UA Hutton Memorial Organ Fund

You hear so many horror stories about pipe organs going into the trash bin but I have a happy story to tell you. Many of you remember the late Warren Hutton, Professor of Organ at the University of Alabama, who died in 2002. Some of the lucky ones of you got to hear him lecture, studied with him, or visited with him at AGO meetings. My wife, Marilyn, studied with him as a post-master’s student in the 70s and 80s, and he changed her musical life.

In 1967, when Warren was organist at University Presbyterian, he persuaded the church to purchase a 2/12 Walcker tracker. The organ cost $13,000 and at the time, the entire church budget was $7,000. University Presbyterian was recently sold for condos and the very good news is that the church donated the Walcker to the University of Alabama in memory of Warren. Phil Parkey, a member of the Atlanta AGO Chapter, dismantled it and moved it to the U for safekeeping. The pictures, above, show some of the moving activites. The organ is currently in boxes, awaiting refurbishment and reinstallation.

The bad news is that it will cost $30K to reinstall the organ as is in the UA School of Music, an additional $15K to restore the crumbling leathers, or a total of $38K to be fully refurbished, which is the recommended course of action. This is peanuts compared to a new organ. As a former Hutton student, I am helping with fund raising. If you had connections to or fond memories of Warren, benefited from his contribution to the organ world, or if you’re just grateful that an organ has been saved for the benefit of organ students, please consider making a donation. Any amount would be gratefully received.

As Mother Angelica used to say, please put us between your gas and the electric bills.

Barry L. Oakes, BSIE, an Auburn University alumnus who supports the University of Alabama Organ Department