Our Amazing Pipe Organ - A tour with Mark Kurtz

Name: Our Amazing Pipe Organ - A tour with Mark Kurtz
Start: 2026-05-03T09:45:00-05:00
End: 2026-05-03T10:30:00-05:00
Location: 7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE, United States, Nebraska 68132

Schedule

Sun May 03 2026 at 09:45 am to 10:30 am

UTC-05:00

Location

7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE, United States, Nebraska 68132 | Omaha, NE

At 9:45 Sunday morning, May 3, in the sanctuary, Mark Kurtz will give a "tour" of the extraordinary FUMC pipe organ. The console and the facade pipes that you see from the pews are just a sliver of the fascinating history and design of this noteworthy instrument.
For example, did you know:
1. The pipework you see accounts for only about 10% of the pipes. The other 90% are behind the screens on each side of the chancel area.
2. Each one of the 96 sounding stop knobs is assigned to a group of pipes with a specific character, allowing the organist to select from a spectrum of colors that go from the merest whisper of the "Flauto Dolce" to the arresting blare of the "Trompette en Chamade."
3. The pipes range in size from tiny (smaller than a pencil) to pipes that are so massive (like tree trunks) that their tops have to angle sideways; otherwise they would literally "hit the ceiling."
Through playing examples, showing behind-the-screen pictures, and talking about how the organ was built and how it functions, this demonstration will especially highlight the recent upgrades and additions, as well as give fascinating insights into the history of our instrument and why it truly is a regional cultural landmark.