The many organs and harpsichords that call Iowa State University’s Department of Music and Theatre home have extensive histories. Many dating back to the early 1970’s. These instruments have been part of numerous festivals, celebrations, and recitals over the years and have drawn musicians and admirers from all over the world. We are proud to house these amazing instruments and celebrate their history. Below you will find a timeline of the ISU organs and harpsichords as well as some of Iowa State University's Instructors of Organ. We encourage you to reach out if you have any information pertaining to the history of the organs and harpsichords at Iowa State. Please email your information to musicinfo@iastate.edu.
Organ Timeline
1976 Contracts are signed with the Dobson Organ Company of Lake City, Iowa to build two organs for the new music building.
1980 Music building opened in the fall.
1980 Organ of Helmuth Wolff placed in Rm. 210 and the organ of Fritz Noack was stored but accessible in Music Hall, Rm 256.
1981 The French Double harpsichord of William Dowd is purchased and delivered to ISU.
1981-1985 The two organs of Dobson were delivered separately to Rooms 212 and 214.
1987 Recital Hall organ built by John Brombaugh and Associates is dedicated April23-25.
1987 Organists of Iowa Organists annual recital series begins.
1988-1995 Iowa State Organ Weekend would feature one nationally/internationally known organist each year.
1996 Monday Organ Recital weekly series begins.
The group effort to bring the organ to Iowa State began in the 1970’s. Carl Bleyle, Lynn Zeigler, and Martha Folts researched to find organ builders across the country. Together they settled on the Canadian builder Helmuth Wolff and Dobson Organ Company located in Lake City, Iowa.
A total of three organs were purchased during this time. The Wolff organ, which was originally built for a home, contains seven stops with a pull-down pedal. This organ eventually found it’s forever home in 1980 when the music building was completed here at Iowa State University. It is currently housed in Simon Estes Music Hall in Rm. #210.
The founder and artistic designer, Lynn Dobson, was commissioned to create an organ for ISU in September of 1980. This studio organ was completed and delivered to ISU in late 1981. The second studio organ was commissioned in December of 1981 and delivered to ISU in late 1982. These two organs are housed at Simon Estes Music Hall in Rm #212 and #214.
Iowa State University Instructors of Organ
Ira Schroeder
Marianne Webb
Carl Bleyle
Martha Folts
Lynn Zeigler (1975-2011)
Tin-shi Tam (2011-2012)
Ahreum Han (2012-2013)
Ruth Harris (2013-2016)
Miriam Zach (2016-present)
For more information about the history of the pipe organ located in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union, please see Dennis Wendell's beautifully written atricle.