Church members current and past as well as residents of the Los Angeles area’s music community, came to Glendale City Church recently for an inaugural organ recital. The event, which featured organist Kemp L. Smeal on the church’s new Colby/Harrah symphonic organ, marked a major investment by the congregation, costing more than a half million dollars.

“We regard this new organ as a resource for the community,” said senior pastor Mitch Henson. “It is not just for ourselves. We plan to invite the community to more concerts after the first of the year, when we are also scheduling a health series to which we will invite them.”

“It took three years for the organ committee to make the decision to purchase the new organ, but only one and a half years to raise funds for it,” commented organist Smeal, who is in his 10th year at the church.

The committee chose the Colby/Harrah symphonic organ because, “it is versatile, with a wide spectrum of tonal colors,” says Smeal. “It is a real pipe organ (which the church wanted), but more flexible because it is a hybrid—it has both digital and pipe components.”

“A concert attendee asked if I use both digital and pipes at the same time,” Smeal reported. “The reality is that the organist uses both in almost every piece. The instrument can do any style of repertoire, yet is also a fine accompanying instrument as well as for congregational singing.”

“This organ supports congregational singing better than ever before,” said Robert Marsh, MD, who served on the organ committee. “As a result, we’ve added more hymns to our services. Before we had this organ, it seemed like each individual in the congregation was almost singing alone; now we can sing out and not feel as though we are soloing.”

“As a choir member, I find it a wonderful support to our music,” noted Marguerite Marsh, a church member who serves on the managing board of Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Taylor Ruhl, chair of the Glendale City church music department, echoed comments by the pastor and others in a report that appeared in the Glendale News-Press: “Now that we have an organ that is worth hearing, we can bring other artists to play,” he said. “It’s very important to share this with the community.”