With this report the Trustees requested the Music Director seek direction from organ companies that were as close to us as possible. Casavant Frères in St. Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; R.A. Daffer Organs in Jessup, Maryland; and, David Storey Organ Company, in Baltimore, were solicited. Due to many complications, Casavant was unable to come to Salisbury, mainly because of the distance and their schedule. Both Daffer and Storey were able to come to the church, inspect the instrument thoroughly, and reported to the Music Director that the organ was in desperate need of major attention. Both companies submitted proposals for its refurbishment. This information was presented to the Music Leadership Team who in turn presented it to the Trustees.
After a fair amount of discussion, it was the recommendation of the Music Leadership Team to the Trustees that an Organ Committee be organized to look specifically at the refurbishment of both the Steinway piano and the Casavant organ. The Trustees approved this recommendation and an Organ Committee was appointed of Robert Young, Director of Music Ministries, Chip DaShiell on behalf of the Music Committee, and Susan Peacock on behalf of the Trustees. Knowing the piano would be much easier than the organ, the Organ Committee first set out to get estimates on the Steinway, get the necessary approvals to move forward, raise the funds, and arrange for that piano work to be completed. This was concluded in April 2007.
As the work of the piano was coming to a close, the Organ Committee became more deliberate about their organ work. They felt that it was of utmost importance to have the builder of the organ at least look at the instrument and give their opinion, if not ideally be the company to do the work. The Organ Committee also wanted to have several proposals on the table to make comparison. Since the Organ Committee was not present to hear the report of David Storey Organ Company, they requested his return to speak with them. They also invited a rather well know, but smaller organ company located in Pennsylvania, Patrick J. Murphy & Associates to come, look at the instrument and give them their recommendation. The Organ Committee also connected with Casavant and began the discussion on their ability to come and look at the instrument. All three companies verified without hesitation that we as a congregation are living on borrowed time in relying on the mechanical part of the organ, and seriously advised that we proceed forward in renovating it as soon as possible.
After serious deliberation, and much reservation due to the cost of the project, the Organ Committee proposed to the Music Leadership Team that the firms of David Storey Organ Company and Casavant Freres be chosen and contracted to refurbish the Casavant Pipe Organ as soon as possible. This proposal was presented to the Trustees and they in turn requested to have a meeting with both pipe organ builders to discuss the options. Casavant and David Storey both affirmed for us that we should move quickly, partly because of the frail condition of the mechanical parts of the organ, and also because of the long lead times in scheduling this type of work. Casavant informed us that they had a 1.5-2 year waiting list just to get instruments into their shop, and then we have an additional eight months worth of work to be completed on the instrument and console. The following month the Trustees convened to finalize their plans for moving forward with the project at an approximate cost of $485,000.00, with the work to start in April 2009 with the organ back in place and playing by the end of November 2009.
