The summer of 2009 was the season of restoration for the renowned 1885 Koehnken & Grimm pipe organ in historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Hillsboro, Ohio.

The historic pipe organ had been rebuilt in 1933 to update it from the original “tracker action” to an enlarged instrument. This summer the organ was transformed by the Muller Organ Company of Croton, Ohio, into a digital age instrument with technologic advancements giving it a transposer, midi capability and 99 levels of memory – functions previously only found on electronic organs. Each Sunday the church resonates with sounds of glorious organ music during the 10 a.m. services under the expert hands of St. Mary’s organist, John Glaze.

With the restoration of the organ, St. Mary’s will again be presenting special musical programs during the Advent (Christmas) season. For the initial performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 the Southern State Singers will present their Christmas Concert.