The New Year is the anniversary of Balboa Park's Spreckels Organ because of the December 31, 1914 kickoff concert for San Diego's grand Panama-California Exposition.

Dr. Carol Williams, Todd Gloria and Ron DeFields.

(For more event photos, go to: CAUSE)

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This January 2, under chilly gray skies, the audience for Sunday's free concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion was treated to the dedication of the new Centennial Console and an inaugural version of the weekly Sunday concert. Bedecked with a gold ribbon, the new console, custom-built for the Spreckels Organ, replaces the 1981 model, making it only the fourth console of the organ's 96-year history.

Who Was There: Spreckels Organ Society president Ron DeFields helped San Diego Councilman Todd Gloria raise the lid, revealing the new keyboard console, under the watchful eyes of Kathleen Hasenauer, the city's Deputy Development Director for Regional Parks and Park and Recreation leaders Rebecca Ysaguire and Susan Mendoza. Martin Green of the American Guild of Organists and music director at St. Paul's Cathedral enjoyed catching up with longtime Spreckels Organ Society manager Joe Rodriguez. Former Society presidents Ken Hanson and Arlene Way attended with their spouses, mingling with trustees on hand including Julie Hudson, chair of the grants committee, George Hardy, Randy Ward, Steve Oggel, Ralph Fear, Frank Kozak and Andrea Card. The presence of Spreckels organ builders Jesse Cepeda, Dale Sorenson and Lyle Blackinton brought full circle the joy of this historic civic celebration.

The Cause: In accordance with the wishes of Adolph and John Spreckels, who presented the organ to San Diego’s citizens as a special gift, no fees are ever charged for an organ concert at the Organ Pavilion. Free concerts every Sunday at 2 p.m. are the foundation of the Spreckels Organ Society’s musical program, augmented by a Summer International Organ Festival on Monday evenings from June through August. To encourage musical appreciation, the Spreckels Organ Society also offers scholarships to promising college students and gives regular Friday morning demonstrations to 5^thgraders who participate in Balboa Park’s educational program.

The Good-Hearted: The enhancement of one of San Diego’s most beloved musical treasures is a tribute to the generosity of two well-established local organizations: Las Patronas and the Legler Benbough Foundation. Since 1946, Las Patronas has donated approximately $15 million to nearly 1,000 charitable institutions in San Diego. The grace and charm of Las Patronas president Sallie Warren brightened the dedication ceremony while Legler Benbough Foundation ambassadors Doris and Peter Ellworth were delighted to play a special role in the festivities. Established in 1985 to carry on the philanthropic interests of its founder, the Legler Benbough Foundation has committed $23,313,680 to a variety of important civic causes.

The Creative: San Diego’s civic organist, Dr. Carol Williams, was joined by Jared Jacobsen, music director at the First Lutheran Church and former San Diego civic organist, in playing the console for its dedication concert. In a tribute to the city’s first civic organist, Dr. Humphrey Stewart (1856-1932), Dr. Williams played his Processional March – the first music ever to be played in public on the Spreckels Organ. After selections that showed the versatility and power of the largest outdoor organ in the United States, Dr. Williams played a piece of music commissioned in 2008 by the Spreckels Organ Society from composer Karl Jenkins called The Madness of Morion. For a big finish, Jared Jacobsen offered Julius Reubke’s Fuge on the 94^th Psalm, a wide-ranging piece that some audience members remembered as a featured musical piece at the 1981 dedication of the previous Spreckels Organ console.

Get involved: Become a member of the Spreckels Organ Society by making a donation to help maintain, program and promote the organ, or volunteer to be a greeter by emailing info@sosorgan.org. There is no better way to indulge your love of music, introduce young kids to the pipe organ or entertain out of town guests than by dropping in on a free concert, rain or shine, Sundays at 2 p.m. Four-legged friends are always welcome; Spreckels organ concerts are dog friendly!

(For more event photos, go to: CAUSE)