New Chancel Organ
As part of the renovation of Turku Cathedral, a new chancel organ will be built to meet the needs of music for worship and concerts. The chancel organ is being carried out as a separate project, with external funding also playing an important role.
Background to the New Chancel Organ
The Joint Church Council of the Turku and Kaarina Parish Union has approved the plans for the project and an appropriation of €2.3 million for the construction of the new chancel organ. Kotimaa-Sacrum Oy has been selected as the contractor; Urkurakentamo Veikko Virtanen Oy merged with the company in 2025.
The new chancel organ represents a significant investment in the future of musical life at Turku Cathedral. Once completed, it will serve both worship and concert activities, functioning both as an accompanying organ and as an independent concert instrument. It will complement the extensive renovation of Finland’s national shrine and strengthen the Cathedral’s position as one of the country’s most important venues for church music and concerts.
According to the plans, the organ will have 57 + 4 stops and four manuals. The instrument is designed to meet both the requirements of a large cathedral and the demands of high-quality concert performance. The exceptional acoustics of Turku Cathedral will provide a unique setting for the organ, creating opportunities for new kinds of musical experiences for decades to come.
The chancel organ is being built as part of the renovation of Turku Cathedral but as a separate project, and its costs are not included in the budget for the renovation itself. External support therefore also plays an important role in financing the project.
Funders of Turku Cathedral’s New Chancel Organ
The Turku and Kaarina Parish Union extends its warmest thanks to the following individuals and organisations for their donations and grants towards the construction of the new chancel organ:
Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, 500 000€
Wihuri Packaging Oy, 250 000€
Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, 250 000€