Cathedral Dedicates Major New Organ ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester dedicates the Halloran-All Saints Organ tonight at Sacred Heart Cathedral in northwest Rochester.

The organ is the final part of the cathedral's renovation. Designer and Builder Paul Fritts started work on it more than two years ago. He says it's crafted entirely from raw materials at his shop in Oregon, and it's designed both to last and to lead the cathedral in sound. This is the 26th Organ Paul Fritts has built over 30 years. He says each is entirely unique and tailored to the space that will hold it. Fritts began with a visit to Sacred Heart more than three years ago to get a sense of the space that would house the organ. He says 800 hours of planning went into designing an instrument that would fit the sound quality of the cathedral's sanctuary and also be durable enough to last for centuries.

Fritts has spent the last two months on that daunting task, assembling and tuning each of the nearly four thousand pipes in the 40-foot tall organ.

Roman Catholic Bishop Matthew Clark says the one-and-a-half million dollar cost was covered by three major gifts to the diocese. He'll dedicate the organ tonight during a public concert at 7:30.

Bishop Clark says the diocese was glad to have the guidance of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester on the organ project. He says this is a commitment from the diocese to Rochester and the Maplewood Neighborhood that's home to the cathedral.

Eastman Organ Professor Hans Davidsson says it's one of the finest in the world. Davidsson is director of the Eastman-Rochester Organ Initiative, which is dedicated to bringing world-class organs to Rochester.

Fritts and the Eastman School professors say the organ will last for 300 years before it needs major renovation. Like the great organs of Europe, they say it could last for a thousand years with care.
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