Spreckels Organ retakes world record! Concert celebrates!

The historic 1915 Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park has regained the title of largest outdoor pipe organ in the world!
The historic 1915 Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park has regained the title of largest outdoor pipe organ in the world!

There’s a special concert going on right now in San Diego, celebrating the breaking of a world record. The Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park, after a drive to 5000 pipes, has regained the title of largest outdoor pipe organ in the world! (For several years, the Heroes’ Organ at Kufstein Fortress in Austria held the record.)

Here are some photos from about an hour before the celebration concert. Congrats to the Spreckels Organ Society for their fine achievement!

Before the celebration concert, a photographer gets ready and organ enthusiasts have a special dinner in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
Before the celebration concert, a photographer gets ready and organ enthusiasts have a special dinner in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
A special program! Taking the Title: The Celebration Concert for the World's Largest Outdoor Pipe Organ. Sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University.
A special program! Taking the Title: The Celebration Concert for the World’s Largest Outdoor Pipe Organ. Sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University.
Friendly Spreckels Organ Society volunteer confirms that Balboa Park's amazing outdoor organ has regained the world record with 5000 pipes!
Friendly Spreckels Organ Society volunteer confirms that Balboa Park’s amazing outdoor organ has regained the world record with 5017 pipes!
Spreckels Organ Society tent welcomes new members at the very special event.
Spreckels Organ Society tent welcomes new members at the very special event.
Getting the famous Spreckels Organ ready. San Diego Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams looks on.
Getting the famous Spreckels Organ ready. San Diego Civic Organist Dr. Carol Williams looks on.
A crowd gathers. About an hour to go before the evening concert.
A crowd slowly gathers. About an hour to go before the evening concert!
The House of Scotland Pipe Band will take part in a grand procession into the Spreckels Organ Pavilion as the concert begins. They wear the official San Diego tartan!
The House of Scotland Pipe Band will take part in a grand procession into the Spreckels Organ Pavilion as the evening concert begins. They wear the official San Diego tartan!
I paused to listen for a few minutes as concert organist Dr. Carol Williams and singer Diane Alexander, a soprano, practiced. It was beautiful music. Congratulations to the world-record Spreckels Organ!
I paused to listen for a few minutes as concert organist Dr. Carol Williams and singer Diane Alexander, a soprano, practiced. It was beautiful music. Congratulations to the world-record Spreckels Organ!

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Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.

10 thoughts on “Spreckels Organ retakes world record! Concert celebrates!”

    1. There’s a free concert every Sunday at 2 o’clock, plus special concerts during the summer on Monday evenings featuring many of the world’s top organists. It’s a versatile organ that sounds amazing playing play jazz, Bach, Sousa–just about anything!

      Liked by 1 person

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