Showing his appreciation for a former music teacher whose positive impact was never forgotten, Michael Quimby, owner of Quimby Pipe Organs, Inc., is honoring the memory of Professor Eleanor Shockey by restoring the pipe organ she once played at the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg. The project for the instrument in the university’s Hendricks Hall is expected to take three years.
Quimby founded his firm in 1970 while attending what was then known as Central Missouri State University. He studied voice under Shockey while earning his bachelor’s degree in 1973 and his master’s in 1975, both in music.
Restoration of the organ allows Quimby to show his gratitude for a great teacher and mentor, and it is also an opportunity to preserve an important piece of university history. The instrument was built by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and was purchased by private gifts at a cost of $11,000. It was presented as a memorial to soldiers who died in World War I and was dedicated on January 19, 1924. The three-manual organ will be refurbished and enlarged to allow it to be more flexible. The project is part of a complete restoration of Hendricks Hall.
For information: https://quimbypipeorgans.com.
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