Former Marionite designed Tabor arts center organ

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

“It will have to be digital.”

That’s what Tabor director of music Bradley Vogel told Burton Tidwell when he asked him to design an organ for the new Shari Flaming Center for the Arts.

Tidwell was born in Marion, grew up in Caldwell, and returned to Marion in 1996. He now lives in Caldwell.

Designed by Tidwell, the organ was built by Allen Organ Co., for which Tidwell is a consultant.

“It’s not nearly done,” Tidwell said. “I’ll have to put in many more hours on it.”

He said the organ is the equivalent of 2,400 pipes. He has to go through every note as if it is a pipe.

“Everything has to be balanced to fit the space,” he said.

Organist Stephen Vincent, a former Hillsboro resident, returned last weekend to play the new organ.

Tidwell has designed more than 300 organs and has been a practicing musician for many years. He gave concerts throughout the country and now serves as organist for East Heights United Methodist Church in Wichita.