The Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium is approaching its 100th year, its windbox held together with duct tape and bailing wire, but it still sounded pretty good in Sunday’s concert, with the Choral Art Society, of masterpieces for chorus and organ.

The concert was held to draw attention to the campaign under way to fund complete restoration of the organ on its 100th anniversary. The city of Portland has pledged $1.25 million if Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ (FOKO) can raise a matching amount for the project.

At Sunday’s concert it was announced that FOKO had already raised $2.2 million, and was appealing for additional funds to provide an endowment that would not only keep the organ in good repair for the next century, but also provide for continuation of the popular guest artist series presented each summer, plus other events.


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