Organ restoration topics were featured prominently at the 1995 AIO convention in San Jose. Monday's lectures included Jonathan Ambrosino's overview of Bay Area organbuilding and Edward Millington Stout's video presentation of his 1886 Odell restoration for St. Joseph's Cathedral in San Jose. The group then travelled to the cathedral for a recital by James Welch, which included a number of shorter pieces appropriate to the organ's vintage.
Wednesday's schedule featured a trio of lectures and a provocative panel discussion by restorers Nelson Barden of Boston University and Joseph Dzeda and Nicholas Thompson-Allen, both of Yale University. Mr. Barden identified both myths and mistakes in the search for an honest restoration perspective. Mr. Dzeda narrated a video demonstrating Aeolian-Skinner releathering techniques, and Mr. Thompson-Allen discussed Skinner pipework restoration.
MIDI and acoustics were the other featured topics, and presenters included James Gruber, Christian Elliot, Ewart "Red" Wetherill, and Robert Mahoney. Gene Bedient also spoke about effective time management for organbuilding firms. John Tyrrell, former president of Aeolian-Skinner, concluded the convention with a poignant banquet speech.
Convention tours included a visit to the Schoenstein shop in San Francisco and to Stanford University's Memorial Church, where Robert Bates played three organs: the 1901 Murray Harris, the 1984 Fisk, and the just-arrived 1995 Fritts. At the closing banquet, certificates of appreciation were awarded to convention committee members Stephen Leslie (chairman), Stephan Repasky and Scott Nelson (program), Roger Inkpen (registrar), Mark Hotsenpiller (treasurer), Mark Austin (brochure), John Hupalo (exhibits), and William Visscher (tours). Four members who successfully completed AIO examinations received their certificates: Richard Houghten, Michael Johnson, René Marceau, and Joseph O'Donnell. Scholarship recipients included David Peckham, recipient of the ATOS David L. Junchen Technical Scholarship.
--Howard Maple
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