Posts by Tracy Iles-Leith

On 7 February 2020 “More Than a Pipe Dream”, a book about pipe organ building in New Zealand and dedicated to 50 years of the South Island Organ Company, by Jill Worrall has been officially launched. The launch took place at South Canterbury Museum at Perth Street, Timaru.We thought it was a very appropriate venue…

The magnificent Chancel organ of St John’s Gordon has been installed and heard by the Parish.Team SIOC is proud of the fruit of their labour. Here is the first little taster! VOILA!! The dedication of the new church organ by the Bishop of The Murray, The Right Reverend Keith Dalby, during a Festal Choral Evensong…

Woohoo! After several years of hard effort from the award-winning author Jill Worrall, many interviews and archival research, proof-reading, verifying and clarifying by John & Val Hargraves, Christopher Templeton (our resident archivist), communicating with the editor Renee Lang of Renaissance Publishing and layout designing by Trevor Newman, not to forget the rest of SIOC Team…

The oldest Anglican bluestone church in the city of Christchurch, St Peter’s Upper Riccarton is being extensively restored and reconstructed after the earthquake damage due to amazing generosity of people from all walks of life. We are very proud to be part of this project, doing our bit in regards to the 2 manual 15…

A cleaning and overhaul of the 2 manual 25 rank 1912 Hobday organ has commenced in August 2019, focusing on renewal of the fine leathers of its pneumatic action, many of which are still original. Remarkably, the slider soundboards and double-rise reservoir are still in excellent original condition and can still be left for another…

11 months into a project, we are pleased to say we are not far away from putting the tools down and to start packing! Factory work of stage 1 is nearing its completion and it is a big milestone. The four-

A bus load of beautiful voices from Netherlands turned up at our factory on 5 March 2019. Mostly teenagers, they however managed to get up early in the morning and at 9 a.m. sharp were already eager to learn about organ-building, our projects and meet our staff. The Nightingale Dutch Choir are on two-week visit…

Recently our MD John Hargraves took part in a delightful concert with some other very accomplished musicians!  This was a fundraiser for Cancer Society, organised by Ruth Hall – the creator of At Violinos, a music farm inspired by resting places on walks in the Swiss Alps.  Located on  the Ashburton/Methven Highway where visiting groups…

The Team of The South Island Organ Co are thrilled to announce that on Saturday, 2 February 2019 Moritz and Jacs have tied the marital knot under the watchful eye of their son Luca and about a hundred strong army of witnesses (family and friends), some of who traveled all the way from Germany. Young,…

The Earthquake Memorial Concert was held last Sunday 10 February 2019, a little early this year but this did not detract from the event at all.  In fact, we were blown away by the public response, due in part no doubt to the imminent closure of the beautiful Sacred Heart Basilica for repairs and strengthening. …