originally wrote 30 years ago.
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