Peter Richard Conte, Grand Court Organist of the world-famous Wanamaker Department Store Organ, gave a recital on the newly installed Wicks at St. James Cathedral, in Orlando Florida, Friday May 6th, 2011. Mr. Conte thrilled his audience with virtuosic technique and impressive transcriptions for an almost momentary hour that evening. Captivating the attendee’s ear for the full hour with pieces from Elgar, Bach, Widor, Rheinberger, Guilmant and Sibelius, Mr. Conte managed to entrance the audience with crisp numbers that thrilled the ear, full rich registrations provoking the sinister and powerful nature of the “beast” in the organ loft and magical dialogue between the Antiphonal and Gallery Organs, keeping the mind guessing as to the source of the wonderful sounds.

Wicks would like to thank Mr. Conte for his performance, which demonstrated that this grand liturgical organ is an equally capable concert instrument.

St. James Cathedral’s original Wicks was removed, rebuilt, revoiced and created anew in 2009, culminating with the tonal finishing in 2011 - A two-year project that has created a wonderful new instrument to be enjoyed for many, many years to come.