Support Stambaugh Auditorium Historic E.M. Skinner Pipe Organ.

Stambaugh Auditorium’s Opus 582 E.M. Skinner pipe organ is one of the few that operates as it did at the time of installation in 1926. The pipe organ in the concert hall has been able to attract thousands of guests and organ enthusiasts from all over the country. Every year, Stambaugh Auditorium puts on a silent film and organ concert. Both events highlight the organ’s acoustic integrity and uniqueness. Stambaugh Auditorium is pleased to have been able to preserve such a special instrument that was specifically influenced by E.M. Skinner, and the goal is to preserve the organ for generations into the future.

Today, many original Skinner pipe organs have been replaced, removed, or altered to live up to standards held by other builders after Skinner’s time. Fortunately, Stambaugh Auditorium was able to avoid this; however, the Opus 582 requires consistent maintenance to sustain the quality and sound that would have been produced at the first organ performance in the late 1920s. Every year, the organ costs Stambaugh anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 for specialty tuning and maintenance services. Every time the organ is used, Stambaugh must hire personnel to come tune and fix any issues with the instrument.

Please consider donating to the William A. Conti Memorial Organ Fund this Giving Tuesday to help sustain this spectacular instrument! From November 27 through December 31, donations to this fund will be matched 1:1 by the Community Foundation. This means that if you give $50 to Opera Western Reserve, your gift will be matched by the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, resulting in a donation of $100! Additionally, from November 27 to December 3, the Community Foundation will add $100 to each individual donor’s gift. Please consider maximizing impact by giving during this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign!