Juneau Musician Bids Farewell to Historic Theater Organ After 16 Years
A beloved tradition in Alaska’s capital city has come to an end as local musician T.J. Duffy performed his final concert on a nearly century-old Kimball theater organ at Juneau’s State Office Building on Friday. The performance marked both Duffy’s retirement from the state’s law department and the potential end of an era for the rare instrument, as its future hangs in the balance.
The Friday afternoon concert drew a packed audience, a testament to Duffy’s 16-year residency as the organist and the instrument’s enduring appeal. Attendees, ranging from longtime fans to newcomers, enjoyed classic Christmas carols filling the space as sunshine streamed through the windows.
Duffy, who arrived in Juneau in 2008, described the organ as a captivating presence even before he began playing it. Securing permission to perform required a vetting process by the State Museum, which owns the instrument. “They had to interview me and vet me to make sure…that I knew what I was doing, because it is a museum piece,” Duffy explained. He began performing alongside fellow organist J. Allen MacKinnon in 2009, establishing a weekly tradition that resonated with the community.
Beyond the music itself, Duffy fostered a unique connection with younger audience members. He fondly recalled a dedicated group of “preschoolers” who would eagerly attend his concerts, dancing and engaging with the music. Following performances, Duffy routinely offered “organ tours,” allowing children to explore the instrument and experiment with its keys. “I’m a big believer that if you want your kids to be musicians, you have to put musical instruments in their hand and take them to musical events,” he stated, even acknowledging the State Museum’s reservations about the tours.
The concert resonated with first-time attendees like Runa Curry, who was captivated by the organ’s complexity. “I like the sounds…and then you look in the case and there’s all, there’s like drums that go with it too,” she shared. “There’s so many different, like, instruments that go with the organ.”
However, Duffy’s final performance is shadowed by concerns about the organ’s future. Declining health, including hearing loss, prompted his decision to step away from public performances. More significantly, the instrument itself is nearing the end of its usable life. A comprehensive repair would require shipping the organ to Portland, Oregon, at a cost of $250,000.
The challenges extend beyond financial constraints. Duffy noted the dwindling number of organists, particularly in Juneau, and the rise of artificial intelligence in music creation. “Organists are a dying breed,” he lamented. “So this organ may very well be in its final days.”
As Duffy prepares to embark on a new chapter, pursuing a passion for professional poker in Las Vegas this summer, he hopes the community will recognize the significance of the instrument’s legacy. The future of the Friday concerts remains uncertain, with only two other performers currently scheduled to continue the tradition. The fate of the historic Kimball theater organ—a fixture in Juneau for decades—now rests on a delicate balance of funding, expertise, and a continued appreciation for a vanishing art form.
