Events
Listed below are a selection of Opus 414 and organ-related events located in and around Chicago.
Transfiguration Sunday
When: Sunday, February 7
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A festive reconsecration service.
Cost: Free
Open House
When: Saturday, April 3 — 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Celebrate the completion of E.M. Skinner’s history pipe organ, Opus 414. Hear the organ as it has not sounded for almost five decades!
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9:30 Open Console
View the new console up close and play a few notes.10 a.m. Lecture & Demonstration:
The Schantz Organ Company explains the restoration process and demonstrates the many colorful sounds of Opus 414.11 a.m. Organ Chamber Visit:
Get a glimpse of the 5,326 pipes of Opus 414.11 a.m. Orgelkids Assembly:
Hands-on experience of assembling a small mechanical-action pipe organ for all children at heart (orgelkidsusa.org).12:15 p.m. Small & Big:
A brief performance featuring a duet between the recently assembled Orgelkids organ and Opus 414.
Cost: Free
Inaugural Recital
When: Sunday, April 4 — 2 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Raul Prieto Ramirez , San Diego Civic Organist.
Cost: Free
Note: Reserve free tickets starting January 15, 2027 at opus414.org.
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, May 7 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, May 20 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, June 4 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, June 17 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, July 2 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, July 15 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, August 6 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, August 19 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, September 3 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Collaborative Series: Chicago Jazz Festival
When: Friday, September 3-Sunday, September 6
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Instruments, singers, and organ
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, September 16 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, October 1 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Midwest Organ Symposium
When: Monday, October 11 — 7 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: “Playing French Classic Music on American Organs”; Co-sponsored by the Chicago, North Shore, and Fox Valley Chapters of the American Guild of Organists. Public solo organ performance at 7 p.m. by Lynne Davis
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, October 21 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, October 21 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Collaborative Series: Silent Movie
When: Sunday, October 31
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Silent movie with improvised organ accompaniment
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, November 18 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Collaborative Series: Chicago Multicultural Dance Center
When: Friday, November 12 - 7:30 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Chicago Multicultural Dance Center
Cost: Free
Meditation Improvisation Series
When: Friday, December 16 — 10 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A quiet hour for reflection and meditation with stained glass lights only, accompanied by organ improvisation.
Cost: Free
Midday Series
When: Thursday, December 16 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: A half-hour of solo organ music once a month in the middle of the day by local, regional, and national artists.
Cost: Free
Collaborative Series: Organ & Midwest Army Band
When: Friday, December 17
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Organ & Midwest Army Band
Cost: Free
Past Events
Midday Organ Recital
When: Tuesday, October 1 — 12:15 p.m.
Where: FUMC at The Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Ilinois 60602
What: Organist Phillip Kloeckner will present a free organ recital featuring works by J.S. Bach, George Whitfield Andrews, and Denis Bédard.
He will reprise Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547, and Andrews’ “Con Grazia,” from the September 29 Centennial Concert.
He will also play the dynamic, jazz-inflected “Suite du premier ton” by Bédard, a contemporary French-Canadian composer. Its four movements showcase the organ’s various tonal possibilities. “Plein jeu” brings forth a rich sound. “Dialogue” sets up a musical conversation between the organ’s different instrumental voices. “Récit” features a solo organ voice in a distinctive, expressive melody. “Grand jeu” has the organist literally pull out the stops for a dramatic and powerful effect.
Centennial Concert
When: Sunday, September 29 — 2:30 p.m.
Where: FUMC at the Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602
What: The signature event of the Chicago Temple Building’s upcoming centennial celebration will be a brass and pipe organ concert at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday September 29. The performace will feature music by Giovanni Gabrieli, André Campra, Eugène Gigout, Geoge Whitfield Andrews, Anthony DiLorenzo, Johann Sebastian Bach, Aaron Copland, Michael Thorn, and Charles-Marie Widor.
Artists are Dr. Phillip Kloeckner, First United Methodist Church organist, and the Chicago Brass Quintet.
The concert is also a fundraiser for the $3.25 million restoration of the church’s historic E. M. Skinner pipe organ, Opus 414. Installed in the ground-floor sanctuary in 1924, the instrument boasts 5,589 pipes and is among the largest in downtown Chicago. Proceeds will also help fund public concerts after the restoration is completed in December of 2026.
We look forward to seeing you there!
The Pipes Are Calling
When: Wednesday, August 30 - 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: FUMC at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602.
What: A live voice recital to benefit the Organ Restoration, accompanied by organ and piano, featuring music by J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Verdi, Donizetti, and others.
Musicians include soprano Ayla Langer, tenor Grant Papastefan, pianist Karina Kontorovitch, and organist Philip Kloeckner.
