Celebrating its 146th anniversary, Schoenstein & Co. owner Jack Bethards announced a leadership plan to assure the firm’s future. He will assume the role of Chairman and Tonal Advisor. Vice President Louis Patterson becomes President, managing all aspects of the company. Bryan Dunnewald is named Tonal Director, working with Bethards to continue and execute the […]
It is always an honor to rebuild an historic instrument from a celebrated firm. The story of this Estey organ involves passionate advocates and smart designers. The result is an organ that has been providing a great musical benefit to the church for nearly a century.Estey opus 2886 was installed at the Seventh Avenue Presbyterian […]
The famous 1924 Skinner organ at The Legion of Honor is a rare example of an organ built for a museum that is played weekly. It’s our honor to care for this beautiful instrument. We often undertake small projects to keep the organ at its full potential. One such project was the restoration of the […]
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was established in 1854 by royal charter of Queen Isabella II of Spain. The school was based in Havana, Cuba until 1961 when Fidel Castro, an alumnus of Belen, expelled the Jesuits, forcing the school to relocate to Miami. Belen has a long history of rigorous academics and emphasis on the […]
Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church in Waco, TX is a healthy, growing parish with three choral services every Sunday. Eugene Lavery, Organist and Director of Music, leads a semi-professional Parish Choir and a Chorister Program in the Anglican tradition. When the time came to build a new organ for Saint Alban’s, the church entrusted us with […]
As we age, it can be easy to fall into a comfortable rhythm of sameness. Work, home, and even social life can take the form of a routine. What to do when we feel stuck in this holding pattern? Seek some variety. And what’s one of the best ways to add color and variety to […]
As we age, it can be easy to fall into a comfortable rhythm of sameness. Work, home, and even social life can take the form of a routine. What to do when we feel stuck in this holding pattern? Seek some variety. And what’s one of the best ways to add color and variety to […]
When organist Douglas Brown approached us to build an organ for Union Presbyterian Seminary of Richmond, VA, he had a singular focus: maximum dynamic and tonal color range fitting within a small organ loft. Over the years our multum in parvo approach has led to versatile instruments in small spaces, and Union Presbyterian Seminary joins […]
When an organ builder approaches a new project there are often many challenges, and acoustical environment is generally the most difficult. A good deal of credit for a beautiful musical instrument must go to the room that shapes its sound; likewise, a poor acoustic can limit the potential of even the most well-designed organ. We […]
Schoentein & Co. is in process of building a three-manual, 34 rank organ for St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, CA. The Norbertine Fathers, who can trace their heritage back to 12th-century northern France, have constructed a new monastery which opened in 2021. The first phase of this project included the installation of our opus 116A, […]
