The Daniel S. Low & Ethel M. Low Memorial Organ Dedication

Publication

Church of the Red Rocks Historical Archives

Name/Title

The Daniel S. Low & Ethel M. Low Memorial Organ Dedication

Entry/Object ID

1997-001-A

Description

The core purpose of this document is to commemorate the dedication of the Daniel S. Low & Ethel M. Low Memorial Organ at The Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona, Arizona, on February 23, 1997. The church's origins trace back to February 1960, when it was founded by 22 members who initially lacked a building, a minister, or even a denominational identity. This dedication serves as a formal recognition of the collaborative efforts between the church congregation, the Ethel M. Low Foundation, and technical partners like NORAM Associates to enhance the spiritual and cultural life of the community through music. The narrative arc of the document illustrates a journey from humble, resource-strapped beginnings to a position of technological and musical prominence. Starting with a "zero music budget" and a small donated home organ in the 1960s, the church's music program evolved through decades of dedicated leadership and the significant philanthropy of the Low family. This progression culminated in the 1997 restoration, which transformed the existing pipe organ into one of the largest "combination" organs in Arizona—a sophisticated instrument blending 13 original Möller pipe ranks with state-of-the-art digital technology.