Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ

10/20/2026

We called in the toughest critics for soundcheck and they have given their enthusiastic endorsement of tonight's American Icons performance. Come hear the premiere of James Kennerley America Suite, a work commissioned by Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ in celebration of history, art, and this extraordinary instrument and community.

Tickets are still available on PortTIX Box Office or at the door!

10/20/2026

🍂🇺🇸 TONIGHT: AMERICAN ICONS! 🇺🇸🎶

Celebrate the sounds of America with Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ! Join us at Merrill Auditorium for the debut of James Kennerley’s America Suite, FOKO’s first commissioned work in more than 10 years.

Don’t miss this historic premiere!

📅 Tonight, October 20 | 7 PM
📍 Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME

🎟️ Get your tickets now through the link in our bio!

09/16/2026

🎶From Ives and Gershwin to Price and Bingham, from Macfarlane’s Portland legacy to Kennerley’s new America Suite, this program explores the many sounds and stories that have shaped American music.

And at the center of it all is the Kotzschmar Memorial Organ—a civic instrument sustained by generations of Portlanders.

🇺🇸 American Icons
📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM

🎟️ Get your tickets through the link in our bio or at PortTIX Box Office
Learn more at Foko.org

09/04/2026

Tickets are ON SALE NOW! 🎶

🇺🇸 American Icons
📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Experience a distinctly American musical journey featuring works by Charles Ives, George Gershwin, Florence Price, Seth Bingham, William C. Macfarlane, and James Kennerley—including a special audience sing-along of America the Beautiful.

🎄 Christmas with Kennerley
📅 Tuesday, December 22, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Get into the holiday spirit with James Kennerley, the Kotzschmar Brass & Percussion, guest artists, soloists, and local choirs for a joyful “Home for the Holidays” experience filled with cherished carols and festive favorites.

🎟️ Get your tickets through the link in our bio or at PortTIX Box Office
Learn more at Foko.org

07/03/2026

Long before America the Beautiful became one of America’s most beloved patriotic songs, one of its most influential musical settings was born right here in Portland.

In 1913, Portland’s first Municipal Organist, Will C. Macfarlane, composed his setting of Katharine Lee Bates’ poem for the nation’s first municipal pageant on the Eastern Prom. Performing on the Kotzschmar Organ, Macfarlane helped create a version that Bates herself later recognized as the setting that had “won widest acceptance.”

More than a century later, this story remains a remarkable reminder of the Kotzschmar Organ’s place in our nation’s musical history.

🇺🇸 Have you heard this piece performed on the Kotzschmar Organ?
🎶 by James Kennerley
PipeOrgan MaineHistory ClassicalMusic FourthOfJuly

06/15/2026

Both tours are full*

We’re now taking reservations for our Backstage Pipes summer tours! ☀️ 🎶

Step out of the heat and into the fascinating world of the Kotzschmar Organ at Merrill Auditorium. These fun, free, one-hour tours are perfect for all ages and offer a behind-the-scenes look at this mighty instrument with our knowledgeable docents and either James Kennerley or Ray Cornils.

06/11/2026

We were delighted to work with PBS NewsHour and Anna Lapwood to bring the filming of her recent visit to Portland to life.

PBS has now released featured coverage from Anna's sold-out May 10 performance at the Kotzschmar Organ, capturing both her extraordinary artistry and the unforgettable evening we were proud to present at Merrill Auditorium.

Our sincere thanks to PBS NewsHour for helping share this special event with audiences across the country. We invite you to watch and enjoy this remarkable glimpse into Anna's visit to Portland.

05/13/2026

Thank you to the incredible
for such a spectacular and transformative performance on the Kotzschmar Organ!

We are also deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity make opportunities like this possible, to our loyal patrons, and to an audience representing 43 states and 4 countries, many of whom happily waited around the block to join us inside Merrill Auditorium.

A heartfelt thank you as well to every staff member, volunteer, and member of the production team whose hard work and dedication allowed this event to unfold seamlessly. What an extraordinary night for the Kotzschmar community!

💡
📸

05/09/2026

05/08/2026

We are delighted to welcome to Portland for a sold-out performance at Merrill Auditorium. Enjoy this special preview of the May 10 program.

We are deeply grateful to our patrons, whose support allows us to share this magnificent instrument with an artist of Anna Lapwood’s extraordinary caliber, and to welcome nearly 2,000 guests from across the country to experience both the Kotzschmar Organ and the beauty of Portland.

Please note the program will run approximately two hours, with a 20-minute intermission. With possible encores, the total performance time may extend to between 2.5 and 3 hours.