1. The Origins of the Tour

The first was with Michael Dudman who was giving a lecture on 'Organbuilding in the US' at St Francis' College, Brisbane in around 1984. Afterwards we talked and I remember his enthusiasm for what he had seen and the developments in organbuilding. This stayed locked at the back of my memory until the next conversation some fifteen years later.

The next conversation was with Manuel Rosales and Lynn Dobson over dinner at the 1998 International Society of Organbuilders conference in Paris. I knew little about organ building in the U.S. and was surprised at the number of U. S. organ builders attending the conference and enjoyed their company and enthusiasm. As we talked, Manuel leaned over and said in his blunt way, ' Well, you know, we have plenty of good organbuilding in our country. You should come and have a look for yourself.' I decided I should take him at his word.

Last updated 26 July, 2005