St. Philip’s in the Hills, Tucson receives grant for pipe organ restoration

Holtkamp organ, St. Philip’s in the Hills, Tucson, AZ

St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church has received a $250,000 grant from The Hampson Albert Sisler Foundation, Inc. to support the restoration of its pipe organ, a cornerstone of the church’s worship and musical life.

Built in 1986 by the Holtkamp Organ Company and comprising 47 ranks divided among three manuals and pedal, the organ is recognized as an important part of Arizona’s sacred music heritage. The restoration will preserve and enhance the instrument’s character and its longstanding role in worship, recitals, and community concerts. The work will include exhaustive restoration and revoicing of the pipes, with addition and rearrangement of several ranks to increase the organ’s scope and flexibility. Restoration will be performed by the renowned firm of Quimby Pipe Organs of Warrensburg, MO.

“After forty years of steady service and heavy use, our mighty Holtkamp is in serious need of renovation, and we are deeply grateful to The Hampson Albert Sisler Foundation for its exceptional gesture in support of sacred music and heritage preservation at St. Philip’s,” said Dr. Jeffrey Campbell, Associate Director of Music and Organist.

Dr. Justin Appel, Director of Music, added, “Each year, we offer some of the most demanding and moving music in the sacred and concert repertoire, spanning styles from Palestrina to Pärt, with the goal of inspiring parishioners and our community with music at its highest level. Our organ is central to this aspiration, and I’m thrilled to see it receiving the care it needs to support our program for generations to come.”

The Hampson Albert Sisler Foundation is a private foundation established in 2015 by Dr Hampson A. Sisler. The Foundation envisions a world in which the art of the pipe organ is not only preserved but flourishes, sharing in Dr. Hampson Sisler’s lifelong goal and passion. The Foundation assists religious and cultural institutions and other nonprofit organizations working to preserve, restore, and study the pipe organ. Its grants have helped both cultural and religious organizations across the US and the Foundation has expressed its pleasure to include St. Philip’s among its grantees.

St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church was founded in 1936 and serves as a center for worship, music, and community outreach in Tucson. The church is renowned for its architecture, arts programs, and commitment to sacred music excellence.

Removal of the organ is scheduled for Spring 2026, with the restoration work to begin by 2027.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dr. Jeffrey Campbell
Associate Director of Music and Organist St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church
jeffrey.campbell@stphilipstucson.org
520-299-6421

GRANTING FOUNDATION: The Hampson Albert Sisler Foundation http://thehasfoundation.org