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WIU organ Instructor Linda Andrews performs on the pipe organ that was recently delivered to WIU's Browne Hall.
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WIU Alumna Makes Musical Donation to Alma Mater

November 26, 2014

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University alumna Melissa Duft Francis, of Oro Valley, AZ, and her husband James, have donated a unique musical instrument to enhance course work at WIU.

Melissa received her master's degree in music from WIU in 1981.

In September, Melissa and her husband donated a Wicks pipe organ to the WIU School of Music. The organ was built in 2001 and had been in the Francis' home since then. The couple had lived in the St. Louis, MO, area, but moved to Tucson, AZ, in August.

"It was going to be cost-prohibitive to relocate the pipe organ to our home," Melissa said. "It was important to me that the organ would find a new, good home – a place where it would be appreciated and utilized. Having completed a master of arts degree in music with an emphasis in organ performance under the tutelage of Dr. Anita Eggert Werling, I knew that the WIU School of Music was the perfect place. With Linda Andrews as the current organ instructor, I am thrilled that this organ can be an integral part of the learning experience for current and future organ students."

Andrews said the organ is unique because it is a traditional pipe organ that also has digital "stops" included, all of which broaden the learning experience of WIU's organ students.

"To buy this organ new or to replace it in today's market would cost approximately $70,000," said Andrews. "This is a huge gift to the University and the School of Music. It allows students to experiment with new sounds and registers that were not previously available to them. I am truly grateful for this generous gift and the support received from Dean Billy Clow, Music Department Director Bart Shanklin and COFAC Development Director Mick Cumbie."

The organ was disassembled and transported to WIU's Browne Hall Sept. 29 by the Wicks Company of Highland, MO. The $4,100 bill for the move was paid for by donors, including WIU Professor Emeritus Herb Edwards and his wife, Kris; retired Associate Dean of Libraries and Operations Felix Chu and his wife, Professor Emeritus Nancy Chu, and 1950 WIU alumna Rachel Kimble Bliven.

The donation effectively enhances the practice experience available to students in WIU's organ classes. Previously, the only teaching organ WIU had in place was added in 1971, the year before Andrews entered WIU as a freshman. Andrews received her bachelor's degree in music education from WIU in 1976 and her master's degree in church music from Northwestern University.

She has been the church organist at Macomb's First Presbyterian Church for more than 20 years. She has also taught private organ lessons for numerous years.

"Each semester I have between six and eight students and several of them play at churches in Macomb," Andrews said. "My goal is to help students learn the proper way to play the organ and then provide a service to the community by having classically trained organists available for the churches."

Andrews teaches both undergraduate and graduate students, many of which are expanding their musical knowledge beyond their major instruments by also learning to play the pipe organ.

For more information about the WIU School of Music, visit wiu.edu/music.



Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing