named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Educational Programs and Music Camps
Offers educational initiatives and music camps focused on historic pipe organs, engaging students and the public in the appreciation of organ music and craftsmanship.
Live Musical Performances
Hosts concerts and performances featuring the 1868 Henry Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh organs, showcasing their historical and musical significance to diverse audiences.
Organ Demonstrations and Tours
Provides organ demonstrations and guided tours for visiting groups, schools, universities, and cultural organizations to foster public engagement with the instruments.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
-
Musicological Research and Scholarly Editions 1 activity
- Archival and historical research on cathedral music historyConducts ongoing archival research to recover historical materials related to the musical history of the Basilica and its pipe organs, including documentation of the Erben organ stoplist by concert organist Lynwood Farnam in 1919.
-
-
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Historic renewal of the 19th-century choir loftConducts structural and preservation work on the historic choir loft at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, including documentation and reinstallation of original pumpkin pine floorboards with hand-forged nails.
-
-
Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosting concerts and live musical eventsHosts concerts, festivals, and special performances featuring the historic pipe organs, including Victorian Carol Sings, mini Erben organ festivals, and live musical accompaniment to silent films such as Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid.”
-
-
Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Production and distribution of a nationally televised documentaryProduced and distributed a documentary broadcast nationally on PBS about the 1826 Oratorio concert at Old St. Patrick's Cathedral.
-
-
Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Public tours and organ demonstrationsProvides private tours, live demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes access to the pipe organ for people of all ages, including live-streamed events and educational outreach to schools and cultural organizations.
-
-
Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- STEAM-based educational programs using the pipe organOffers interdisciplinary education programs connecting music, science, and art through the pipe organ, including hands-on building of working mechanical pipe organs for students. Programs include “Pedals, Pipes & Peals,” summer music camps, and the “Erben Field Trip” for schools.
-
-
Music Education Support 1 activity
- Supporting music education through scholarshipsEstablished the Charles and Catherine Scorsese Music Scholarships to support music education for students.
-
-
Uncategorized 3 activities
- Establishing endowment funds for organ maintenanceEstablished the Hall & Labagh and Erben Organ Maintenance Endowment Fund to ensure sustainable, long-term care and preservation of the historic pipe organs.
- Funding the restoration and preservation of historic organsSecures and manages major donations and matching grants, including a $2 million cornerstone gift and additional transformational gifts between $150,000 and $300,000, to finance the complete restoration and long-term preservation of the Erben organ.
- Restoration and preservation of historic pipe organsRestores, preserves, and maintains the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ and the 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organ at the Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral in Manhattan, including full historic restoration work conducted between February 2024 and June 2026 and ongoing maintenance. The Erben organ is recognized as the largest extant Erben organ in its original location.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$312K
Contributions & grants$281K90%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$31K10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.22M
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$640K
Cash$149K
Investments$0
Liabilities$11K
Net assets$629K
Liquid reserves1.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -46.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- Joseph Woo MD — Director
- Reggie Gibbs — Director
- Vincent Chirico — Director
relationships · 26
Who they work with
- Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral Partner — Hosts the 1868 Henry Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organs, which FREO is dedicated to restoring and preserving.
- Basilica of Saint Patricks Old Cathedral Partner — Hosts the 1868 Henry Erben and 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organs that the organization is dedicated to restoring and preserving.
- Basilica of Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral Partner — Hosts the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ and the 1859 Hall & Labagh pipe organ, and collaborates with Friends of the Erben Organ on programming and preservation.
- Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral Government — Recipient of the Hall & Labagh and Erben Organ Maintenance Endowment Fund and responsible for ongoing stewardship of the Erben organ.
- Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral Partner — Hosted the Victorian Carol Sing-Along event and collaborated on its production.
- Brunner & Associates Partner — Master organ restorers who restored the Erben organ.
- Brunner & Associates Partner — Partner responsible for the restoration of the 1868 Henry Erben organ.
- Brunner & Associates Partner — Partner workshop that conducted the restoration of the Erben organ under oversight by Friends of the Erben Organ.
- Brunner and Associates Partner — Collaborated with Brunner and Associates for the historic restoration of the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ.
- Brunner and Associates Partner — Partnered with Brunner and Associates for the historic restoration of the 1868 Henry Erben pipe organ.
- Hugoton Foundation Funder — Provided the first major grant in 2022 and offered early financial and moral support for the mission.
- Konzertchor Rutheneum Partner — Award-winning youth choir from Gera, Germany, participated as special guests in the carol sing-along.
- LMCC Funder — Administered public funds from Creative Engagement for the Erben Organ Days 2020 event.
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Funder — Provided a grant through its Creative Engagement program to support performers in the event.
- Martin Scorsese Partner — Honorary Chair supporting the preservation of the Erben Organ.
- NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Government — Provided public funding to support the Pedals, Pipes & Peals camp.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Funder — Supported the event through funding in partnership with the City Council.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided funding for the event with support from the Governor’s office and State Legislature.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided public funding support for the Erben Organ Days 2020 event through the Creative Engagement program.
- Organ Historical Society Network — Collaborates with the Organ Historical Society, as evidenced by archival contributions from its American Organ Archives.
- Orgelkids USA Partner — Provided a functioning teaching kit used by campers to learn how the pipe organ works and to build a miniature working pipe organ.
- Orgelkids USA Partner — Supplies the Orgelkids kit organ used in educational programs and camps.
- Stacey Golia LLC Partner — Contracted for craftsmanship in restoring the 19th-century choir loft while preserving historic integrity.
- The Organ Historical Society Government — Awarded Historical Citation No. 326 to recognize the Erben Organ as an outstanding example of organbuilding and worthy of preservation.
- Tommy’s New York Tours Partner — Offers guided tours of the catacombs and the Erben organ at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral.
- Victorian Society New York Partner — Cooperated in organizing the Victorian Carol Sing-Along event.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cultural Heritage Preservationmethodology: cultural_preservationBy preserving and restoring the Erben organ, we sustain public access to a transcendent cultural and historical experience, because maintaining this artifact keeps alive a unique musical and architectural legacy.
- Experiential STEAM Educationmethodology: experiential_learningBy engaging students in hands-on construction and exploration of pipe organ models, we teach interdisciplinary STEAM concepts, because experiential learning deepens understanding of sound, mechanics, and engineering in a culturally rich context.
- Historically Informed Restorationmethodology: historically_informed_restorationBy using historically informed methods and materials in restoration, we preserve the original craftsmanship and acoustic integrity of the Erben organ, because authenticity ensures fidelity to its 19th-century design and sound.