A free concert will be given to celebrate the completion of fundraising for rebuilding the pipe organ in Waiapu Cathedral.
Because of the generous support from the wider Hawke's Bay community, cathedral dean Michael Godfrey decided to say thank you with a free concert this Sunday, at 2.30pm.
The timing was chosen so as many people as possible can attend. The event will give concertgoers the chance to view the impressive organ console close up, when it is moved to centre-stage position.
Every 30 years or so, large pipe organs need to be rebuilt because of the thousands of moving parts. It is an expensive process.
For the cathedral this meant erecting scaffolding and dismantling the whole instrument. It was then taken in containers to Timaru for restoration and rebuilding. In the process, it was decided to enlarge the organ from three to four keyboards, bringing it up to top international concert standards. Since its installation last year, the rebuilt instrument is arguably the finest concert organ in New Zealand. It is an outstanding cultural icon for Hawke's Bay, able to attract top international artists.