Meet Sacred Heart’s ‘mini orchestra’
Organist Stephen Distad and trumpeter Justin Langham of the internationally renowned duo Deux Voix played during the organ dedication concert at Sacred Heart in Salisbury. (Photo by Troy Hull)SALISBURY — The dynamic parish of Sacred Heart in Salisbury recently added a key element to its repertoire – a Rodgers Infinity Series 367 digital organ.
Installed in November, in time for Christ the King Sunday, the parish held a dedication concert Jan. 8 for their new organ. Father John Eckert, pastor, presided over the dedication rite.
“It's all for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls,” Father Eckert said in comments prior to the event. “Something like this is going to have such a big impact on so many liturgies in our parish, obviously with the Mass but then also when we have special things like when we pray vespers together – that’s always lovely – or when we have the sung Divine Mercy Chaplet. It's going to play a key role for a very long time – hopefully 100 years.”
The program also featured internationally renowned organ and trumpet duo Deux Voix – Stephen Distad and Justin Langham. A reception that included parishioners, donors, clergy, and music directors from around the Charlotte diocese followed.
“I couldn't be happier. I really couldn't,” said Flora Lester, director of sacred music and organist at the parish.
Pipe dreams fulfilled
Lester’s joy is long awaited. In one sense, the arrival of the organ has been in the making for 10 years. In another, it’s been more than 140.
In 2013, after Lester took the music director role at the parish, it became a goal to purchase a pipe organ. Sacred Heart Church, originally dedicated in 1882, had never had a real pipe organ, and they wanted to take advantage of Lester’s talents and expertise. She holds a master’s degree in organ performance from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In May 2013, the parish purchased a 1921 pipe organ for a song.
“It was less than $15,000,” Lester said – pennies compared to the typical seven-figure price tag on new pipe organs.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last as long as hoped. In recent years, the organ began having dead notes and other problems. Lester informed Father Eckert that the organ was on its last leg on Nov. 1, 2021.
Although she is a self-described preservationist, repairing the organ didn’t make financial sense.
“We are thankful for little blessings, and the pipe organ served us for a period of time,” Lester said. “Father John supported the need to have something worthy that would bring glory to God and support our liturgy. So, what does that sound like? What does it look like when you're crunching the numbers?”
To the Infinity and beyond
Because true pipe organs are enormous financial investments – ranging from $775,000 to millions of dollars – Father Eckert, Lester and the finance committee began to re-envision whether a pipe organ was best for the parish. They began to consider digital options, with the assistance of organ sales rep Al Murrell, vice president of R. A. Daffer Church Organs, Inc.
“I'm a purist. I have played pipe organs for 46 years and I never thought that in my almost 63 years of living that I would ever, ever consider going with anything but a true authentic pipe organ,” Lester said.
Yet, she has been pleasantly surprised with how everything came to fruition and the digital organ itself.
“It’s been a very good process and a healthy, positive journey. It's been that way because I've been blessed to work with a good team of people,” she said.
Lester also noted her deep appreciation for the generous donors at the parish who were instrumental in making the $185,000 digital organ possible.
Donors J.R. and Virginia Roach have been parishioners of Sacred Heart since 2007. J.R. serves on the finance committee, has a musical background and, together with his wife, has a deep appreciation for Lester’s extraordinary musical talent. He noted her beautiful voice and keen ability to play a complicated instrument while singing.
“There were maybe 10 or 12 of us who paid for the organ outright,” he said. “Flora went to college to study the organ, and this has been her vocation in life. We considered a piano, but we really didn’t want to take a step backwards. The new one sounds terrific. Between the organ and Flora singing, it gives you goosebumps.”
Lester is also excited about the ingenuity and sound of the Infinity 367 organ that now grace the church’s loft. Because of its rich sounds and myriad capabilities, the church finally has an organ worthy of its purpose and the space, even if it comes sans pipes.
“We really wanted to go with something new. In the organ world, there is a pipe organ and then there is the digital organ that, depending upon the type, can mimic the sound the true sound of a pipe organ,” she said.
The Infinity 367 has three manuals, meaning three keyboards, and a plethora of stops.
“It has a varied tonal palette to create all sorts of colors, Lester said. “It’s like having a wonderful, little mini orchestra at your fingertips.”
Amplifying this symphony of “colors,” is the resplendent interior of Sacred Heart Church.
“The room is something that brings any instrument to life,” Lester said. “We're so blessed to have a beautiful liturgical space at Sacred Heart.”
Paying it forward
As visually stunning as the church is, it’s the parishioners who are at the heart of Lester’s music ministry. She looks forward to the educational opportunities the organ affords for those in the school and parish.
“I'm one of the music teachers at the parish school, and I've talked with our wonderful principal, Erin Brinkley, about having some field trips for the students to bring them over to the church,” she said.
Lester said her goal is to create educational opportunities to inspire young people who may desire a vocation in sacred music because of the great need for these roles, citing many such conversations she had with Tom Savoy, the late music director of St. Joseph College Seminary, whom she worked with as a board member of the Carolina Catholic Chorale.
“One of the things I've been mindful of is preparing for the persons that follow me. I want people to come in and hear beautiful music,” she said. “There are so many wonderful things going on at Sacred Heart. It’s all about serving our Lord and those in need and being the faithful disciples that we’re called to be through our music and our actions.”
— Annie Ferguson. Photo and video by Troy Hull