EsteyFest’24 – Reed Organ Society Gathering
September 26-30, 2024 in Brattleboro, Vermont
Schedule
Thursday, September 26
Welcome to Brattleboro! Come gather at Estey Organ Museum in the afternoon and early evening for registration and refreshments. Enjoy dinner on your own at a local restaurant.
Friday, September 27
Attendees can spend the day in Palmer, MA to explore The Pease Collection of Historical Instruments, make purchases, and enjoy lunch in nearby Monson at the First Church of Monson, Congregational, where their Wm Johnson & Son Opus 781 pipe organ will be available for listening and playing. Alternatively, members can remain in Brattleboro to explore the Estey Collection at the Brattleboro Historical Society (BHS) and the Estey Organ Museum (EOM) and media table in the Estey factory. Everyone will rejoin for dinner in Brattleboro at the American Legion Hall, and join in a Tin Pan Alley Sing-Along with the Green Mountain Strummers.
Saturday, September 28
The Estey Organ Museum and Brattleboro Historical Society will be open in the morning. Members will want to hear morning talks at the American Legion: “Accordions as Free Reed Instruments“ by Mardy Eisloeffel, “The Music of Karg-Elert” by Mark Herr, and “Estey v. Burdett Lawsuit“ by Craig Cowing. After lunch the Brattleboro Historical Society will feature a talk on “Estey in the Context of Brattleboro.” Other afternoon activities will take place in the Estey complex. Allen Myers will conduct a workshop, “Take Apart a Reed Organ” in the warehouse. Ned Phoenix will give two sessions of his spirited demonstrations of “How to Play All Types of Reed Organs” in the Estey Organ Museum. Members will then come together at the Legion Hall for the ROS membership meeting and banquet. The day will be capped off at Epsilon Spires with a showing of the silent film “Nosferatu” with chamber orchestra and reed organ accompaniment.
Sunday, September 29
There are many opportunities for morning worship. The Estey Organ Museum will be open for two workshops: “Bellows Restoration” by John Hastings and “Tuning” by Larry Claus. Lunch will be served in the social room at Epsilon Spires, where activities will take place for the rest of the day. In the early afternoon Artis Wodehouse will give a talk and reed organ recital. Members will gather for a group photo just before the mid-afternoon Festival Concert. After a break for dinner on your own, members will gather once more at Epsilon Spires for a mellowing “Musical Vespers”.
Monday, September 30
Jacob Estey was born 210 years ago on this day and will be honored with cake and refreshments at the museum. Late morning brings the opportunity to visit Ned Phoenix at his Phoenix Collection of Early American Reed Organs in Townshend, VT.
Event Locations
Estey Organ Museum Brick Engine House, 108 Birge Street, in the rear, Brattleboro, VT
Brattleboro Historical Society, 3rd Floor, Brattleboro Municipal Center 230 Main St., Brattleboro, VT
American Legion Post 5, 32 Linden Street, Brattleboro, VT
Epsilon Spires 190, Main Street, Brattleboro, VT
Phoenix Reed Organ Resurrection, 593 Phoenix Way, Townshend, VT
Pease Collections, 1351 Main Street, Palmer, MA
Monson Congregational Church, 5 High Street Monson, MA
For further information contact: Allen Myers
mudfog.reedorgan@gmail.com
207-776-2656
