THE ORGAN IN AMERICA celebrates the surprising and storied contribution of what Mozart described as ‘the king of instruments’ to American culture, beginning with the rich musical traditions of Upstate New York. Now overlooked for the grand and often ancient instruments of Europe, pipe organs once filled theaters, stadiums, and churches with soulful sounds, made possible by the then-booming independent organ-building industry which employed tens of thousands of skilled workers. Today, this rich legacy teeters on the edge of silence. Funding cuts and dwindling remembrance threaten to relegate the organ to distant memory, even as most Americans have never experienced the wonder of hearing one played live.

THE ORGAN IN AMERICA brings audiences into universities, cathedrals, churches, theaters and galleries, plus a major league baseball stadium across the country, immersing them in the majesty, value, culture and history, and sadly also the fragile future, of a magnificent instrument that once defined the nation in sound.

The Message

Without an engaged audience, the organ’s majestic voice could fade into silence. Yet across the country, builders and musicians are fighting to keep its music alive. The Organ in America showcases the dedication of these artists and the breathtaking power of the instruments they love. The film affirms that the organ’s time has not passed. Audiences will come away not only appreciating the organ, but motivated to join in its preservation and celebration, ensuring that the sound of this monumental instrument continues to resonate for generations to come.

We are working with an incredible array of talent – organists include Annie Laver, Nathan Laube, Annette Richards, David Yearsley, Ivan Bosnar and David Peckham. Instruments in Upstate New York include the 1876 Hook and Hastings at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Buffalo, the 1927 Skinner at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rochester, the 1927 Wurlitzer at the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, the 1950 Holtkamp and 1995/2026 Harrold at Syracuse University, and the 2010 GOART/Yokota at Cornell University. Further instruments across the USA will follow.

Our Partners

Syracuse University American Guild of Organists Central New York Humanities Corridor Cornell University Eastman School of Music Kerner & Merchant Pipe Organ Builders Parsons Pipe Organ Builders

Help us complete this film and revive the Organ in America!

Join the growing list of individuals and organisations who have made a financial contribution to enable this film project to make as big an impact as possible.

Please support us using the dropdown menu below. If you are a US taxpayer and would like to donate in a tax efficient way via a non-profit 501(c)(3), please email Will Fraser at will@fuguestatefilms.co.uk to arrange for your payment to be routed via Syracuse University. Sign up for the Fugue State Films newsletter to receive updates and exclusive sneak previews. Subscribe to Organ Cinema to view more clips and Fugue State Films’ extensive film library.

The Team

Annie Laver (presenter, co-author, co-producer) is an organist and educator who is passionate about expanding engagement with the pipe organ. In her role as Associate Professor of Organ and University Organist at Syracuse University, she educates the next generation of organists and leads outreach efforts around the instrument while maintaining an active performing career.

Will Fraser (director, co-author, co-producer) is an independent filmmaker, author, and organist whose extensive film library about pipe organs has garnered multiple accolades from leading music magazines and a devoted following of organ enthusiasts. His film, Cowboy and Preacher, a story of environmentalism and Christianity, appeared on more than 2,000 PBS World stations in 2025.

THE ORGAN IN AMERICA celebrates the surprising and storied contribution of what Mozart described as ‘the king of instruments’ to American culture, beginning with the rich musical traditions of Upstate New York. Now overlooked for the grand and often ancient instruments of Europe, pipe organs once filled theaters, stadiums, and churches with soulful sounds, made possible by the then-booming independent organ-building industry which employed tens of thousands of skilled workers. Today, this rich legacy teeters on the edge of silence. Funding cuts and dwindling remembrance threaten to relegate the organ to distant memory, even as most Americans have never experienced the wonder of hearing one played live.

THE ORGAN IN AMERICA brings audiences into universities, cathedrals, churches, theaters and galleries, plus a major league baseball stadium across the country, immersing them in the majesty, value, culture and history, and sadly also the fragile future, of a magnificent instrument that once defined the nation in sound.

The Message

Without an engaged audience, the organ’s majestic voice could fade into silence. Yet across the country, builders and musicians are fighting to keep its music alive. The Organ in America showcases the dedication of these artists and the breathtaking power of the instruments they love. The film affirms that the organ’s time has not passed. Audiences will come away not only appreciating the organ, but motivated to join in its preservation and celebration, ensuring that the sound of this monumental instrument continues to resonate for generations to come.

We are working with an incredible array of talent – organists include Annie Laver, Nathan Laube, Annette Richards, David Yearsley, Ivan Bosnar and David Peckham. Instruments in Upstate New York include the 1876 Hook and Hastings at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Buffalo, the 1927 Skinner at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rochester, the 1927 Wurlitzer at the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, the 1950 Holtkamp and 1995/2026 Harrold at Syracuse University, and the 2010 GOART/Yokota at Cornell University. Further instruments across the USA will follow.

Our Partners

Syracuse University American Guild of Organists Central New York Humanities Corridor Cornell University Eastman School of Music Kerner & Merchant Pipe Organ Builders Parsons Pipe Organ Builders

Help us complete this film and revive the Organ in America!

Join the growing list of individuals and organisations who have made a financial contribution to enable this film project to make as big an impact as possible.

Please support us using the dropdown menu below. If you are a US taxpayer and would like to donate in a tax efficient way via a non-profit 501(c)(3), please email Will Fraser at will@fuguestatefilms.co.uk to arrange for your payment to be routed via Syracuse University. Sign up for the Fugue State Films newsletter to receive updates and exclusive sneak previews. Subscribe to Organ Cinema to view more clips and Fugue State Films’ extensive film library.

The Team

Annie Laver (presenter, co-author, co-producer) is an organist and educator who is passionate about expanding engagement with the pipe organ. In her role as Associate Professor of Organ and University Organist at Syracuse University, she educates the next generation of organists and leads outreach efforts around the instrument while maintaining an active performing career.

Will Fraser (director, co-author, co-producer) is an independent filmmaker, author, and organist whose extensive film library about pipe organs has garnered multiple accolades from leading music magazines and a devoted following of organ enthusiasts. His film, Cowboy and Preacher, a story of environmentalism and Christianity, appeared on more than 2,000 PBS World stations in 2025.