On May 8, 2000, a group of people stood at the intersection of South Main Street and Delaware Ave. waiting to help move an organ, or rather the 34,000 individual pieces that would become Bayard Sharp Hall’s Jefferson Organ. 

The late H. David Herman, Trustees Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music and university organist, who was serving as chair of the School of Music (then the Department of Music), had said it was a tradition for church congregations to help unload a new organ, and he wanted UD faculty, staff and students to have the same special experience.

Now, the School of Music is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Jefferson organ, and the renovation of Bayard Sharp, with a concert on Friday, Sept. 5, at 8 p.m.. 

The building that began as St. Thomas Episcopal Church in 1843 was deconsecrated in 1956 and served as Newark’s public library from 1956 through 1974. UD bought it  in 1996 and renovated the old church, adding the Jefferson organ built by the Dobson Pipe Organ company and a restored 1920 Steinway piano. 

Today the intimate space for events and concerts is on the National Register of Historic Places, and while many things have changed in 25 years — Herman retired in 2012, and the church music minor is now an organ minor — the Jefferson organ is still playing beautifully. 

During his time as department chair, Hermann taught organ students, implemented a minor in church music, and performed hundreds of organ concerts for the University community.

Christopher Gage, who graduated from UD in 2010 with a bachelor of music in organ performance and a minor in church music, teaches UD’s new generation of organists. 

“I think that Dr. Herman would be proud,” he said. “Organists have a special relationship with instruments that they help design and install, so he would love to see that this particular organ still gets regular use and recognition.” 

Gage said that the organ is a versatile tool for teaching and performing, and he looks forward to presenting classic and contemporary pieces at the Sept. 5 concert.

“Practicing and performing on the instrument was such a formative experience when I was a student, and it is a joy to continue that special connection,” he said. 

The concert program includes works by J. S. Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude, Joseph Bonnet, Connor Chee and Marques L. A. Garrett. 

It also will feature the world premiere of Invasive Species, a work by UD composition faculty member Rachael Smith.

“UD is lucky to have such a fine instrument on campus,” Gage said.