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Martin Scorsese, Honorary Chair of Friends of the Erben Organ

Updated: August 5, 2019 by admin

“Why preserve this glorious instrument? Because it is unique and irreplaceable…Listening to the transcendent sound of this 19th century American masterpiece will take us where we need to be.”
—Martin Scorsese

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Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We need your help to raise $2 million to keep this iconic national treasure alive.

Your financial support helps us fund the Erben’s restoration, as well as educational and performance programming for people of all ages.

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Donation Total: $100.00 One Time

A Community for Music and the Arts

The Friends of the Erben Organ (“FREO”) is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and appreciation of the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ and the 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organ located in the Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral, located in the NoLIta section of SoHo in Manhattan.

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About Us

The Erben organ is a living artistic and technological masterpiece. It represents the finest extant work of New York City organbuilder Henry Erben (1800-1884).

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Your financial support helps us fund the Erben’s restoration, as well as performance and educational programming around this American musical treasure.

Education

Our hands-on, minds-on education programs combine science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). The organ is a magnificent amalgam of art and science.

A History of Music at the Basilica

There are few places in New York City that can claim such a wonderful, deep history of music making. When the Cathedral was built, it was located amid woodlands and fields. In 1815, the city had the cultural sophistication of a small colonial outpost, lagging far behind other cities in America, and it struggled for an artistic position that matched its burgeoning commercial might.

Standing ovation at our first-ever silent film screening!

Updated: January 12, 2022 by Lana Krakovskiy

Friends of the Erben Organ hosted a screening of Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 film “The Kid” on October 14, 2021, with live improvised soundtrack on the Erben by acclaimed silent film organist Peter Krasinski. This was the… Read More

Erben Organ Days 2021: Organ Festival

Updated: August 19, 2021 by Lana Krakovskiy

To celebrate Make Music Day 2021 and the return to in-person events, on June 21 we hosted a mini Erben organ festival, featuring four half-hour performances. The series of Erben recitals were followed by Kids Build… Read More

Erben Organ Days 2021: Kids Build a Pipe Organ!

Updated: August 19, 2021 by Lana Krakovskiy

On June 21, Worldwide Make Music Day, we invited kids to build a pipe organ in the courtyard! The Orgelkids USA kit pipe organ works on the same principles as the NYC townhouse-sized Erben, which the… Read More

Private Tours

Private tours and organ demonstrations are offered to people of all ages. People from all over the world continue to discover and love the distinct American sound of the Erben. While Jared plays, you can step inside the instrument for a behind-the-scenes look at this 19th-century pneumatic computer in action!

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Friends of the Erben Organ

Martin Scorsese, Honorary Chair of Friends of the Erben Organ

Organ Video