Steve Waddell Residence - Mandeville

Louisiana, USA

Steve Waddell purchased his Rodgers 577 in 2005 and it was delivered just five days before Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana coast. The casework was also installed, but the pipes had not been shipped. Fortunately, nothing was damaged even though a tree hit the house and took off the corner of the music room because the organ and case were on the opposite side of the room.

Mr. Waddell designed the case for the polished tin pipes himself. The pipes do not speak; the organ has 1,200 watts of amps and speakers behind the façade. "I can promise you that it packs a punch. If the Rodgers staff could hear it, they'd be proud," he said. "The instrument gets a workout; I usually practice 4-5 days a week for 2 hours."

Mr. Waddell also plays Rodgers at a local Lutheran church that has a Trillium Masterpiece 928. He particularly enjoys layering sounds using the organ's MIDI capabilities and creating sequences to accompany solos, choral pieces, piano and organ duets, as well as organ duets all performed singlely by Mr. Waddell.

"It's such a great tool for the person who serves as Organist and Music Director," he commented. "I do everything from gospel, blended to hard core classical organ. The church where I play can't believe the things I do with the organ."