Ball State is installing the crown jewel to its world-class Music Instruction Building, thanks to a $1 million gift from David and Mary Jane Sursa.

Installation of a 50-stop pipe organ with rich woodwork and a three-manual terraced console will begin this summer in the Sursa Performance Hall and be completed in early fall. The elaborate instrument is being built by Goulding & Wood in Indianapolis, and the gift from the Sursas will pay for the organ's construction and maintenance, said Robert Kvam, dean of the College of Fine Arts.

"In the eyes of many, the pipe organ is increasingly seen as a jewel, a necessary component to a world-class music hall," Kvam said "The Sursa family has long supported the arts at Ball State. It's an honor to accept their gift that will provide the crown jewel on the performance hall that already bears the names of Mary Jane and her late husband, David."

The pipe organ adds another outstanding facet to the Music Instruction Building, which was completed in 2004. MIB features Sursa Hall, a world-class, tunable 600-seat performance venue and a state-of-the-art digital sound recording studio that can make recordings from the performance hall, and the instrumental and choral rehearsal rooms that eliminate having to tote equipment from venue to venue.

Students studying organ will now be able to take full advantage of the high-tech building, said Kirby Koriath, professor of organ and church music.

"Our students have benefited from the generosity of local churches, which have let them play and practice on their organs," said Koriath, who also is the organist at First Presbyterian Church in Muncie. "Now they'll be able to perform their music on campus, on a world-class instrument in a world-class facility."

The pipes, which will be installed in the rear of the stage, are encased in wood and will blend perfectly with the hall's existing woodwork. The terraced console, which can be stored offstage, is patterned after French organs of the late 19th century. The console's low profile will allow the organist to see the conductor during performances with choirs and orchestra, Koriath said.

"It's a beautiful, full-size concert organ that will be able to play music of the large gesture, such as accompanying symphony orchestras; it will also be able to perform in a chamber style, which would be appropriate for the music of a voice or flute recital," he said. "The appreciation of organ music is on the rise, and this will allow us to capitalize on that momentum."

There is a national trend of pipe organs being installed in music halls, as demonstrated by the recent construction of the $6 million pipe organ in Philadelphia's Kimmel Hall. Ball State's organ, Opus 45, is the first to be built by Goulding & Wood outside of the traditional church setting, said Jason Overall, company president.

The organ will be shown publicly July 25 during an open house at Goulding & Wood in Indianapolis. After that, the instrument will packed and shipped to Ball State. Once the organ is installed, it will be unveiled during a special recital scheduled for Oct. 22. It will then be showcased during the academic year through a concert series of resident and guest artists, Koriath said.

(Note to editors: For more information, contact Koriath at (765) 285-5502 or klkoriath@bsu.edu.)