ANN ARBOR—The Michigan League is sponsoring a Holiday Sing on Dec. 14, 4:30-5:30 p.m., in the Vandenburg Room. University of Michigan organist Marilyn Mason will accompany the singers on a newly restored parlor organ that for many years was stored in the League’s basement, and song sheets will be available. The free, public event, sponsored by the Friends of the Michigan League, will include wassail and cookies.

In the past, the organ, which was original to the building, was in the League Chapel and used for weddings and other League events. According to League records, it was purchased for $480 by the San Francisco Bay Cities Group of California and presented as a gift to the League when in opened in 1929.

According to Ginger Sissom, Friends coordinator, restoration included cleaning of the Estey organ’s 250 reeds, replacing the bellows and refinishing the cabinet. Elgin A. Clingaman of Renaissance Pipe Organ Co. and Dana Hull of Organ Restoration, both in Ann Arbor, completed the work. Funds were provided by alumnae of Collegiate Sorosis, U-M sorority that was dissolved in 1992.

The restoration is one of several projects the newly formed Friends of the League have undertaken in the past year. Others include conservation of existing art work, pruning of trees and shrubs and planting more than 300 spring bulbs in the League Garden.

On Feb. 7, 1998, the group will host “A Taste of Monet,” a dinner theater event to complement the U-M Museum of Art‘s Monet exhibit.

For information on the Sing and the dinner theater, call Sissom at (313) 936-2218.

U-M News and Information ServicesUniversity of Michigan