Organist Will Host Milwaukee Benefit Recital

Karen Beaumont will perform on November 15 to fund the restoration of a historic 1885 Schuelke organ.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Classical

Organist Will Host Milwaukee Benefit Recital

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Should local congregations prioritize funding the restoration of historic instruments?

Organist Karen Beaumont will hold a fundraising recital on November 15 at 1 p.m. at Milwaukee's St. Francis of Assisi parish. Proceeds from the event will support the restoration of the church's historic 1885 Schuelke organ.

Why it matters

The parish seeks to preserve the historic instrument and restore it to its original condition. Dobson Organ Builders has agreed to perform the restoration work once the necessary funds are secured.

The Schuelke Organ Company produced approximately 160 organs between 1874 and 1945. William Schuelke notably received a patent for an electric motor bellows in 1873.

The players

Karen Beaumont

She is an organist who has played the instrument at St. Francis of Assisi for 16 years.

Dobson Organ Builders

This Ohio-based company has agreed to restore the historic organ once funds are raised.

The details

The restoration process will require dismantling the organ and transporting it to Iowa for pipe cleaning and mechanical corrections. The instrument resides in a church building that was constructed in 1876, five years after the parish was founded in 1871.

The parish was organized in 1871.
The church building was constructed in 1876.
The Schuelke organ was built in 1885.
A 2018 fire damaged an organ at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The fundraising recital occurs on November 15, 2026, at 1 p.m.

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Industry Dynamics

This initiative represents a proactive preservation effort to avoid the type of organ loss experienced in the 2018 fire at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Such efforts highlight the ongoing struggle to maintain aging pipe organs that were once staples of regional church architecture.

Residents and music enthusiasts can attend the recital on November 15 to support the preservation of local cultural heritage. Attendance provides direct financial assistance to the restoration project managed by the parish.

The takeaway

Restoring an 1885 instrument requires specialized mechanical expertise and significant financial resources. Community members interested in classical music can contribute to the survival of these historic pieces by attending local fundraising events.