Roy A. Redman (Organ Co.)
2015

Paul R. Marchesano on October 21st, 2025:
Since the instrument was designed to be portable, there wasn’t a typical installation process. Nevertheless, Roy Redman was responsible for tuning it and making a few adjustments to the key action once it arrived in Dallas. He also built a keyboard cover for it and installed a new power switch. Information received via email from Michael Conrady 2025-10-21

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Paul R. Marchesano on October 20th, 2025:
From the church website: The Kney Positive Organ at St. Thomas Aquinas is a recent addition to the church's music program. Built by Gabriel Kney, a highly respected organ builder from London, Ontario, this organ is a "positive organ," a type of smaller, portable organ designed to accompany small groups and chamber ensembles. Its key action and stop action are mechanical, providing a direct linkage between the keys and the valves under the pipes, providing the most sensitive and responsive touch possible. Its stop action is actuated by foot levers, a clever design which allows the hands of the player to be free while stops are engaged and disengaged. The Kney Positive Organ began its life as an organ commissioned for Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. In 2015, the university determined that the organ was no longer being utilized and began a campaign to find a new home for the instrument. St. Thomas Aquinas Director of Music Michael Conrady flew to Grand Rapids to inspect and make arrangements to acquire the instrument on behalf of the parish. Once the organ was purchased, it was carefully disassembled and packed for shipping to Dallas, Texas. Upon arrival in Dallas, the pipes were placed into storage and the chassis of the instrument was sent to the workshop of Brad Van Vranken, an artisan woodworker and a member of the St. Thomas Schola Cantorum Gregorii. Over the span of several months, the mechanical components of the organ were carefully restored and a new cherrywood cabinet was built for the instrument. Mr. Van Vranken took great care to incorporate the architectural elements of our church into the organ. The new case incorporates design elements from the communion rail arches, baptistery grate, stained glass window arches, and the stone rosette carvings in the presbyterium, among others. On Christmas Eve of 2015, the Positive organ played for the first time at St. Thomas Aquinas. Like the larger pipe organ in the choir gallery, it is built to provide beautiful music for many decades to come.