New Organ Project

A major project for the expansion of the cathedral organ is currently underway. The organ was handcrafted in one of the world’s highest-quality traditional workshops – Eisenbarth Orgelbau, located in the episcopal city of Passau, Germany.

The aim of the project is to further enrich the organ’s sound capabilities and enhance it for liturgical use, concert performance, and artistic creation.

The project includes the construction of new stops, which will be housed in a separate organ case on the cathedral galleries. The new section of the instrument will be equipped with swell shutters – a system of movable wooden louvers that allow for regulation of sound volume, enabling the organist to gradually increase or decrease the sound by opening and closing them, achieving greater expressiveness in performance.

I. manual (Grand Orgue) C–c4

II. manual (Positif expressif) C–c4

III. manual (Récit expressif) C–c4

Pédale C–g1

Couplings: Mechanical: II-I, III-I, III-II, I-P, II-P, III-P. Electrical: Sub III, Super III, Sub III-I, Super III-I, Sub III-II, Super III-II, Sub II, Super II, Sub II-I, Super II-I, Sub I, Super I. 4000 free combinations, two rollers for crescendo.

New stops under construction:

Upon completion of the works, the organ will have a total of 92 stops and 4 effects, significantly expanding the instrument’s tonal, interpretative, and acoustic possibilities. After the project is completed, a new comprehensive technical specification of the organ will also be published.

For the realization of the extension, the offer of the organ workshop L'Orgue, led by organ builder Tibor Apra, was accepted. He completed his studies in musical instrument construction at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, where in 2009 he earned a degree as a specialist in organ building, reconstruction, and restoration. Through his work, he actively contributes to the preservation and renewal of the organ-building tradition in the Vojvodina region, dedicating himself to the restoration of historical instruments, their maintenance, and the renewal of organs that are still in liturgical use today. In his restoration approach, he strives to return instruments to their original appearance and authentic sound, relying on archival research and cooperation with restoration experts from various fields. He has participated in numerous organ restoration projects in Hungary and the region, including notable works in churches in Budapest, Dušnok, and Velika Kanjiža. He is the permanent caretaker of restored organs in the Cathedral Church in Subotica and is also involved in the maintenance of the organ in the Catholic Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bačka Topola.

Given the complexity and scope of the project, a donation campaign has also been launched. All those who wish to participate in this valuable cultural and spiritual endeavor may do so through their contributions.

Each donor will be individually acknowledged and will receive a written certificate of appreciation as a lasting token of gratitude for their contribution to the restoration and development of the cathedral organ.

With the expansion of the organ, the cathedral continues to nurture its rich musical tradition, preserving valuable heritage while creating new opportunities for future generations of musicians and faithful.


New Organ Project Video

New Organ Project Donations