Opus414.org

11/04/2025

The Pipes are Leaving! After 8 years of hard work, lots of divine inspiration, and the courageous stewardship of so many dedicated members and friends of FUMC Chicago, The Organ Clearing House and Schantz Organ Company have begun the complex process high above the chancel of disassembling the large mechanism and its 5,589 pipes for a year's regeneration and transformation.

08/21/2023

The fabulous soprano, Ayla Langer, and the terrific tenor, Grant Papastefan, join forces with the gifted accompanists Karina Kontorovitch, pianist, and Phillip Kloeckner, organist, in a varied program called The Pipes Are Calling! to benefit the fund to restore E. M. Skinner’s Opus 414 at First Methodist Church of Chicago.

Yes, Danny Boy will be on the program along with songs and arias by Mendelssohn, J. S. Bach, Verdi, Donizetti, Tchaikovsky, Messiaen, and several others of equal beauty and drama. A reception to greet the artists will take place immediately after the one-hour performance, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at The Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington Street, 60602.

Admission to this program is without charge, however gifts and pledges to the organ restoration fund will be gratefully received.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP to [email protected]. More information about this program will be available at opus414.org.

08/31/2022

The grand project to restore E. M. Skinner's Opus 414 at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple has begun its three-year capital fundraising campaign!

Please watch the video and spread the word about this remarkable instrument of 5,589 pipes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2qwVnJjM7k&t=2s

It is an instrument for the Church, the City, and the world that comes to visit. Would you please help us to reach our fundraising goals? Together we can: https://www.chicagotemple.org/opus414/opus414-support/

Please contact us with any questions at [email protected].

Thank you for your interest, prayers, meditations, and support!

This video introduces the viewer to one of Chicago’s most notable pipe organs and the project underway for a complete restoration of the instrument.E. M. Ski...

03/18/2022

Put on your party hats and join us, either in person or virtually, to enjoy the unique syncopations, cool harmonies, and amazing melodies of the incomparable J. S. Bach. From fugues to chorales, preludes to duets, come rock to Bach! More details may be found at Opus414.org.

09/13/2019

Tickets are still available for Saturday's Organ and Opera Recital at Chicago Temple featuring Grammy award-winning bass-baritone musician Mark S. Doss!

http://www.marksdoss.com/js_events/chicago-international-organ-academy/

09/11/2019

Listen to the beautiful sounds of the E. M. Skinner French Horn at the beginning of this video: https://youtu.be/-8xLa80y-X8

This is one of the many distinctive sounds that make Opus 414 a joy to play and to listen to. Here them all on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in downtown Chicago. For complete information, please visit http://www.chicagotemple.org/opus414/opus414-events/

09/11/2019

An excerpt from a transcription of the overture to Verdi's opera NABUCCO played on Opus 414, E. M. Skinner's the large symphonic organ (1924) for the First United Methodist Church at the Chciago Temple.