The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience

The Philadelphia Orchestra received a $5 million gift from the Wyncote Foundation to increase and expand programming for the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall, the world’s largest mechanical action concert hall pipe organ. The partnership is supported by longtime friend of the Orchestra and former Board member Frederick R. Haas. The five-year initiative, entitled “The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ Experience,” will focus on artistic plans by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in consultation with Artistic Advisor Frederick R. Haas, to feature the organ more extensively in season programming, help to build audience interest in the instrument, and educate audiences about the organ’s musical capabilities.

The Orchestra is featuring the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ to showcase the majestic instrument paired with the “Philadelphia Sound.” We are elated to be enhancing our season programming to allow for works that highlight this magnificent instrument.

About the Organ

The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ, Dobson organ Op. 76, ranks as the largest mechanical-action concert hall organ in the United States. With its nearly 7,000 pipes, four blowers, 300 levels of memory, 111 stops, pipe sizes ranging from about the size of a drinking straw up to two feet square by 32 feet high, this is truly the King of Instruments!

• Largest Pipe: Built of wood, the largest pipe is approximately 2 feet square by 32 feet long.
• Smallest Pipe: Built of metal, the smallest pipe is the size of a drinking straw.
• Range of Wind Pressures: Three blowers totaling 25 horsepower supply the organ with air ranging in pressure from 4" to 25".
• Instrument Total Weight: The total weight of the organ and its structure is approximately 32 tons.
• Total Number of Pipes: 6,938
• Levels of Memory: 300 (meaning thousands of preset combinations can be stored for the organists' use during performance)
• Number of Combination Pistons: 48
• Number of Toe Pistons: 22
• Where does the Verizon Hall Organ rank in size?* 47th in the world (Interestingly, Philadelphia’s Wanamaker Organ is the largest fully functional pipe organ in the world.)
  *Based on total number of ranks.