Kegg Pipe Organ Builders have been commissioned to build a new pipe organ for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. For the new three-manual 28-rank organ, the Great and Pedal will be housed in a center case with Choir and Swell in newly enlarged side chambers. The new organ replaces a smaller instrument that was installed in the rear, with console and choir in the front. The new organ will be installed in January 2025. Music Director is John Kirk.

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University of Illinois Press, Champaign, Illinois, announces a new book, Leo Sowerby, by Joseph Sargent (cloth, 9780252045936, $50; eBook, 9780252056918, $19.95). 

The biography offers the first focused study of Sowerby’s life and work against the backdrop of his place in American music. The author is an assistant professor of musicology at the University of Alabama. 

For information: http://go.illinois.edu/s24sargent.

Other recent publications:

Sony Classics announces a new six-CD organ collection, Edward Power Biggs Plays Historic Organs of Europe ($47.98), with all recordings remastered from the original analog tapes using 24 bit/192 kHz technology. 

Disc 1 features “Historic Organs of Switzerland;” Disc 2, “Historic Organs of Spain;” Disc 3, “Historic Organs of Italy;” Disc 4, “Historic Organs of France;” Disc 5, “Historic Organs of England;” and Disc 6, “Historic Organs of Holland and North Germany.” 

The Ninth International Queen Fabiola Carillon Competition will take place in Mechelen, Belgium, July 10–14. This competition is offered every five years by the Royal Carillon School Mechelen and the City of Mechelen. 

Ashley O’Brien is appointed executive director of the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine. With experience in strategic planning, brand development, and operational optimization with over 15 years of work at multinational corporations like Morgan Stanley, Ann Inc., and Pernod Ricard, O’Brien brings over a decade of nonprofit board leadership experience with organizations such as New York Choral Society, HeathCorps, and Wellesley College Alumnae Leadership Council. 

Dr. J. Butz-Musikverlag announces new organ publications. Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata und Fuge d-Moll, BWV 565 (BU3114), edited by Arno Hartmann, includes the organ solo score with an additional piano part arranged by Wilhelm Middelschulte. 

Mein teurer Heiland (BU3118) comprises 18 transcriptions of choruses, arias, and chorales from Bach’s passions according to St. Matthew and St. John arranged for organ solo, edited by Johannes Schröder. 

Ronald Wyatt has retired as director of music and organist of Trinity Episcopal Church on Galveston Island, Texas, after 48 years of service. The celebratory weekend of December 2 included a recital attended by a capacity crowd, a service on Sunday morning, and a gala reception for the community in the afternoon. The City of Galveston proclaimed December 2, 2023, “Ron Wyatt Day.” 

Hailed as “an absolute organ prodigy” by National Public Radio and “one of the most talented organists in the world” by the Chicago Tribune, concert organist Adam J. Brakel is a preeminent artist “with the technique and virtuosity that most concert pianists could only dream of” (NPR).