
This year we’re trying to see if I’ll be able to use the Music Hall’s Wurlitzer for the ceremony, and this was a chance for me to saddle up and acquaint myself with the organ, and also to give the SVA people a chance to hear how quiet the instrument can be so it doesn’t overpower the Dean(s) reading off people’s names.

Here’s a view of the whole console. There’s actually two of ’em, and this is the main one, on the house left side of the stage.
A closer view of the console. There are 4 manuals (organ lingo for “keyboard”) and 58 ranks (sets of pipes), plus tuned percussion. The little white buttons are thumb-pistons where combinations of ranks are stored.
Notice the swiveling organ seat used here, rather than the wide wooden bench. The concept behind the “Howard” is to give an audience a clearer view of the organist’s footwork.