Boomeria Organ Extravaganza

Join us it the redwoods for an afternoon of music, with tasty snacks, soft drinks, and Hallcrest Vineyards wine, in a benefit for the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. The centerpiece of this event is the pipe organ inside the Chapel Royal, created and maintained by "The Boom", a former high school chemistry and physics teacher. The organ began in 1953, when Trinity Paris Church in San José replaced its 1879 organ console, donated by The Boom's great grandmother. Boomer rescued the console and two sets of pipes. Generations of Boomer's San Lorenzo High School students helped with the building of this massive instrument and its intricate mechanisms, along with assistance from organ builders Bill Reid, John West, and Bill Visscher. The Boomeria organ now features 40 ranks, 2500 pipes, baroque voicing, and mechanical action. Guests have the opportunity to inspect the organ's mechanism.

Listen to music performed in the beautiful surroundings of the Bonny Doon forest, as local organists bring to life the repertoire and spirit of this magnificent instrument. While mostly organ music, there will also be pieces for violin, crumhorn and viola da gamba. Check our website for details. Proceeds from this fundraising event benefit the continued operation of the Baroque Festival's annual concert season. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the event.