A chamber orchestra specializing in both early music and music of the classical period, located in the Arts district of Midtown Atlanta, housed in the historic First Presbyterian Church, and next door to the Woodruff Arts Center.

~Our Instruments~

The orchestra uses the following instruments during its performances:

  • Violins
  • Violas
  • Cellos
  • Oboes
  • Flutes
  • Horns
  • Trumpets
  • Bass
  • Continuo

Portative organ

The family of Gordon Curtiss donated in 2003 a portativ organ for the church. A portative (also referred to as a continuo organ) is a small one manual pipe organ that is, as its name implies, portable. The instrument was built by Henk Klop of the Netherlands. It contains 3½ ranks of pipes (8' flute, 4' flute, 2' principle, 1⅓' principle) that are all made of rosewood. The design of the pipe work follows the historical model of the 1610 Compenius organ found in Frederiksburg Castle in Copenhagen.

The Church Organs

The sanctuary houses two pipe organs, and each worship service opens and closes with a major organ work.

The sanctuary organ was rebuilt and enlarged by W. Zimmer and Sons in 1992 and is in constant use for services, rehearsals, and instruction. The 105-rank instrument has more than 6,100 pipes and is played from a four-manual console located in the front choir loft. The gallery divisions of the sanctuary organ may also be played from a second two-manual console located in the balcony.

The chamber organ located at the front of Winship Chapel was built and installed by Henk Klop, Garderen, Netherlands, in 2005. It was a gift of Jack Rooker, in honor of his wife, Cindy.

The organ is built in the tradition of the Compenius organ, built by Esias Compenius in 1610, and located in Fredericksborg Castle, Denmark. Michael Praetorius was the "advisor" when this famous organ was constructed. This organ has remained unchanged and well preserved since 1610, allowing the Klop firm to carefully examine many of its characteristics. Most notable is that all of the pipes in the organ are built of wood.

The Winship Chapel organ has fifteen speaking stops, controlled by two manuals (keyboards) and pedal. All pipe work is of wood construction. The divisions of the organ are fully encased in the seventeenth century style.

Following historic principles, the organ has tracker (mechanical) key action and mechanical stop action. The organ also contains a Zimbelstern which is a collection of rotating bells within the organ case. A carved star of Bethlehem external to the organ case visibly rotates when the Zimbelstern is engaged by the organist.

Devereaux McClatchey Carillon

The church's bell tower houses a 47-bell carillon weighing more than 12 tons. The bells were cast by the Petit Fritsen Company, in Holland. The carillon is rung on Sunday mornings after worship, each weekday at 12:15 p.m., and on special occasions. The carillon is best heard in the courtyards or in front of the church.
©2007-2013 St. Cecilia Consort. All Rights Reserved.
Website conceived by Margaret Cobb and developed by White Oak Design.
With special thanks to Bob Hughes of Brilliance Photography for the use of his photographs;
and Missy Looper, a member of the SCA (Scribes of Atlanta), for her original border design.