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In the News

Kennedy Center’s new organ is in the spotlight

While the organ built by Casavant Freres has arrived at the Kennedy Center, the installation for the $2 million project doesn’t happen overnight. Installation and fine-tuning will continue until the 5,000-pipe organ’s official inauguration in November.

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After years of planning as part of a $2 million project, the highly anticipated organ takes the stage inside the Kennedy Center Concert Hall at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The organ was built by Casavant Freres.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Gilles Angers sorts through box after box of parts for the Kennedy Center's new organ on Tuesday.

Gilles Angers sorts through box after box of parts for the Kennedy Center's new organ on Tuesday.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The $2 million Kennedy Center organ project was the culmination of years of planning; installation and fine-tuning will continue until the 5,000-pipe organ's official inauguration in November.

The $2 million Kennedy Center organ project was the culmination of years of planning; installation and fine-tuning will continue until the 5,000-pipe organ's official inauguration in November.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Sam O'Brien, left, Harry Casey, center, and Ghislain Latour unload parts for the new organ.

Sam O'Brien, left, Harry Casey, center, and Ghislain Latour unload parts for the new organ.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Steve Bartley, center, helps with the heavy lifting of parts of the Kennedy Center's new organ, created by Canadian firm Casavant Freres.

Steve Bartley, center, helps with the heavy lifting of parts of the Kennedy Center's new organ, created by Canadian firm Casavant Freres.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Harry Casey, left, and Rick Vacek wheel parts of the Kennedy Center's new organ.

Harry Casey, left, and Rick Vacek wheel parts of the Kennedy Center's new organ.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

The new organ will be a huge improvement over the current Filene organ, which had two main problems. First, it didn’t work well, showing a disturbing tendency to cipher — that is, to emit unplanned noises at inconvenient moments — during performances. Second, it wasn’t a heavyweight orchestral instrument.

The new organ will be a huge improvement over the current Filene organ, which had two main problems. First, it didn’t work well, showing a disturbing tendency to cipher — that is, to emit unplanned noises at inconvenient moments — during performances. Second, it wasn’t a heavyweight orchestral instrument.

Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

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